As a decorating choice, coatings remain as
popular as ever, with specifiers and consumers also showing strong interest in
using green products. An important consideration when selecting green products
– and a point of some confusion in the marketplace – is what criteria to use to
evaluate which paints do the best job of minimizing VOCs in indoor air.
Historically, the focus has been on the contribution of VOCs to outdoor air
pollution, in particular ozone and smog formation. To reduce the impact of VOCs
in coatings on the outdoor environment, federal and state regulations set
limits in terms of VOC content, usually expressed as grams per liter minus
water. As a result, coating manufacturers have complied with these regulations
by reducing the VOC content in their products.
However, relying strictly on content verification can be misleading, since it
does not give a clear picture of how much of a particular VOC or the total
amount of VOCs from paint may be getting into indoor air. Nor does it give an
accurate picture of how the VOC emissions from a product will affect the total
VOCs in the area where paint is being applied. For example, results of air
sampling studies have shown when paint is drying, indoor VOC levels can be
1,000 times higher than in outdoor air. Some VOCs can cross contaminate other
indoor materials and then continue to outgas for an extended time.
Limiting exposure to VOC emissions is important in protecting public health.
VOC exposure has been linked to respiratory illnesses, such as allergies and
asthma, memory impairment, headaches, reproductive and developmental problems,
sensory irritation, immunosuppression and cancer. Keep in mind that health
impact may be dependent on specific VOCs, levels of VOCs, and potential
mixtures of VOCs.
Another point of confusion is coating products marketed as having low or no
VOCs can still emit significant amounts of VOCs into the indoor air. The
results of a comparative study of VOC content/emissions, conducted by Air
Quality Sciences (AQS), illustrates this important point (see table below) and
underscores that the only accurate way to ensure a healthy indoor environment
is to measure VOC emissions from the products themselves.
In recognition of the health risks associated with VOC emissions, the
Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) green construction program
defines acceptable indoor air quality (IAQ) performance based on a product's
emissions levels. In addition, U.S. Green Building Council's LEED®
for Schools has strengthened its criteria to encourage the use of low-emitting
products, including coatings.
To meet regulatory and market demands and to reduce product liability risks,
coatings manufacturers will increasingly need to demonstrate their technology
leadership by testing and monitoring VOC emissions to ensure their products
emit low levels of VOCs and potentially reformulate those products that do not
comply with emission limits.
The most reliable and scientifically proven way to test for VOC emissions is by
using environmental chamber technology (ECT). This method allows a product to
produce emissions similar to the way the product would perform in a home,
office or school. The collected data is then mathematically modeled to
determine exposure concentrations produced by product application in many
different indoor environments.
Those who embrace a strategy of VOC emissions testing, along with responsibly
using products that are certified as low emitting (not just low VOC content),
will realize major benefits, including:
- achieving green building credits;
- increasing goodwill and positive PR associated
with industry leadership in addressing public health
issues;
- reducing the risk of product liability
lawsuits; and
- receiving fewer product-related odor and
irritation complaints from building occupants.
As the pioneer of environmental chamber technology and key partner in the
development of ASTM testing protocols for product emissions using ECT, AQS is
ready to partner with the coating industry to create and maintain healthy
indoor environments by offering the most complete and most sensitive testing of
paint and coating products. AQS also employs experts who can help manufacturers
modify their product formulations to be the best performers and the best at
protecting the indoor environment and building occupants. AQS provides testing
and analysis for the GREENGUARD Certification program and for California's
01350 and CHPS requirements.
Visit www.uptilt.com/c.html?s=3jj,15pqf,2oqy,kdgo,khkd,9962,4xmy to learn more
about how environmental chamber testing can help you, or call 770/933.0638 and
ask for Product Evaluations to order the analysis. Also, visit Aerias, the AQS
IAQ Resource Center, to learn more about VOCs and other indoor pollutants.
Aerias may be accessed from the AQS website or at www.uptilt.com/c.html?s=3jj,15pqf,2oqy,d1fo,es1g,9962,4xmy.
For a listing of products that are certified to emit low levels of VOCs, visit
the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute site at
www.uptilt.com/c.html?s=3jj,15pqf,2oqy,fdd5,27a3,9962,4xmy.
This article provided courtesy of Air Quality Sciences,
Inc.
