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Between chemical pollution, fine particulate matter, and health risks, indoor air quality (IAQ) has become a major concern in construction and renovation projects. To support project owners, two leading standards exist in France: IntAIRieur and ECRAINS. Objectives, differences, benefits: find out which indoor air quality certification to choose for your project.
/ Why Indoor Air Quality Is Becoming a Key Issue /
The Main Indoor Air Pollutants
On average, we spend more than 80% of our time indoors, whether in our homes, at the office, at school, or in public spaces. Indoor air quality (IAQ) has therefore become a central issue for public health and building performance.
However, indoor air is not neutral and can contain many invisible pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), fine particles (PM2.5 and PM10), radon or even mold.
What are the health risks?
These pollutants can cause immediate effects such as
- respiratory tract irritation,
- headaches or allergies, and
- In the long term, contribute to the development of chronic respiratory or cardiovascular diseases.
Why incorporate IAQ from the design phase?
Indoor air quality (IAQ) also influences occupant comfort: excessively humid air, insufficient ventilation, or unsuitable building materials promote mold growth and create an uncomfortable environment. Furthermore, in the service and education sectors, poor indoor air quality is associated with decreased concentration, cognitive performance, and productivity.
Regulatory requirements and rising user expectations underscore the importance of addressing indoor air quality from the very beginning of the design process.
As a result, building owners and architects must select appropriate materials, incorporate high-performance ventilation systems, and plan monitoring measures at every stage of the project. Today, indoor air quality is no longer limited to mere comfort; it is also a key factor in health, performance, and sustainability, requiring structured methods and trained professionals to monitor it.
/ What are we really breathing? /
In summary:
- Chemical pollutants(VOCs, formaldehyde, NO₂, CO, benzene) come mainly from materials and products such as paints, adhesives, engineered wood, and heating systems.
- Physical pollutants(fine particulate matter PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀, radon, asbestos, and man-made mineral fibers) come from dust, outdoor air that has seeped in, and the soil beneath the building.
- Biological contaminants(mold, spores, bacteria, allergens) are caused by moisture and poorly maintained ventilation.
These thresholds are not merely theoretical: they serve as concrete criteria during measurement campaigns, upon acceptance of the building, and during its first year of operation.
/ IntAIRieur Label: Addressing air quality at the source, through materials /
What is it?
IntAIRieur is a French certification program specifically dedicated to indoor air quality in new or renovated buildings. Managed by Immolab since 2017 (a subsidiary of the Alkera Group), it has 10 certified projects and 43 currently in progress. Its approach: rather than correcting problems after the fact, reduce pollution at the source by choosing the right materials. In other words, fewer emissions of VOCs, formaldehyde, or particulate matter from the very beginning means healthy air throughout the building’s entire lifespan.
How does it work?
The method covers all phases of the project (assessment, design, construction, acceptance) with two levels of requirements:
- Essentialrequirements: mustbe followed consistently to ensure the building meets minimum compliance standards;
- Essential requirements: These are tailored to the specific characteristics of the project, such as the type of building, its intended use, or the environmental context. They must also be fully complied with.
Finally, upon delivery, measurement campaigns (VOCs, formaldehyde, fine particles, radon) validate compliance before the arrival of the occupants.
Who's driving?
An IntAIRieur consultant, appointed by the project owner, approves the selected materials and products, coordinates activities, and ensures the traceability of every decision. The consultant also plays a central role in documenting the project, ensuring that health requirements are met and that material choices are justified. This consultant must be trained and authorized by IMMOLAB to carry out this work. He or she serves as both an advisor and an evaluator. Finally, an additional inspection is conducted directly by Immolab, which approves the final reports.
Any benefits?
The IntAIRieur certification guarantees an approach specifically focused on indoor air quality, with systematic monitoring and inspections throughout the project. This approach ensures compliance with regulatory requirements for indoor air quality while aiming for the more ambitious goals defined by the certification. Beyond reducing health risks associated with exposure to pollutants and improving occupant comfort, the certification serves as a true mark of quality for the project owner.
In commercial real estate projects, it also serves as a selling point for future users and investors by demonstrating the project’s commitment to the health and well-being of its occupants. Finally, the traceability of decisions, the documentation of technical choices, and the inspection campaigns conducted upon delivery provide complete transparency into the process and reinforce the credibility of the stated performance metrics.
/ ECRAINS Certification: Ensuring Air Quality Throughout the Entire Project, from Assessment to Use /
What is it?
ECRAINS (Indoor Air Quality Assessment and Risk Control) is a certification program with a broader scope: to integrate indoor air quality from the design phase through the entire life cycle of a building. In fact, beyond materials, the certification program encompasses construction site practices, coordination among stakeholders, and the monitoring of corrective actions.
This French initiative has been led by ADEME since 2014 and is now coordinated by the Sustainable City & Planning network. Eleven projects have now been reviewed and certified.
How does it work?
ECRAINS is structured around four missions carried out throughout the project:
- Assessment: Identification of pollution sources, site-specific constraints, and pollutants of interest.
- Planning and Design: Defining QAI goals, selecting appropriate products and systems, and planning actions.
- Construction:site supervision, raising awareness among contractors, and verifying that requirements are properly implemented.
- Acceptance and Follow-Up: Validation of indoor air quality (IAQ) performance, including measurement campaigns upon delivery to assess VOCs, formaldehyde, fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀), radon, and other identified pollutants.
Who's driving?
The process is coordinated by an ECRAINS facilitator appointed by the project owner (MOA) and, if necessary, a project management facilitator (MOE). Together, they coordinate architects, contractors, and experts; organize follow-up meetings; and ensure traceability of compliance with requirements. This facilitator is also trained and accredited by the Ville & Aménagement Durable network.
Any benefits?
The ECRAINS certification guarantees comprehensive control over indoor air quality by reducing health risks associated with chemical, physical, and biological pollutants, ensuring optimal comfort, and enhancing the building’s value. The program also provides clear guidance for project owners, improved coordination for architects and engineering firms, and practical support for contractors to optimize their on-site practices. Finally, for end users, ECRAINS ensures a healthy and sustainable indoor environment, starting at handover and continuing throughout the first year of operation.
/ Interior or screens: which to choose?
Both labels share the same goal: to guarantee optimal indoor air quality for occupants, but their approach and scope differ. IntAIRieur focuses on the products and materials used in construction or renovation, while ECRAINS adopts a comprehensive approach, covering the entire project, from the diagnostic phase to handover and up to the first year of operation.
A detailed comparison
Criterion | IntAIRieur | SCREENS |
|---|---|---|
Main Objective | Limit occupants' exposure to chemical, physical, and biological pollutants, with a focus on the materials and products used | Ensure indoor air quality (IAQ) throughout the entire project: materials, construction practices, coordination among stakeholders, and overall monitoring through final acceptance |
Scope | Assessment, Design, Construction, and Acceptance | Assessment, planning, design, construction, and acceptance, including the first year of operation |
Methodological Approach | Requirements categorized as mandatory and essential, tailored to the project | Requirements categorized as mandatory and essential, implemented in phases and overseen by a mentor |
Chemical pollutants | VOCs, formaldehyde, NO₂, CO, heavy metals | VOCs, formaldehyde, NO₂, CO, heavy metals, and specific pollutants identified during the assessment |
Physical Pollutants | PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀, radon | PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀, radon, construction dust, and fibers |
Biological pollutants | Mold, fungal spores | Mold, fungal spores, and other biological contaminants |
Key Players | IntAIRieur Consultant for the Project Owner | ECRAINS Project Owner (MOA) and Project Manager (MOE) Support, including full coordination with the project management team and contractors |
Measures and Monitoring | Measurement campaigns upon delivery (VOCs, formaldehyde, PM, radon) | Measurement Campaigns at Delivery and Monitoring During the First Year of Operation |
Benefits | Reduced health risks, increased comfort, enhanced project value, rigorous documentation | Comprehensive management of indoor air quality (IAQ), optimized coordination, risk reduction, comfort and safety for occupants, and comprehensive methodological monitoring |
Cost | Equivalent for the certification body and the AMO (total similar to ECRAINS) | Equivalent for the certification body and the AMO (total similar to IntAIRieur) |
Benefits | Requires compliance with its requirements even if they conflict with those of another label or certification. | Adapts according to certifications and labels (retaining the most stringent objectives, without any conflicts between the requirements of different certifications or labels). |
Key differences to remember:
- Focus: IntAIRieur focuses on products and materials; ECRAINS covers the entire project.
- Support: IntAIRieur limits its support to delivery, while ECRAINS includes the first year of operation and ongoing management.
- Key Players: ECRAINS mobilizes several support staff and coordinates all participants, while IntAIRieur focuses on a central support staff member.
- In terms of budget, however, the two certifications are equivalent(certification body + project management support):
Certification Costs
(excluding AMO assignments)
Residential buildings
Number of housing units | Price (€) 2025 |
|---|---|
11 to 30 housing units | 3,000 € (excluding tax) |
31 to 60 housing units | 5,000 € (excluding tax) |
61 to 100 housing units | 6,800 € (excluding tax) |
From 101 to 200 housing units | 8,500 € (excluding tax) |
201 or more housing units | 10,000 € (excluding tax) |
Tertiary
Area (m²) | Price (€) 2025 |
|---|---|
< 1 000m² | 5,250 € (excluding tax) |
Between 1,001 m² and 5,000 m² | 6,800 € (excluding tax) |
Between 5,001 and 10,000 square meters | 8,500 € (excluding tax) |
Between 10,001 m² and 20,000 m² | 10,000 € (excluding tax) |
> 20,000 m² | Upon request |
Therefore, the choice between the two labels should be guided by the nature of the project, the desired level of pollutant control, and the project owner's capacity to implement comprehensive and systematic monitoring. Either label can be chosen based on priorities, but it is not necessary to obtain both certifications to achieve optimal indoor air quality (IAQ).
/ How does it compare to HQE and BREEAM certifications? /
The HQE and BREEAM certifications include indoor air quality among their evaluation criteria, but it represents only one component of a much broader set of standards, alongside energy, carbon, water, waste, biodiversity, and comfort. In contrast, the IntAIRieur and ECRAINS certifications focus all of their requirements on ensuring indoor air quality.
This difference in objective therefore translates into a very different level of requirement and specialization.
BREEAM and HQE: Indoor air quality among other criteria
In BREEAM, credits related to IAQ are optional: a building can achieve an excellent certification level without necessarily seeking credits related to indoor air quality. Furthermore, the series of measurements taken upon delivery focuses on total VOCs and formaldehyde, with no strict requirement to meet the specified thresholds. Finally, certification is based primarily on the existence of an IAQ management plan, regardless of whether other associated credits are earned.
In HQE (High Environmental Quality), indoor air quality is well taken into account, but the minimum requirements remain relatively unstructured for the project. For example, depending on the desired performance level, it is still possible to demonstrate air quality control through numerical simulations or documentary justifications, without a full measurement campaign being systematically carried out upon handover.
Interair and ECRAINS: a dedicated approach
In contrast, IntAIRieur and ECRAINS require a process specifically designed around IAQ. Their approach includes, in particular:
a detailed analysis of pollution sources starting at the planning stage;
- selection and validation of materials based on their emissions;
- consideration of chemical, physical, and biological pollutants, not just VOCs and formaldehyde;
- acceptance testing campaigns that, depending on the certification standard and the project, include VOCs, formaldehyde, fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀), radon, and other pollutants identified during the assessment;
- Support provided by a professional specifically trained in indoor air quality (AMO IntAIRieur or ECRAINS consultant), ensuring an expert interpretation of the requirements and technical oversight throughout the project.
QAI-trained staff
Finally, another distinguishing factor lies in the expertise of the professionals involved. BREEAM assessors and HQE auditors are specialists in environmental certification standards, but do not necessarily have in-depth expertise in indoor air quality. The IntAIRieur and ECRAINS certifications, on the other hand, rely on consultants specifically selected for their experience and trained in this field, who are capable of identifying risk scenarios, evaluating technical decisions, and ensuring consistent monitoring of the IAQ strategy throughout the entire project.
Ultimately, the HQE and BREEAM certifications and the IntAIRieur and ECRAINS labels do not share the same objectives and are part of complementary approaches. The former focus on a building’s overall environmental performance, while the latter provide a level of expertise and standards specifically dedicated to indoor air quality. Thus, for project owners who wish to go beyond the IAQ requirements of general environmental certifications, IntAIRieur or ECRAINS provide a relevant tool for structuring the process, strengthening control over health risks, and offering additional assurances to future occupants.
/ At Sinteo: Two Experts, Two Accreditations /
Our Approach with IntAIRieur
With Lauriane Rigouleau, an AMO IntAIRieur Tertiaire-accredited professional, and Romain Masse, an AMO IntAIRieur Logement-accredited professional, Sinteo:
- evaluates materials according to their emissions of VOCs, formaldehyde and other pollutants, with regard to the IntAIRieur, WHO and RSD (Departmental Health Regulations) thresholds;
- analyzes and validates product data sheets to select only those that ensure a healthy indoor environment;
- documents each decision to ensure compliance and traceability for the project owner.
The IntAIRieur intervention thus makes it possible to secure the project from the design stage, with a preventive approach focused on products, reducing health risks and improving the comfort of future occupants.
Our Approach with ECRAINS
With Loïc Haras, an ECRAINS consultant, Sinteo can cover the entire project lifecycle and:
- is responsible for defining the QAI objective, identifying pollutants of concern, and implementing the appropriate method for each phase;
- chairs coordination meetings, raises awareness among businesses, and oversees mandatory technical inspections;
- monitors compliance with mandatory and essential requirements, from the initial assessment through final acceptance, including the control of chemical, physical, and biological contaminants;
- manages the tracking of corrective actions and continuous optimization to ensure the final QA performance.
It is, therefore, an approach that benefits everyone: rigorous oversight for the project owner, clear coordination for the project manager, and guidance on best practices for contractors.
/ In Brief /
Indoor air quality is a major issue for health, comfort, and performance. The IntAIRieur and ECRAINS labels offer structured but distinct approaches:
- IntAIRieur: Focused on controlling emissions from materials and products.
- ECRAINS: a comprehensive approach, from design through the first year of operation, covering all pollutants.
The right choice therefore depends on your project, the pollutants targeted and the desired level of monitoring.
Finally, in both cases, on-site measurement campaigns ensure compliance, and the benefits are the same: fewer health risks, greater comfort, and a building that retains its value.