VOC Emission Tests

VOC EMISSION TESTS

VOC – Volatile organic compounds

Emissions of volatile organic compounds (vocs)into the atmosphere contribute to the formation of tropospheric ozone (ozone in the lower atmosphere). This gas, in large quantities is harmful to humans, to vegetation and crops in general. Tropospheric ozone is also a greenhouse gas.
The VOC tests give manufacturers the opportunity to measure harmful emissions of their products in compliance the statutory limits for these substances.
In conclusion, a VOC test determines the amount of volatile organic compounds that a product emits into the atmosphere. There are limits on the amount of harmful substances that can be emitted from materials. Consumers can distinguish low-emission products from normal products through specific labels, determine the competitiveness of producers in the market.

Regulations:

Volatile organic compounds are contained in many products, due to their volatility, vocs can be released into the surrounding air both during production phases, application and use of the finished product. Several countries have restrictions on the content of VOC and the products, other regulations instead limit only emissions and do not care about those VOCs that remain in the product and are not released into the air.

These regulations use different terms and definitions from each other:

• UNI EN ISO 16000-9: “Air in confined areas: determining volatile organic compounds from building products and finishing products – Method in emission test chamber”;
• ASTM D5116-10: “Standard Guide for small-scale environmental chamber determinations of organic emissions from indoor materials/products”;
• GEV Testing Methods: “Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds for control of emission from products for flooring installation, adhesives, construction products and wood flooring coatings”;
• UNI EN 717-1: “Wood-based panels determining the release of formaldehyde Part 1: formaldehyde emission using the method of room.”

World Health Organization

The WHO World Health Organization, as cited in ISO 16000-6, has defined VOC as any organic compound with a boiling point in the range from (50 degrees C to 100 degrees C) to (240 degrees C to 260 degrees C), corresponding to the saturation vapor pressure at 25 degrees C sup 100 kPa.
ISO 16000-6, EN 16516, VOC regulations in Europe, AgBB and more
Total VOCs  are defined in ISO 16000-6 and EN 16516 as all VOCs (ISO 16000-6) or as the sum of all volatile organic compounds detected, sampled on Tenax TA, which elute from a non-polar or slightly polar gas chromatographic separation column between and including n-hesian and n-hesadecano (n-C6 -n-C16), measured by selective mass detector and quantified as a Toluene equivalent. This covers any organic compound with a boiling point between 68 degrees C and 287 degrees C. This definition is the most widely used for VOC emission tests worldwide.

Emissions Tests – VOC Climate Chamber

The iso1600-9 determines the need for tests in the climate chamber to determine emissions fromvolatile organic compounds of construction products.
Galli emission test climate cells are designed to meet the parameters of Iso 1600-9, EN 717-1, ASTM D6007, ISO 12460 and other emission testing standards.

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