TSE CEN/TR 16797-2

TSE CEN/TR 16797-2 is a Technical Report that provides the technical background for the statistical assessment of declared values for the release, emission and/or content of dangerous substances in construction products. It explains how declared values can be interpreted in a statistically informed way and sets out criteria related to type-testing (TT), further-testing (FT) and the point at which no-further-testing (NFT) may be permitted when measured values are shown to be significantly below the declared values.

Why the statistical approach matters

Dangerous-substance behaviour in construction products is rarely represented by a single measurement alone. Product-to-product variation, production variability, measurement uncertainty and natural differences in test conditions all affect the reading of results. A statistical framework helps assess whether a set of measured values is consistent with a declared value and, where appropriate, supports a decision to avoid unnecessary additional testing.

What this report focuses on

• Assessment of declared values for release, emission and/or content
• Statistically based criteria for type-testing, further-testing and no-further-testing decisions
• How significantly low measured values can support an NFT outcome
• Technical and statistical background for conformity-related evaluations in construction products

In general technical terms, release refers to a substance migrating out of a product, emission refers to material released into the surrounding environment, and content refers to the amount contained within the product itself. These are related but not identical concepts, so they are not always evaluated in the same way. This Technical Report helps frame those distinctions for declared-value assessment and provides guidance logic rather than a product performance requirement in isolation.