Small chamber tests for measurement of VOC emissions from flooring adhesives

Emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from building products can adversely affect indoor air quality. Within Europe, standard test methods have been developed to determine VOC emissions from building products, which form a basis for labelling of low emission products. This paper assesses the reproducibility of testing of VOC emissions from a flooring adhesive using a 1 m(3) environmental chamber and a BRE micro-chamber. The adhesive was used for a recent inter-laboratory comparison to validate a labelling scheme called EMICODE, for controlling emissions of VOCs from flooring products. There was good agreement of results from the repeated BRE 1 m(3) environmental chamber tests, and to an acceptable degree, the micro-chamber test. Sample preparation and the analytical method were important factors affecting the reproducibility of testing in the inter-laboratory study. Results are also reported on the use of an emission cell (FLEC) to assess VOC emissions from flooring adhesives.