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NARRATIVE REPORT
Berkeley Analytical Associates
815 Harbour Way South, Suite 6
Richmond, CA 94804
510-236-2325
Fax: 510-236-2335
Job Code: 209005
Report Date: November 30, 2004
Client: Samuel J. Goldberg, American Formulation & Manufacturing
Product I.D.: 5601Q-K814 Safecoat Water Based Resin Wax
Manufacturer’s I.D.: 5601Q
Production Date: November 10, 2004
Product Received: November 15, 2004
Report Prepared By: R.S. Tannous, Laboratory Director
Report Approved By: Signature on file
Raja S. Tannous, Laboratory Director

Date: ________________OBJECTIVE
The objective of this test was to measure the emissions of formaldehyde from a clear
coating sample at seven days. The test conformed to the guidance of the Japanese Industrial
Standard, JIS A 1901 (2003), “Determination of the emission of volatile organic compounds andaldehydes for building products-Small chamber method.”
SUMMARY
The coating was tested for emissions of formaldehyde. The test specimen was preparedby applying 1.43 grams of coating to a 178-mm x 178-mm (0.0316 m 2) stainless steel plate with aroller. The coating was let cure for one hour before transferring to testing chamber. The
environmental parameters for the test were 28±1°C temperature, 50±5% relative humidity and1.0±0.05 air change rate. Measurements of chamber VOC concentrations were made at 7 days.
Area-specific emission rates (EFa) were calculated by mass balance. The formaldehyde emission
factor was below the lower limit of quantitation of <2.1 µg m-2 h-1.
METHODS
Description of Product Specimen
On November 15, 2004, the laboratory received a product sample consisting of a containerof a clear coating. The sample was identified as: manufacture’s ID # 5601Q; product name
Safecoat Water Based Resin Wax; sample ID 5601Q-K814; manufacturing date 11/10/04. The
sample was handled in accordance with BAA-SOP-2000.02, “Selection, Collection and Handling ofMaterial Specimens for Testing to Determine the Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds.” On
November 17, 2004, the container was opened. The coating was first thoroughly mixed in its
container by stirring. Approximately 100 ml volume was transferred to an aluminum tray. A paintroller with a 10-cm cover was saturated with coating by running the roller back and forth in the tray.
The coating was applied to one side of a 178-mm x 178-mm (0.0316 m2) stainless steel plate using
four strokes, two in the vertical direction and two in the horizontal direction, so that the entire area

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was uniformly covered. 1.43 Grams of coating were applied in a single film. The coated surface
area was 0.0316 m2. Thus, the product loading was 45 g m-2. The test specimen was allowed todry for one hour before placing it on an open wire shelf in the test chamber.
Formaldehyde Analysis
The methods used for the sampling and analysis of formaldehyde and other carbonylcompounds are based on ASTM Method D-5197, "Standard Test Method for Determination ofFormaldehyde and Other Carbonyl Compounds in Air (Active Sampler Methodology).”
Sep-Pak XPoSure Aldehyde Samplers (Part number WAT047205, Waters, Corp.) areused to collect air samples for formaldehyde and other low-molecular weight carbonyl compounds.
Air is pulled through a sampler, and the acidified 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) reagent in thesampler reacts with carbonyl compounds to form the stable hydrazone derivatives that are retainedby the sampler. The hydrazone derivatives are eluted from a sampler with acetonitrile. An aliquotof the sample is analyzed for the hydrazone derivatives of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde using
reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detection. The
absorbance of the derivatives is measured at 360 nm. The mass responses of the resulting peaks
are determined using multi-point calibration curves prepared from standard solutions of thehydrazone derivatives.
Testing for Emissions of Formaldehyde from Materials Using Small-Volume Chambers
The methods used for the measurement of emissions of VOCs from this product specimen
are based on the Japanese Industrial Standard, JIS A 1901 (2003), “Determination of the emissionof volatile organic compounds and aldehydes for building products-Small chamber method,“English edition.
The chamber consists of a 67-L, stainless steel cylindrical vessel with a stainless-steel lid
equipped with three fittings. The chamber is held in an incubator that is maintained at 28±1o C.
Purified air from a clean air generator is introduced into the chamber through one fitting with astainless-steel tubing extension. The inlet flow rate of 1.12±0.06 standard L min-1 is regulated withelectronic mass-flow controllers (calibrated at 25o C and 1 atm. pressure). The gas stream is split
into two streams. One of these is passed through a bubbler containing distilled water. Thissaturated gas stream is mixed with the dry gas stream to produce a humidified gas stream with arelative humidity (RH) of 50±5% that is then introduced into the chamber. A humidity probe (ModelHMD 30YB, Vaisala) is inserted into the chamber through a second fitting on the lid. Chamber
temperature and humidity are measured and recorded throughout the test. Gas exits and issampled for the analytes of interest at the other fitting on the lid. Atmospheric pressure at thelaboratory is near 1 atm. Prior to use, the chamber and fittings are cleaned by washing them with
hot water and a detergent.
A clean, empty chamber is operated at the same testing conditions for at least three hours
prior to a test. Chamber background concentrations are measured. Then, the chamber is opened
and the material specimen is positioned on a wire rack approximately near the center of thechamber. To initiate a test, the chamber is sealed and ventilated. At specified times, gas samples
are collected at the chamber exhaust. The sample flow rates are regulated with electronic massflow controllers (calibrated at 25o C and 1 atm. pressure). Aldehyde samples are collected on
XPoSure Aldehyde Samplers at a flow rate of 0.65 standard L min-1. For this test, a 78-L gas
sample for the analysis of formaldehyde was collected 7-days after initiating the test period. Theparameters for the emissions test are summarized in Table 1.

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Table 1. Parameters for a formaldehyde emission test conducted in a small-scale chamber.
Parameter

ValueChamber volume, m30.067

Coating substrate

Stainless steel

Substrate dimensions, mm

178 x 178

Coated surface area, m20.0316

Loading ratio, m2 m-30.472

Weight of coating applied, g1.43

Inlet flow rate, m3 h-10.067 ± 0.003

Average temp, oC28 ± 1

Atmosphere

Humidified Air

Average humidity, %RH

50 ± 5

Test duration, day7

Data Analysis and Reporting for Emission Tests
Steady-state emission rates (µg h-1) are calculated for the quantified compounds using thefollowing equation:
ER = Q (C - Co)(1)

where Q is the volumetric flow rate (m3 h-1) through the chamber; C is the average chamberconcentration for the sampling interval (µg m-3); and Co is the chamber blank or inlet gas
concentration (µg m-3). An area-specific emission rate or emission factor, EFa (µg m-2 h-1) is
calculated by dividing the emission rate by A, the exposed planar surface area of the product (m2).
EFa = ER / A(2)RESULTS
Formaldehyde Emissions
The 7-day chamber sample was quantitatively analyzed for formaldehyde. The chamberconcentrations and area-specific emission rate results are presented in Table 2. The chamberblank concentration was below the quantitation limit of 1 µg m-3. The coating sample chamberconcentration was also below the lower limit of quantitation of 1 µg m-3.
Table 2. Chamber concentrations and emission factors of formaldehyde measured at 7 days for atest of 5601Q-K814 Safecoat Water Based Resin Wax.

CompoundFormaldehyde

Chamber Conc.
(µg m-3)

Emission Factor(µg m-2 h-1)

ND

ND