Take a breath: certified safety with SCA GRP pop-up roofs
When converting a camper, it’s not just about design and practicality – material quality and a healthy interior climate also play a key role. Especially when it comes to pop-up roofs, many people wonder whether materials may release emissions that could affect health – particularly as glass fibre reinforced plastic (GRP) is often associated with this topic. We are happy to provide a transparent overview for SCA pop-up roofs:
TÜV-tested quality – voluntarily below recommended limits
For components such as GRP roofs, there are no legally defined limit values or mandatory testing requirements in Germany. Instead, there are guideline values issued by the German Environment Agency, which serve purely as a reference.
We have deliberately chosen to remain well below these recommendations and voluntarily subjected our SCA pop-up roofs to a comprehensive emissions and odour test by TÜV Rheinland in 2023. Among other things, emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC), aldehydes and ketones, as well as other potentially relevant substances, were tested – in other words, precisely those substances which, at higher concentrations in GRP, can be not only unpleasant but also potentially harmful to health.
The result: our roofs have achieved emission class A.
This means that we remain well below the recommended guideline values across all relevant test parameters. In detail, the test report confirms that emission levels are significantly lower than the reference values defined in international standards (GB 27630-2011 or VW 50180:2019-04), as well as the guideline values set by the German Environment Agency.
Odours: normal, but harmless
New GRP pop-up roofs typically have a characteristic initial odour due to the material. This is completely normal and does not necessarily indicate any harmful emissions.
Our test results clearly confirm that these initial odours in SCA pop-up roofs are not harmful to health and diminish significantly after a short period of time.
Plastics expertise meets high-tech processes
Our expertise in plastics processing within the C.F. Maier Group is built on decades of experience. This know-how is one of the key reasons why we are able to manufacture our GRP roofs to such a high standard while maintaining very low emission levels.
The VEX process plays a crucial role here: precisely controlled curing and ventilation processes reduce potential residual substances during production. The result: durable, robust roofs with minimal emissions – ensuring maximum comfort and safety on every journey.