Volatile Organic Compound Testing

Paint, floor board finishes, new carpets, underlay, MDF and cleaning products are just some common sources of volatile organic compounds ( VOC's ). New buildings and products will almost always have high levels of VOC's due to the glues and chemical compounds that make up the material or product. This is a big reason why generally speaking indoor air is up to 6 times more polluted than outdoor air and up to 25 times more polluted in new buildings. Volatile organic compounds are often referred to as off-gassing into the indoor air. Formaldehyde ( a known carcinogen used extensively in many common building materials ) is often one of the largest contributors in the field of off-gassing VOC's in new buildings.

When testing for volatile organic compounds there are 2 different ways in which this can be done.

The first is by using a meter called a photo-ionisation detector which will provide instantaneous readings on site. However it will only provide a reading on the overall level of VOC's but will not distinguish between the different VOC's present. This is okay to get a general idea of VOC levels but is very limiting as some VOC's have higher exposure limits than others and you do not have any idea of what individual VOC's you are reading.

The second option is to use a sorbent tube (charcoal tube) and draw in air (via a pump) over this tube. This tube is then sent to a laboratory and the exact details of what VOC's are present as well as the concentration of each can be determined. This method is more costly but will provide a detailed report of chemical vapours present and the concentrations of those volatile chemicals.

It is important to note that on warmer days (as the temperature increases) the amount of VOC off-gassing will increase. This is why it is important to discuss the air quality concerns with a Building Biologist who will then determine the best time and method to use for testing the indoor air.