Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP
Luftprobenahme auf flüchtige organische Verbindungen in einem Besprechungsraum.
VOC Concentration in Indoor Environments
Environment, Hygiene and Sensor Technology
On-site sampling for indoor air quality assessment
In industrialized countries, people spend 80 % or more of their day indoors, whether in buildings or vehicles. Consequently, indoor air quality significantly impacts the health and well-being of occupants. The relevant group of substances affecting air quality includes volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Building certification systems, such as BNB or DGNB, therefore set requirements for air quality in buildings to achieve successful certification. Likewise, car manufacturers limit VOC concentrations in vehicle cabins. Achieving high indoor air quality can be planned from the outset: The use of low-emission materials and construction products can help minimize VOC emissions into indoor air. Nevertheless, there are always complaints about health impacts or noticeable unpleasant odors. A room air analysis can help identify the sources of these complaints.
Indoor air samples are collected on suitable adsorbers and adapted to each specific issue, and then analyzed in the laboratory. The identified substances and their concentrations in the indoor air are compared against reference or recommended values. If irregularities are detected, material samples can be taken and analyzed to identify the sources of indoor air pollution.
| Measurand | concentrations of volatile organic compounds in indoor environments |
| Standards | DIN EN ISO 16000-2, DIN EN ISO 16000-5, DIN ISO 16000-3, DIN ISO 16000-6 |
| Measurement objects | common rooms, offices, kindergartens, schools, living rooms |
Special features
- Active sampling on solid-phase or reactive absorbers
- Detection and quantification of VVOCs, VOCs, SVOCs, selected organic amines as well as selected aldehydes and ketones
- Identification and quantification using thermal desorption GC/MS, HPLC/DAD, and LC/MS-MS.