Indoor air quality (IAQ) measures the air inside and around your home or business. Good IAQ keeps everyone comfortable and healthy. In the workplace, air quality affects employee satisfaction and work attendance. Some environments may contain organic chemicals known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can become hazardous.

Get the 411 on these compounds and discover how volatile organic compounds testing can help you eliminate possible sources of air contamination:

What are VOCs?

Volatile organic compounds are organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at room temperature. This essentially creates a condition where low boiling points make VOCs very likely to evaporate into the surrounding air when they sit in your home or office. 

Some VOCs are man-made, while others are naturally occuring. Thousands of products like paints, aerosols, and building materials contain organic chemicals that become VOCs when used or stored. These products are typically subject to regulation, especially indoors due to high concentrations. 

VOCs can be found almost anywhere and pose a potential threat to both humans and the environment. When you smell the odors of new construction, cleaning, or remodeling, you are likely catching the scent of VOCs. 

Types of VOCs

What should you look out for? Watch for these VOC sources in your home:

• Paint, paint strippers, and other solvents 
• Cleaners and disinfectants
• Stored fuels and exhaust from automotive use (benzene)
• Pesticides
• Dry-cleaned clothing (perchloroethylene)

Businesses are also a big culprit for VOCs. Things to be on the lookout for include:

• Building materials, ceiling tiles, and adhesives (formaldehyde)
• Office equipment like copier and printer supplies
• Glues, adhesives, or other graphic materials
• Permanent markers and photographic solutions
  
  

When to Be Vigilant

EPA studies show VOC concentrations can be 10 times higher inside than they are outside. VOC air pollution can significantly affect your IAQ. In fact, certain activities can even cause VOCs to reach concentrations that are 1,000 times greater than they are in outdoor environments!

Most of the time, the presence of one VOC won’t cause dangerous concentrations, but the measure of total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) can contribute to sick employees and a hazardous workplace.

Be especially vigilant if you’re in a new office space. When you combine fresh paint, wood floor preservatives, new furniture, building material and the cleaning supplies that make it sparkle, you may have enough VOCs to create the perfect storm.

Seasons matter. Many indoor air environments contain three to four times more VOCs in the winter than they do in the summer. When businesses stay sealed, toxins can’t escape.

Volatile Organic Compounds Testing Basics

Before testing for VOCs, concentrate on reducing exposure by taking these steps:

• Increase ventilation
• Read product labels and take the recommended use precautions
• Identify and remove sources of indoor air pollution
• Buy hazardous materials in limited quantities and dispose of what you don’t use

Testing can detect VOC sources in your home or business. There are two standardized methods. Both the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) developed guidelines for detecting and measuring VOCs. 

Here’s what you can expect during an assessment:

• Technicians collect air samples in an evacuated stainless-steel canister 
  or analyze the air in real-time using instrumentation that contains either photoionization detectors (PID), flame ionization detectors (FID), or both
• If necessary, technicians collect samples over a period of eight hours or more
• Air quality specialists analyze samples to determine the concentrations of volatile compounds.
• Your air quality partner provides a recommended action plan to reduce and remove detected VOCs

Custom VOC Testing

If you have concerns about the possibility of VOCs in your home or office, testing can help you identify and eliminate sources of contamination. The air quality specialists at BCX Energy can customize assessments to meet your unique needs. 

Schedule a free consultation with our professional, qualified team to discuss how VOC testing can help you keep your employees and family members safe, happy and healthy!