Determination of VOC-emissions from construction products and automotive components

People are spending an increasing amount of time indoors - at work, at home, in vehicles and leisure facilities. At the same time, building operation must become ever more energy-efficient due to climate change mitigation efforts, which necessitate minimizing uncontrolled heat loss from interiors. As air exchange is reduced, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), emitted from building products and furnishings into indoor spaces, can increase. Airtight buildings therefore require low-emission building products to ensure high indoor air quality.

The emission properties of building materials are investigated in emission test chamber experiments in accordance with DIN EN 16516. The testing method is based on the so-called model room concept. In a room with dimensions of 4 m x 3 m x 2.5 m (L x W x H), a window area of 2 square meters, a door area of 1.6 square meters, and an air exchange rate of 0.5/h, a building product is installed according to its typical use. Based on the product's surface area, room volume, and air exchange rate, the load (m² building product/m³ room volume) and the area-specific ventilation rate (m³/(m² building product · h)) can be calculated. In the emission test chamber, conditions are adjusted to accurately replicate the hypothetical conditions of the model room. An emission test chamber is typically made of glass or stainless steel, with virtually no inherent emissions, and is ventilated with purified compressed air (23 °C and 50 % RH).

According to standards, the test chamber experiment runs for 28 days. However, it may be extended and additional sampling intervals may be added to address specific research issues. On the third and 28th day of the test, standard air samples from the test chamber are routinely collected from adsorbents and analyzed by trace analysis. It is also possible to collect the test chamber exhaust air in sampling bags for odor evaluation.

The examination includes the determination of all volatile, moderately volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, as well as selected aldehydes and ketones, including formaldehyde. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography with optical detection (HPLC-DAD) are used as analysis methods.

The detected compound concentrations are evaluated according to the AgBB scheme and compared to the requirements of the Model Administrative Regulation on Technical Building Regulations (MVV TB, Annex 8). In addition, an assessment of the substance concentrations based on other criteria (e.g. Blue Angel, GEV emicode, etc.) is also possible.