People may spend as much as 90% of the time indoors.
So, the indoor air quality has a vital impact on human health.

VOCs or volatile organic compounds, predominantly found in buildings following construction, emit from materials used to construct and furnish the building.

CETEC in combination with our sister company FORAY Laboratories can test these VOC or chemical emissions including formaldehyde for the many different types of building materials/products used in construction, fittings and furnishings, such as carpets, adhesives and insulation. 

Criteria, guidelines and recommended limits have been established for pollutant emissions from manufactured products, interior materials and other pollutant sources in buildings.

At FORAY we use a small scale environmental chamber for testing the chemical or VOC emissions of materials.  We are able to undertake testing and provide Test Certificates in accordance with:

• ASTM
• ISO
• Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), Green Star compliance
• Carpet & Rug Institute (USA) / CRI Green Label and
• Carpet Institute of Australia methodologies.

Typically we test samples of larger materials (e.g. carpet) or the individual components of a larger assembly.

We are able to collect and analyse both organic (e.g. formaldehyde, VOCs) and inorganic (e.g. ammonia, hydrogen cyanide) emissions from materials. In the case of VOCs we have available Gas Chromatography with Mass Spectrometry to achieve low detection limits and the identification of most compounds.

To learn more contact CETEC today on 03 9544-9111

For more information about how to achieve or test for Low-VOC emitting building products.

To view a presentation made by Dr Robert Schiller on Chemical Emissions And Material Selection for Healthy Buildings made at Healthy Cities - March 2009.

To view article published in the proceedings of Ecoforum 2009 held April 2009 in Sydney entitled Measurement of Chemical Emissions from Building Products by Dr. Lakshmi Yerramilli et al.
 

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