Commission Decision of 28 May 2014 establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the EU Ecolabel for indoor and outdoor paints and varnishes (notified under document C(2014) 3429) (Text with EEA relevance) (2014/312/EU)

Criterion 3. Efficiency in use U.K.

In order to demonstrate the efficiency in use of paints and varnishes the following tests per type of paint and/or varnish, as indicated in Table 2, shall be undertaken:

Table 2

Performance requirements for different kind of paints and varnishes

a Only required where marketing claims are made about the paints
Criteria	Paints and Varnishes (with their subcategories identified according to the Directive 2004/42/EC)
	Indoor paint(a, b)	Outdoor paint(c)	Trim and cladding(d)	Thick decorative coating indoor and outdoor(l)	Varnish and woodstain(e, f)	One pack performance and floor covering paint(i)	Primer(g)	Undercoat and primer(h)
[F1 3(a) Spreading rate (only for white and light coloured paints, including the white base paints used in tinting systems)) — ISO 6504/1. Not applicable to varnishes, lasures, transparent adhesion primers or any other transparent coatings.]	8 m2/L	4 m2/L (elastomeric paint) 6 m2/L (masonry paint)	Outdoor products 6 m2/L Indoor products 8 m2/L	1 m2/L	—	Outdoor products 6 m2/L Indoor products 8 m2/L	[F2 6 m 2 /L (without having specific properties)] 8 m2/L (with opacity)	[F2 6 m 2 /L (without having specific properties)] 8 m2/L (with opacity)
3(b) Resistance to water — ISO 2812-3	—	—	—	—	Resistant to water	Resistant to water	—	—
3(c) Adhesion — EN 24624		—	—	—	—	Score 2	1,5 MPa (masonry paint)	1,5 MPa (masonry paint)
3(d) Abrasion — EN ISO 7784-2	—	—	—	—	—	70 mg weight loss	—	—
3(e) Weathering — EN 11507/EN 927-6	—	1 000 h	1 000 h (outdoor)	1 000 h (outdoor)	1 000 h (outdoor)	1 000 h (outdoor)	—	—
3(f) Water vapour permeabilitya — EN ISO 7783	—	Class II or better	—	Class II or better (outdoor)	—	—	—	—
3(g) Liquid water permeabilitya	—	Where claims are made Class III	—	Class II or better (outdoor)	—	—	—	—
— EN 1062-3		All other products Class II or better
3(h) Fungal resistancea — EN 15457	—	Class 1 or lower (masonry or wood paints)	Class 0 (outdoor wood products)	Class 1 or lower (outdoor)	—	—	—	—
3(h) Algal resistance — EN 15458a	—	Class 1 or lower (masonry or wood paints)	Class 0 (outdoor wood products)	Class 1 or lower (outdoor)	—	—	—	—
3(i) Crack bridginga — EN 1062-7	—	A1 (elastomeric paint only)	—	—	—	—	—	—
3(j) Alkali resistance — ISO 2812-4	—	Masonry paint	—	—	—	—	Outdoor for masonry	Outdoor for masonry
3(k) Corrosion resistancea	—	Anti-rust paint	Anti-rust paint	—	—	Anti-rust paint	Anti-rust paint	Anti-rust paint
EN ISO 12944-2 and 12944-6, ISO 9227, ISO 4628-2 and 4628-3		Blistering: ≥ size 3/density 3 Rusting: ≥ Ri2	Blistering: ≥ size 3/density 3 Rusting: ≥ Ri2			Blistering: ≥ size 3/density 3 Rusting: ≥ Ri2	Blistering: ≥ size 3/density 3 Rusting: ≥ Ri2	Blistering: ≥ size 3/density 3 Rusting: ≥ Ri2

Textual Amendments

F1 Substituted by Commission Decision (EU) 2015/886 of 8 June 2015 amending Decision 2014/312/EU establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the EU Ecolabel for indoor and outdoor paints and varnishes (notified under document C(2015) 3782) (Text with EEA relevance).

F2 Substituted by Commission Decision (EU) 2016/397 of 16 March 2016 amending Decision 2014/312/EU establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the EU Ecolabel for indoor and outdoor paints and varnishes (notified under document C(2016) 1510) (Text with EEA relevance).

3(a) Spreading rate U.K.

Spreading rate requirement shall apply to white and light coloured paint products. For paints that are available in more colours the spreading rate shall apply to the lightest colour.

White paints and light-coloured paints (including finishes and intermediates) shall have a spreading rate (at a hiding power of 98 %) of at least 8 m² per litre of product for indoor paints and 6 m² for outdoor paints. Products marketed for both — indoor and outdoor shall have a spreading rate (at a hiding power of 98 %) of at least 8 m² per litre.

For tinting systems, this criterion applies only to the white base (the base containing the most TiO₂). In cases where the white base is unable to achieve this requirement, the criterion shall be met after tinting the white base to produce the standard colour RAL 9010.

For paints that are a part of a tinting system, the applicant must advise the end-user on the product packaging and POS which shade or primer/undercoat (if possible bearing the Community Eco-label) should be used as a basecoat before applying the darker shade.

[F2 Opaque primers and undercoats shall have a spreading rate of at least 8 m ² per litre of product. Opaque primers with specific blocking/sealing, penetrating/binding properties and primers with special adhesion properties shall have a spreading rate of at least 6 m ² per litre of product.]

Thick decorative coatings (paints that are specially designed to give a three-dimensional decorative effect and are therefore characterised by a very thick coat) shall alternatively have a spreading rate of 1 m² per kg of product.

Opaque elastomeric paints shall have a spreading rate of at least 4 m² per litre of product.

This requirement does not apply to varnishes, lasures, transparent adhesion primers or any other transparent coatings.

Assessment and verification: the applicant shall provide a test report using the method ISO 6504/1 (Paints and varnishes — determination of hiding power — Part 1: Kubelka-Munk method for white and light-coloured paints) or 6504/3 (Part 3: determination of contrast ratio (opacity) of light-coloured paints at a fixed spreading rate), or for paints specially designed to give a three-dimensional decorative effect and characterised by a very thick coat the method NF T 30 073. For bases used to produce tinted products not evaluated according to the abovementioned requirements, the applicant shall produce evidence of how the end-user will be advised to use a primer and/or grey (or other relevant shade) of undercoat before application of the product.

3(b) Resistance to water U.K.

All varnishes, floor coatings and floor paints shall have resistance to water, as determined by ISO 2812-3 such that after 24 hours' exposure and 16 hours' recovery no change of gloss or of colour occurs.

Assessment and verification: the applicant shall provide a test report using the method ISO 2812-3.

3(c) Adhesion U.K.

Pigmented masonry primers for exterior uses shall score a pass in the EN 24624 (ISO 4624) pull-off test where the cohesive strength of the substrate is less than the adhesive strength of the paint, otherwise the adhesion of the paint must be in excess of a pass value of 1,5 MPa.

Floor coatings, floor paints, floor undercoats, interior masonry primers, metal and wood undercoats shall score 2 or less in the EN 2409 test for adhesion.

Transparent primers are not included in this requirement.

The applicant shall evaluate the primer and/or finish alone or both applied together. When testing the finish alone this shall be considered the worst case scenario concerning adhesion.

Assessment and verification: the applicant shall provide a test report using the method EN ISO 2409 or EN 24624 (ISO 4624) as applicable.

3(d) Abrasion U.K.

Floor coatings and floor paints shall have an abrasion resistance not exceeding 70 mg weight loss after 1000 test cycles with a 1000 g load and a CS10 wheel according to EN ISO 7784-2.

Assessment and verification: the applicant shall provide a test report showing compliance with this criterion using the method EN ISO 7784-2.

3(e) Weathering (for outdoor paints and varnishes) U.K.

Masonry finish paints and wood and metal finishes including varnishes shall be exposed to artificial weathering in apparatus including fluorescent UV lamps and condensation or water spray according to ISO 11507. They shall be exposed to test conditions for 1000 hours. Test conditions are: UVA 4 h/60 °C + humidity 4 h/50 °C.

Alternatively, outdoor wood finishes and wood varnishes shall be exposed to weathering for 1000 hours in the QUV accelerated weathering apparatus with cyclic exposure with UV(A) radiation and spraying according to EN 927-6.

According to ISO 7724 3, the colour change of samples exposed to weathering shall not be greater than ΔΕ * = 4. It is not applicable to varnishes and bases.

Decrease of gloss for gloss paints and varnishes exposed to weathering shall not be greater than 30 % of its initial value and shall be measured using ISO 2813. This requirement is not applicable to mid sheen and matt-finishes(1)which have an initial gloss value less than 60 % at 60^o angle of incidence.

Chalking shall be tested using method EN ISO 4628-6 on masonry finish coats and wood and metal finishes (where applicable) after the samples have been exposed to weathering. Coatings shall achieve a score of 1,5 or better (0,5 or 1,0) in this test. In the standard there are illustrated references.

The following parameters shall also be evaluated on masonry finish coats and wood and metal finishes after the samples have been exposed to weathering:

• Flaking according to ISO 4628-5; flake density 2 or less, flake size 2 or less

• Cracking according to ISO 4628-4; crack quantity 2 or less, crack size 3 or less

• Blistering according to ISO 4628-2; blister density 3 or less, blister size 3 or less.

Tests should be performed on the tinting base.

Assessment and verification: the applicant shall provide test reports using either ISO 11507 according to the specified parameters or EN 927-6, or both. The applicant shall provide test reports using EN ISO 4628-2, 4, 5, 6 and a test report in conformance ISO 7724-3 where applicable.

3(f) Water vapour permeability U.K.

Where claims are made that exterior masonry and concrete paints are breathable the paint shall be classified according to EN1062-1 as class II (medium vapour permeability) or better according to the test method EN ISO 7783.

Due to the large number of potential tinting colours, this criterion will be restricted to testing of the base paint.

Assessment and verification: the applicant shall provide a test report using methodology EN ISO 7783 and classification according EN1062-1.

3(g) Liquid water permeability U.K.

Where claims are made that exterior masonry and concrete paints are water repellent or elastomeric, the coating shall be classified according to EN1062-1 as class III (low liquid permeability) according to method EN 1062-3.

Due to the large number of potential tinting colours, this criterion will be restricted to the testing of the base paint.

All other masonry paints shall be classified according to EN1062-1 as class II (medium liquid permeability) or better according to the test method EN 1062-3.

Assessment and verification: the applicant shall provide a test report using methodology EN 1062-3 and classification according EN1062-1.

3(h) Fungal and algal resistance U.K.

Where claims are made that exterior masonry finish and wood paints have anti-fungal and algal properties, and in accordance with PT7 of the Biocide Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council(2), the following requirements shall be determined using EN 15457 and EN 15458.

Masonry paints shall have a score of class 1 or lower (1 or 0) for fungal resistance, (i.e. less than 10 % fungal coverage) and a score of class 1 or lower for algal resistance.

Wood paints shall have a score of 0 for fungal resistance and 0 for algal resistance.

Due to the large number of possible tinting colours, this criterion will be restricted to the testing of the base paint.

Assessment and verification: the applicant shall provide a test report using the methodology in EN 15457 and EN 15458.

3(i) Crack bridging U.K.

Where claims are made that masonry (or concrete) paint has elastomeric properties, the paint shall be at least classified as A1 at 23 °C according to EN 1062.

Due to the large number of potential tinting colours, this criterion will be restricted to the testing of the base paint.

Assessment and verification: the applicant shall provide a test report using methodology DIN EN 1062-7.

3(j) Alkali resistance U.K.

Masonry paints and primers shall show no noticeable damage when the coating is spotted for 24 hours with 10 % NaOH solution according to method ISO 2812-4. The evaluation is done after 24 hours drying-recovery.

Assessment and verification: the applicant shall provide a test report using methodology ISO 2812-4.

3(k) Corrosion resistance U.K.

Simulated corrosion stresses shall be applied to a substrate for the purpose of rating according to the appropriate atmospheric corrosivity category or categories in EN ISO 12944-2 and the accompanying test procedures specified in EN ISO 12944-6. Anti-rust paints for steel substrates shall be tested after 240 h salt spray following ISO 9227. The results shall be rated using ISO 4628-2 for blistering and ISO 4628-3 for rusting. The paint shall achieve result not worse than size 3 and density 3 in blistering and not worse than Ri2 in rusting test.

Assessment and verification: the applicant shall provide testing and rating reports to confirm compliance with this criterion.

(1)

EN ISO 2813.

(2)

Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2012 concerning the making available on the market and use of biocidal products (OJ L 167, 27/06/2012, p. 1).