Put out a call for a Moss wall — without naming a manufacturer.
A moss installation is in the planning stage, the specifications need to be drawn up — and this is new territory. This page provides you with everything you need: the system features explained in plain language and quality criteria that you can formulate in a product-neutral way. For interior spaces.
Describe the Features, not the product: 100% genuine, preserved moss, dyed right through rather than surface-treated, pre-fabricated on backing boards and dry-fitted — Fire behaviour in accordance with DIN EN 13501-1, Sound absorption in accordance with DIN EN ISO 354, without watering, without light, without pruning, with a specified guarantee period. Every requirement with the addition “or equivalent”. The detailed criteria are set out in the table below.
Do you need the documents as a complete set rather than in extracts? If so, please request the Planner’s Pack to — we’ll send it to you by email.
What you need to know about the system — before you describe it
The material — preserved moss
100% genuine natural moss, the sap of which has been replaced by a preservative solution. No plastic, no imitation, but not a living plant either: it has no metabolism and therefore no need for water, light or substrate that your installation would have to cater for.
The dyeing — Druckpräparation+
In our Druckpräparation+ process, the moss is dyed right through (deep dyeing) rather than being treated only on the surface. For the specification, this is the crucial difference: moss that has been treated only on the surface looks exactly the same on the day of collection — but changes afterwards.
The structure — support system
The panels are manufactured as prefabricated elements on support boards and are installed dry onto the site-prepared substrate. No water connection, no electrical connection, no drainage — the interfaces with your other trades are therefore kept to a minimum.
Installation — carried out without the use of water and usually completed in a single day
Prefabricated in Oppach, installed without causing a mess or disrupting site operations — throughout Germany and internationally. In terms of construction scheduling, this means a single, brief appointment towards the end of the fit-out, rather than a separate phase lasting several weeks.
The guide explains where the differences lie between this and a living Plant wall in a business setting — in terms of technology, maintenance and the risk of failure — Comparison of fresh and preserved specimens from.
Eight quality criteria — worded in a product-neutral manner
No manufacturer names, no references to competitors: just the requirements a system must meet, each followed by the phrase ‘or equivalent’. Use this wording as a starting point and adapt it to suit your project.
| Criterion | Suggested wording for the specifications | Why it belongs here |
|---|---|---|
| Material | “100% genuine, preserved natural moss; plastic imitations and textile replicas are not permitted — or equivalent.” | Distinguishes real moss from plastic products, without naming a manufacturer. |
| Dyeing processes | “Moss must be completely dyed throughout its entire cross-section (deep dyeing); purely superficial dyeing or varnishing is not permitted — or equivalent.” | The quality that determines how it looks years down the line — and which you can’t see in any photograph. |
| Fire behaviour | “Fire performance classified in accordance with DIN EN 13501-1; the classification required for the building must be demonstrated for the installed version in the quotation — or an equivalent standard.” | The classification relates to the product as manufactured, not to the raw material. You should therefore request proof of this with the quotation. |
| Sound absorption | "Sound-absorbing surface; absorption values must be verified in accordance with DIN EN ISO 354 — or an equivalent standard." | Make the acoustic effect quotable, rather than leaving it as a promotional claim in the specifications. |
| Architecture & Interfaces | “Prefabricated elements on support panels, dry installation on the client’s existing substrate; without water, waste water and electrical connections — or equivalent.” | Excludes systems that retrofit connections and drainage to the property. |
| Maintenance | “No watering, no plant lighting, no pruning; a standing maintenance or care contract must not be required for the upkeep of the area — or its equivalent.” | Prevents the client from being left with follow-up costs that are not included in the quoted price. |
| Warranty | “Guarantee of colour and texture retention of the moss; the duration of the guarantee must be specified in writing by the tenderer in the tender — or equivalent.” | Asking someone to describe how long it lasts says more about the product than any technical specification sheet. |
| Origin & Manufacture | “Made to measure based on measurements taken on site; the origin of the material and the place of manufacture must be specified in the quotation — or equivalent.” | Distinguishes between manufacturers and retailers — without naming any names. |
The wording provided consists of technical suggestions drawn from completed projects; it does not constitute legal advice. You and your contracting authority must decide whether a requirement is admissible and sufficiently specific in the context of a particular procurement procedure.
Fire performance, acoustics, warranty — and how to obtain the supporting documents
Fire behaviour
Our moss products are classified in accordance with DIN EN 13501-1. For hotels, hospitals and public buildings, we manufacture versions treated accordingly on request; the additional cost is calculated on a project-by-project basis.
We will provide the documentation relating to the design envisaged for your property on a project-by-project basis upon request.
Sound absorption
Up to 60% sound absorption in accordance with DIN EN ISO 354. As the achievable value depends on the type of moss, the surface area and the room geometry, it should be included in the specifications as a requirement for the system — not as a guaranteed calculated value for the finished room.
The basics are set out in the Acoustics Collection; you can obtain the documents for your specification on request.
Warranty & Maintenance
We offer a lifetime guarantee on the moss for indoor use. The surface is maintenance-free: no water, no light, no trimming — there is no maintenance contract that you would need to include in your operational plan.
The reason for this is explained by the Guide to Care & Durability.
You must not specify a particular manufacturer — You are perfectly entitled to expect certain qualities.
That is precisely what the list of criteria above achieves: it sets out what the surface must be capable of — type of material, colour throughout the cross-section, fire behaviour in accordance with DIN EN 13501-1, verified sound absorption in accordance with DIN EN ISO 354, maintenance without the need for technical equipment, and the specified warranty period. Each line ends with “or equivalent”, each line can be met by any tenderer offering a suitable system. It is no coincidence that our profile meets these requirements — but it is up to you to decide which of them should be included in your specifications.
Technical guidance, not legal advice. The responsibility for assessing your specifications in accordance with public procurement law rests with you and your contracting authority.
This page shows extracts. The planner’s pack shows everything.
Interior spaces — documentation available on request
Technical specifications regarding the structure, evidence of fire performance and sound absorption for the intended design, as well as a text module tailored to your project for the tender documents: we compile the documents on a project-by-project basis rather than making them available as a generic download — because the details depend on the specific design. Request the Planner’s Pack Just a sentence about the project will do.
The façade is a different matter
Our Greenovation system applies to green façades — it has its own structure, its own specifications and its own design documentation. Do not apply the values on this page to external applications: you will find the façade documentation in the Architecture section of the World Outside.
Before sampling: holding the material in your hand
You can’t tell how deep the colour is from a technical data sheet — but you can feel it straight away between your fingers. For meetings with clients and for your own collection of materials, there is the Sample box. The final cost of the project is determined by the Cost Guide one.
Frequently asked questions to the call for tenders
How do I describe a Moss wall in a neutral way?
Focus on characteristics rather than brands: type of material, dyeing process, construction and interfaces, fire behaviour in accordance with DIN EN 13501-1, sound absorption in accordance with DIN EN ISO 354, maintenance, warranty, as well as origin and place of manufacture — each requirement accompanied by the phrase ‘or equivalent’. The list of criteria above is designed precisely for this purpose. The assessment of your wording under public procurement law remains with you and your contracting authority; we provide the technical specifications on which you base it.
What information regarding fire behaviour can I use?
Classification in accordance with DIN EN 13501-1. Our moss products are classified in accordance with this standard; for hotels, clinics and public buildings, we manufacture versions that have been treated accordingly on request, with the additional costs calculated on a project-by-project basis. Please specify the classification required for your project in the specifications and request proof of the installed version with the quotation — we will provide the documentation relating to our version on a project-by-project basis upon request.
Which acoustic parameters can be verified?
Up to 60% sound absorption in accordance with DIN EN ISO 354. Treat compliance with this standard as a requirement for the system, not as a guaranteed value for the room — the actual performance in the finished room depends on the type of moss, the surface area and the geometry. The principles are set out in the Acoustics Collection, you can obtain the documents for your specifications on request.
What needs to be included in the lease agreement regarding maintenance and upkeep?
Ideally, what is not needed: no water, no light, no pruning — and therefore no water connection, no plant lighting and no maintenance contract as a prerequisite for the site’s continued existence. This is precisely what distinguishes living systems from preserved ones; the comparison is made by the Guide: fresh or preserved.
What warranty am I entitled to claim?
A guarantee covering the colour and texture stability of the moss, the duration of which the tenderer must specify in writing in their tender. For indoor applications, we provide a lifetime guarantee on the moss — based on the fact that it is fully dyed using the ‘Druckpräparation+’ process.
What budget should I include in the cost estimate?
Bespoke Moss walls start at around €400 per m²; the final price depends on the surface area, type of moss, texture and installation conditions. The pricing structure, including example projects, is explained by the Cost Guide.
Do the same criteria apply to a façade?
No. This page deals with indoor applications. For green façades, our Greenovation system applies, which has its own structure, its own technical specifications and its own planning documents — you can find these in the Architecture section of the World Outside.
Have a chat with someone, who built the wall.
Handcrafted in Oppach in Oberlausitz, manufactory since 1998, with over 25,000 projects since 2016: we know the questions that end up in the specifications. On weekdays, we’ll get back to you within 24 hours.