Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 10.2
Low TVOCs Recommended Emission Limits
for Building Materials and Furnishings
Maximum acceptable emission rate
a
Material/product
mg/h/m
2
Flooring materials
0.6
Floor coatings
0.6
Wall coverings
0.4
Wall coatings
0.4
Movable partitions
0.4
Office furniture
2.5 mg/h/workstation
a
Assumptions: air exchange = 0.5 ACH; maximum increment from
one source = 0.5 mg/m
3
.
Source:
From Tucker, W.G.,
Proc., 5th Interntl. Conf. Indoor Air Qual.
& Climate
, Toronto, 3, 251, 1990.
program, manufacturers
of materials, furnishings, and finishes must provide emission testing infor-
mation with their bids to ensure compliance with IAQ specifications, as well
as emission profile data which details how product emissions change over
time. The designer/builder of a Washington state office building must
develop and implement an indoor source control plan and assure that max-
imum allowable air concentrations are not exceeded.
In the state of Washington's
Healthy Buildings
Since hundreds of products are used in most
building projects, it would be difficult to evaluate all products to assure that
they do not produce harmful emissions. It is therefore desirable to identify
and evaluate those products (target products) that are more likely to pose
significant indoor contamination and exposure problems. Such problems are
likely to be related to product emission characteristics and the quantity and
nature of materials used. In identifying target products, consideration is
given to the overall building design, anticipated use of the space, material
and products to be selected, and quantities and applications anticipated for
each major product.
In selecting target products, emphasis is given to those materials which
have large surface areas such as textiles, fabrics, and insulation materials.
Materials considered to be significant contaminant sources because of their
surface area include floor coverings, ceiling tiles, horizontal office worksta-
tion surfaces, and workstation partitions. Using floor area as a reference, the
relative surface area for different floor coverings may vary from a fraction
to 100%; ceiling tiles that serve as a decorative ceiling surface and base for
return air plenums, 200%; workstation furniture, 15 to 35%; and interior
workstation partitions, 200 to 300%.
Emissions testing of target products is essential to determine types of
compounds emitted, emission rates, and changes in emissions due to envi-
ronmental conditions. The burden of testing should, in theory, be borne by
a.
Target products.
