Notification of change of criteria The Update of criterion 4.1 Leaching

The Leaching criterion aims to reduce the spread of environmentally hazardous substances and the criterion is currently divided into two areas: outdoor products in contact with water (e.g. rain) and plumbing products in contact with water (where substances can emit to the environment through e.g. treatment plants).

The review of the criterion has covered both the structure, the substances that affect the assessment and adding references. The references are scientific articles and reports, and we have also used material knowledge based on content information from our BVB database.

Information about the changes of the criterion:

  • The structure is changed as the criterion is divided into four sub-criteria:
    a) Outdoor products that are articles
    b) Outdoor products that are chemical products
    c) VA/VS (water and plumbing) products that are articles
    d) Chemical products for relining (relining means internal renovation of water and sewage pipes)
  • Sub-criterion a) - c) can be assessed with the results Recommended, Accepted or To be avoided. Sub-criterion d) can be assessed as Accepted or To be avoided.
  • Materials and product groups that can be assessed as To be avoided are referred to in footnotes.

                  

 

4.1 Leaching

     
  Recommended Accepted To be avoided
a)      Outdoor products  
- Articles

Articles intended for outdoor use in contact with water, where there is no risk of leaching of zinc, copper, phthalates, or rubber granules1.

Applies to several materials and product groups2.

Articles intended for outdoor use in contact with water, where there is a potential risk of leaching of zinc, copper, phthalates, or rubber granules1.

Applies to several materials and product groups3.

Articles intended for outdoor use in contact with water, where there is a risk of leaching of zinc, copper, phthalates, or rubber granules1.

Applies to several materials and product groups4.

b)     Outdoor products
- Chemical products

 

Chemical products intended for outdoor use, which meet the level Recommended on the Chemical content criteria for endocrine disrupting and environmentally hazardous properties5, and where there is no risk of leaching of zinc, copper or phthalates1. Chemical products intended for outdoor use, which are not covered by the criteria for Recommended or To be Avoided. Chemical products intended for outdoor use, where there is a risk of leaching of zinc, copper or phthalates6.

c)     Water and plumbing products

-   Articles

Articles in contact with drinking water or wastewater, where there is no risk of leaching of lead, copper, zinc, or phthalates. Applies to several product groups7. Articles in contact with drinking water or wastewater, where there is a potential risk of leaching of lead, copper, zinc, or phthalates. Applies to several product groups8. Articles in contact with drinking water or wastewater, where there is a risk of leaching of lead, copper, zinc, or phthalates. Applies to several product groups9.

d)     Water and plumbing products

-   Chemical products for relining

The criterion cannot give the assessment Recommended. Chemical products in contact with water, which are not covered by the criterion for To be Avoided. Chemical products that are part of a two-component system, or other components used for relining and that contain at least one Bisphenol compound10.
Referens/Information

1 Substances that are defined as particularly polluting substances or priority substances in accordance with the EU Water Framework Directive or HVMFS 2019:25. At present, products are assessed on zinc, copper, but also phthalates and rubber granules. For phthalates, all but the polymeric ones such as PET are covered.2 Concrete, steel, sheet metal, untreated wood, heat- or silicon-treated wood, bricks, garden tiles, play equipment, outdoor furniture.

 3 Impregnated/fire protected wood, painted wood, phthalate-free PVC, waterproofing, roofing felt, EPDM, hard plastic (reference 1 , reference 2), the following product groups if the surface layer contains the substances listed in footnote 1: playground equipment, outdoor furniture, sheet metal and steel.

 4 - Roofing and façade products (reference)

  - Soft plastics or rubber (e.g. PVC, source Chapter 2.5.1 Migration in this report)
  - Rubber granules (
reference 1, reference 2: Restriction 78 in Reach appendix XVII)
  - SBR-rubber made of tires (
reference 1, reference 2)

 5 Applies to endocrine disruptors, H400, H410, H411, H412, H413, bly, PBT, vPvB, PMT, vPvM.

 6 For zinc, ≥25% zinc and its compounds apply.

 7 Cast iron or stainless steel pipes. The following products that are in contact with tap water, if they are not made of brass or zamak: water fittings, faucets, joints, valves, pipe bends and mixing valves, etc.

 8 Products with unspecified alloys (other than unspecified brass), plastic Pipes (reference 1, reference 2), rubber/plastic hoses and galvanized products. The following products that are in contact with tap water, if they are made of brass that meet 4MS or the Boverket rules (BBR 6:62) for leaching of lead: water fittings, faucets, joints, valves, pipe bends and mixing valves, etc. Information about 4MS: https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/en/node/13888

 9 Copper or brass pipes (reference), unspecified brass, soft plastics (e.g. PVC) or rubber that contains phthalates. The following products that are in contact with tap water, if they are made of brass that do not meet 4MS or the Boverket rules (BBR 6:62) for leaching of lead: water fittings, faucets, joints, valves, pipe bends and mixing valves, etc. Information about 4MS: https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/en/node/13888

 10 Two-component system (e.g. epoxy) consisting of a base and a hardener (reference 1, reference 2, reference 3), “other components” are e.g. flexible lining/casing.