White washable water-based paint for indoor use: Quality Performance classification according to EN 13300


COVERING CAPACITY: 12.8 m²/L, according to ISO 6504-1-1990, Test Report No. 04/9002, released by the Italian Institute for Quality Certification (Istituto di Certificazione Qualità S.r.l.) based in Cabiate (COMO PROVINCE);

RESISTANCE TO LIQUIDS: Class 2 (< 20 µm after 200 brushing cycles), according to ISO 11998-2003, Test Report No. 05/9002, released by the Italian Institute for Quality Certification (Istituto di Certificazione Qualità S.r.l.) based in Cabiate (COMO PROVINCE);

VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS CONTENT (VOC): < 10 mg/L, according to ISO 11890-2-2000, Test Report No. 4300-2004, released by the Italian Institute for Research and Testing (Istituto di Ricerche e Collaudi) "M. Masini S.r.l", based in Rho (MILAN PROVINCE);

HEAVY METALS CONTENT (Cadmium, Lead, Chromium VI, Mercury and Arsenic): < 1 mg/kg, determined through ICP Spectroscopy, Test Report No. 2524-2005 dated 30.06.2005, released by the Italian Institute for Research and Testing (Istituto di Ricerche e Collaudi) "M. Masini S.r.l", based in Rho (MILAN PROVINCE);

ALLERGENIC EFFECT: HIPOALLERGENIC PAINT, clinically and dermatologically tested (not on animals). Test Reports No. 63/05/01 and 64/05/01 dated 25.03.2005, released by the I.S.P.E. S.r.l. (Institute of Skin and Product Evaluation in Milan); Test Report No. 925/05 dated 15.03.02005, released by EUROCHEM Research (EUROCHEM Ricerche S.r.l.) based in Padova;

PRESERVATIVES AND BIOCIDES CONTENT: water-based paint lacking of formaldehyde and relative precursors; lacking of 5-Chloro-2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one (N. CE 247-500-7) and 2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one (N. CE 220-239-6) (3:1) as a mixture; isothiazolinon compounds content < 200 ppm, according to criterion 5, paragraph f of the Eco-Label Directive 2002/739/Ec dated 03.09.2002 (limit value: 500 ppm);

Performance description and measurement methods


The above parameters have been determined by Accredited Laboratories and have therefore an official value.
Let's look in details at how the examined parameters are actually related to the product performance during its application and can contribute to increase our well being and that of the environment where we live.

COVERING CAPACITY: it is the paint's capacity of transferring its colour to the substrate. It is determined according to ISO 6504-1-1990 International Standard and allows obtaining an objective usage value (expressed in m²/L) that can be compared with that of other water-based paints. The actual usage, during application, can vary according to the substrate's characteristics (wall, plasterboard, previously varnished wall, etc…), the presence of imperfections and the absorption degree.
Eco-Label rules 2002/739/CE concerning Varnishing Products for indoor use establish that the minimum usage value to guarantee the paint good performance to the consumer is 8 m²/L.
VITASAN FAMILY PAINT related value is 12.8 m²/L; therefore, it is much higher than the established one (8 m²/L).

RESISTANCE TO LIQUIDS: it is the paint's capacity of creating a layer which adheres to the substrate and resists to frequent washing. The resistance to liquids is determined according to ISO 11998- 2002 International standard and to the EN 13300 and allows simulating the washing of a dried painted film and measuring the decrease of thickness after cleaning operations. The Eco-Label Directive 2002-739/CE establishes that a paint for indoor use can be subject to washing and cleaning if the resistance to liquids value belongs to class 3 or to a lower class, or if after 200 washing cycles the thickness of the film decreases of less than 70 µm. After 200 cycles, VITASAN FAMILY PAINT loses 14 µm in thickness, exceeding well over the above criteria of washability and entering completely "class 2".

VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS CONTENT (VOC): is the effective measurement of the content and of volatile substances the paint releases during application and drying. The V.O.C. can have harmful effects for the human health (irritations, allergies, disorder of breathing etc.) while, on a large scale, they are among the gases responsible for the global warming, that is to say the greenhouse effect.
The V.O.C. content is determined according to ISO 11890-2-2001 International Standard. The paint sample is heated at 250°C, and a quantitative analysis of the volatile compounds released during the treatment is carried out.
VITASAN FAMILY PAINT usage does not entail any significant VOC emission, since the determined value in lower than 10mg/L, much lower than the limit established by the Eco-Label 2002/739/EC Directive (30000mg/L).

HEAVY METALS CONTENT: this is a parameter related to the analytical determination of the Cadmium, Lead, Chromium VI, Mercury and Arsenic, heavy metals that are harmful for the body and the aquatic ecosystem since they tend to stock inside vital tissues.
Paint has heavy metals because it uses raw materials of mineral origin (fillers, pigments, zinc oxide, etc...). VITASAN FAMILY PAINT is a water-based paint conceived thanks to raw materials adequately selected, in order to guarantee the heavy metals content lower than 1 mg/kg (for any single element).

PRESERVATIVES AND BIOCIDES CONTENT: it is a parameter related to the use of chemical agents to preserve the paint, substances able to avoid fungal growth, alga and bacteria while stocking the paint.
Like VOC, also biocides have harmful effects for the environment and the human health (they mainly cause allergies). Yet, VITASAN FAMILY PAINT is a water-based paint conceived with selected, non-volatile and formaldehyde-free preservatives (classified as carcinogenic agents); their quantity is lower than the one established by the Eco-Label Directive 2002/739/CE (content: lower than 200 ppm, limit value: 500 ppm).

ALLERGENIC EFFECT: a water-based paint is hypoallergenic when, according to the related parameter, irritations or allergenic phenomena charging the user during application or people living in the same environment as the paint is are absent or nearly absent. VITASAN FAMILY PAINT is a water-based paint clinically and dermatologically tested, classified as "HIPOALLERGENIC". This product has not been tested on animals, but on a relevant number of volunteers under direct clinical check-up.
Before evaluating possible allergenic effects and irritations charging volunteers, VITASAN FAMILY PAINT has been tested on epidermis in vitro.

Besides the above qualitative performance, the application of VITASAN FAMILY PAINT allows obtaining, at the end of drying, the so- called "daisy effect"."