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More than 200 wallcoverings of different kind were analyzed on emissions of formaldehyde, vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) and the heavy metals As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb, Sb, and Se. The formaldehyde emission was measured by a modified WKI‐flask method. To determine indoor air concentrations, the obtained material parameters were correlated with steady state concentration values from 1 m3 chamber tests. VCM was analysed by headspace gas chromatography. The metals were extracted with hydrochloric acid at 37°C and quantified by AAS or ICP/AES. All investigated wallcoverings showed only low emission potentials for formaldehyde and the eight metals. In no case could VCM be detected. To find out more about emissions of other volatile organic compounds (VOC), wallcoverings were exposed to inert gas at 60°C (dynamic headspace) and the emitted substances were specified by GC/MS. Alternatively, the release of VOC was investigated under specified climatic conditions in a 1 m3 test chamber. The VOC‐emissions of the tested wallcoverings were low in all cases. Aliphatic hydrocarbons, probably coming from solvents like test benzines, were mainly found. Some aliphatic aldehydes and aromatic solvents could also be detected in small quantities.
By testing the water vapour permeability of more than 40 samples, it was found that the permeability coefficients are widely spread, depending on the type and amount of the cover material.