TVOC

Over the last decade, TVOC sensors have been touted as an interesting alternative to CO2 and RH sensors in DCV systems. Nevertheless, there is little evidence on the nature and the profile of TVOC concentrations in modern dwellings.

This article is devoted to Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in two low energy houses, with different frames (cast concrete (I-BB) and timber frame (I-OB)) built in platform INCAS of INES (National Institute of Solar Energy -in french: Institut National de l’Energie Solaire). In order to quantify pollutant emissions due to building materials and products, an experimental protocol consisted in stopping ventilation systems -”balanced ventilation”- of each house (a little before and during the measurement campaign), closing doors and windows, and not allowing occupant.

The objective of this research was to develop environment-friendly Hwangtoh binder for application of Hwangtoh for interior wall finishing materials in the housing. To mix with Hwangtoh powder, water soluble MPU resin with EVA, PVA, CaCO3 and inorganic fillers were designed. Far infrared ray irradiation, TVOC emission behavior, surface bonding strength and surface crack behavior were studied by comparing to epoxy/Hwangtoh blend as control.

To discuss the reduction of formaldehyde and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from engineered flooring, cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL)-formaldehyde (CF) resin and CF/PVAc resin were applied for the maple face of the veneer bonding on plywood. The CF resin was used to replace urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin in the formaldehyde-based resin system in order to reduce formaldehyde and VOC emissions from the adhesives used between the plywoods and fancy veneers. For the CF/PVAc resins, 5, 10, 20 or 30% of PVAc was added to the CF resin.

The aim of the study was to follow changes in allergens and airborne particles in the indoor environment during the first year in a newly started school. The building is from the sixties and was refurbished during the summer to be made suitable as a school. New internal walls and some new flooring were installed, and walls and ceilings were redecorated. Most of the furniture, textiles and lamps are new. Samples for allergen determination were collected by sampling settled dust with a vacuum cleaner. Airborne allergens were collected by a newly developed method involving an ionisator.

This case study conducted in a new air-conditioned building in Singapore was aimed at identifying, and assessing indoor levels of VOCs using a GC-MS method. The study identified 80 different compounds with Toluene appearing in all locations. Most VOCs detected were from building materials, adhesives, varnishes, sealing compounds, polyester carpets reflecting the age of the building and vehicular emissions reflecting the poor positioning of the air intake.

Measurements of VOC, formaldehyde, temperature, relative humidity, ventilation and inspections of humidity related problems were made in 178 randomly selected Swedish dwellings. More than one hundred single VOCs was identified with a mean concentration less than 25 μg/m3. The concentration of 80% of the identified VO Cs were less than 10 μg/m3. One-family houses had a higher concentration of VOCs than multi family houses.

Three buildings are investigated to study the indoor air quality and the impact of the outdoorair pollution. These buildings, a swimming pool, a school and a nursery are located in anurban area. So, during experimental studies, typical outdoor and indoor pollutants such ascarbon monoxyde, nitrogen dioxyde, carbon dioxyde, and total volatile organic compoundsare monitored. Also, the relative humidity and the temperature are carried out. The analysisallows us to reveal several points.