ASTM D7143

Indoor materials/products are products or materials used for construction works or in the indoor environment. The area specific emission rates of volatile organic compounds from an indoor material/product may be used to estimate the expected contribution of emissions from that material/product to the atmosphere of a given indoor environment.

Emission data may also be used to compare and categorize different indoor materials/products of similar function.

Emission cell testing of area specific emissions may alternatively be used for studying secondary interactions (for example, sink effects (absorption and re-emission of volatile organics by the indoor material/product) or emissions generated by chemical degradation of the indoor material/product caused by specific atmospheric agents such as water, ozone or NO_x).

1. Scope

1.1 This practice is intended for determining volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from materials and products using emission cells. It can be applied in principle to most construction materials and many products used indoors. Objectives include:

1.1.1 To provide manufacturers, builders, and end users with emission data useful for evaluating the impact of building products, new or old, on indoor air concentrations in a model room.

1.1.2 To promote the development of products with lower VOC emissions.

1.2 This practice is for identifying emitted VOCs and for determining the area specific emission rate of VOCs from newly produced building products under defined climate conditions. The method can also be applied to aged products.

1.3 In accordance with the definition of an emission cell, it is also possible to perform nondestructive emission measurements on building products on-site in buildings. However, the procedure for such measurements is not described in this standard.

1.4 This practice describes the design, construction, performance evaluation and use of emission cells for VOC emission testing. Sampling, transport and storage of materials to be tested, and preparation of test specimens are also described.

1.5 Air sampling and analytical methods for the determination of VOCs are described in Practice D 6196. Alternative sampling and analytical approaches for formaldehyde and other carbonyls are described in Test Method D 5197.

Note 1—All volatile (vapor-phase) carbonyls except formaldehyde can be analyzed by either Practice D 6196 or by Test Method D 5197.

Note 2—Direct-reading instruments can also be applied for specific objectives.

Note 3—Some volatile inorganic compounds can, in principle, also be analyzed (for example, ammonia).

1.6 An example of an emission cell is described in Appendix X2 of this practice.

2. Referenced Documents

Others Standards and Documents
NordtestNTBuild438(1995) Building Materials: Emission of Volatile Chemicals--Field and Laboratory Emission Cell
ASTM Standards
D1356 Terminology Relating to Sampling and Analysis of Atmospheres
D1914 Practice for Conversion Units and Factors Relating to Sampling and Analysis of Atmospheres
D5116 Guide for Small-Scale Environmental Chamber Determinations of Organic Emissions from Indoor Materials/Products
D5197 Test Method for Determination of Formaldehyde and Other Carbonyl Compounds in Air (Active Sampler Methodology)
D5337 Practice for Flow Rate Calibration of Personal Sampling Pumps
D6196 Practice for Selection of Sorbents, Sampling and Thermal Desorption Analysis Procedures for Volatile Organic Compounds in Air
D6330 Practice for Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds (Excluding Formaldehyde) Emissions from Wood-Based Panels Using Small Environmental Chambers under Defined Test Conditions
D6670 Practice for Full-Scale Chamber Determination of Volatile Organic Emissions from Indoor Materials/Products

Index Terms

missions cells; indoor air quality; indoor materials; indoor products; materials emissions testing; organic emissions; volatile organic compounds; ICS Number Code 13.040.20 (Ambient atmospheres)

Citing ASTM Standards

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