It is a fact that we spend the vast majority of our time in indoor spaces, where the air is up to ten times more polluted than outdoors. A pleasant living space depends on a number of influences: room size, light, furniture, home textiles, floor coverings, heating, ventilation, humidity and, last but not least, emissions of volatile substances from materials in the space.

People in general are not aware of the harmfulness of the ingredients in various products, or only become interested when health problems that cannot be clearly identified arise.

In terms of substances that are allowed to enter formulations, interior wall paints have been regulated since 2007, when the European REACH Regulation (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) came into force and began to define, control and restrict the use of substances in terms of their hazardous effects on the health of living beings and the environment. Consequently, in 2008 the CLP Regulation (Classification, Labelling and Packaging of substances and mixtures) came into force, which controls the placing of hazardous substances on the market, meaning that hazardous substances and preparations containing hazardous substances must be correctly classified, labelled and packaged.

Directive (EU) 2004/42/CE came into force in 2007 as well, restricting the use of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in consumer products. All of the above has considerably improved the safety of interior wall paints, which are used, in addition to by professional painters, by many people who paint their own walls and ceilings in their homes.

In recent years, there has also been a substantial increase in concern about interior air quality (AIQ). Interior air quality control is not yet regulated at the level of the European Community, but there are many national regulations with slightly different definitions of hazardous volatile substances and their maximum allowed concentrations. One of the first European countries to issue an interior air quality regulation was France (DEVL1101903D).

In 2011, in France, a VOC decree on the classification and labeling of all building coatings incorporated into indoor spaces, floor and wall coatings, as well as paints and lacquers, came into force, into so-called emission classes based on emission measurements in accordance with European standard EN ISO 16000. The products are grouped into 4 classes according to the emissions of defined volatile substances: A+, A, B and C.

Partial illustration od allowed concentrations of some hazardous volatile substances defined in the French VOC and their classification according to the total content of volatile organic compounds.

Helios SPEKTRA wall paints are A+

KANSAI HELIOS Group has obtained the A+ certificate for the vast majority of our wall paints. We are committed to the principles of sustainable development and minimising our impact on the environment in the development of new products as well. Some wall paints have additional properties which contribute to indoor air quality (comfort), such as SPEKTRA Active Air and SPEKTRA Pure&Care.

SPEKTRA Active Air

In all national regulations related to the emissions of volatile substances from coatings, formaldehyde appears as one that is very damaging to health and therefore very strictly regulated. The SPEKTRA Active Air wall paint cleans the air by breaking down formaldehyde, a colourless gas with a pungent odour, classified as a harmful substance. Frequent inhalation of formaldehyde can cause throat inflammation, cough, burning eyes, nosebleeds, and in sensitive people, even very low concentrations cause serious breathing problems. Long-term exposure causes cancer.

Main sources of formaldehyde in living spaces

Formaldehyde is released from numerous materials, such as household cleaners, anti-crease treated fabrics, chipboard and plywood, furniture, household textiles, adhesives, wooden floor coverings... The greatest presence of formaldehyde is in new or newly furnished rooms. The formaldehyde concentration in spaces was found to be 53.3% of the initial value two years after the installation of the new decoration.

SPEKTRA Pure&Care

Biocidal products are widely used in the paint and coatings industry, as they help preserve the shelf life of paints. In recent years, more stringent regulations have limited the possibilities and means of their use. These regulations safeguard the environment and health, but pose a challenge for producers as fewer biocides become available and their concentrations are required to be lower. Nevertheless, the quality and integrity of the finished products must be maintaned.

We have exceeded these requirements with SPEKTRA Pure&Care. We have adapted the paint formulation so that it is stable and resistant to micro-organisms or bacterial infections, without the usual additives for biocidal paint protection. It is a user and environmentally friendly interior wall paint, especially suitable for allergy sufferers. The paint is suitable for nurseries, schools, office spaces, bedrooms, children’s rooms, dining rooms ... and other heavily used areas.

We are continuously striving to manufacture products that are better for the user and the environment.