Muovimattopinnoitteisen lattiarakenteen VOC-emissiot sisäilmaongelmatapauksissa
By: Helena Järnström.
Contributors: Valtion teknillinen tutkimuskeskus.
Series: VTT publications -- 571.; VTT julkaisuja -- 571.
Publisher: VTT
Published: 2005
Place of publication: [Espoo, Finland]
Language: fin
ISBN-13: 9789513866518; 9789513866525
Subjects: Volatile organic compounds -- Health aspects.; Indoor air pollution.; Floor coverings -- Environmental aspects.; Floor coverings -- Health aspects.
Other titles: VOC emission from the PVC coated floor structure at indoor air problem sites.
Description: The research project investigated whether it is possible to identify an indoor air problem by using measurement techniques that are available today for measuring indoor pollutants, as well as the effect of remediation procedures in the long run. Seven apartments were investigated in three different apartment buildings, where the occupants had been suffering from different symptoms. The air exchange rates were as regulated. As a renovation procedure, the floor covering and adhesive (and smoothing material at one site) was removed and replaced with a new, low-emitting product.  The concentration of indoor air pollutants (VOCs, formaldehyde, ammonia) was determined prior to the renovation. The concentration of the VOC compounds TXIB and 2-ethyl-hexanol were generally two times higher than normally according to the VTT Building and Transport indoor air database. The effect of inhabitants was investigated at the TXIB-sites. The TVOC, ammonia and formaldehyde concentration was two times higher in the inhabited apartments compared to the emptied and cleaned apartments. The TXIB concentration, however, was not effected by occupancy.  The floor structure was determined, by using FLEC-technique, to be the source of the pollutants at all sites. The emission levels of the pollutants were 3-4 (TXIB) and 3-5 (2-ethyl-hexanol) times higher than normally in reference buildings according to the VTT material emission database. A specific measurement approach was determined for the problem structure (floor). The research concluded that the emissions should be determined on site from the real structure at problem cases.  The indoor air concentration and emissions of the floor structure were followed during the first year after the renovation. The TVOC-level reached generally the S2-class (<300 ug/m³) according to the Finnish indoor climate classification.  The TXIB concentration was 10 ug/m³ on average and the TXIB-emission measured from the new floor covering was very low, 8 ug/m²h or smaller. The 2-ethyl-hexanol concentration was 21 ug/m³ or smaller and the 2-ethyl-hexanol emission of the floor covering was 25-46 ug/m²h. The results gained from a survey made among the inhabitants concluded that the symptoms had markedly decreased after the renovation.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 69-76).

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Abstract also in English.