Indoor Air Quality
As people encounter more chemicals at home, at school and at work, it is critical we use New Science to understand potential hazards and minimize adverse health effects.
Inside this journal:
Air Quality Databases, Paint and VOCs, Semi-VOCs, Environmental Chamber To Go
About New Science Journals:
This journal is part of New Science, dedicated to showcasing how UL is advancing and innovating safety in our fast changing world through the demonstration of fundamental discovery, testing methodologies and equipment, procedures, software and standards.
Directed at: Manufacturers, retailers, built environment professionals, policy and other influencers, service professionals, press/media
Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a term which refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants.
Green Building And Indoor Air Quality Jpl 6 14 09guest23a287b
MicroShield Environmental Services provides a presentation reviewing their approach to Indoor Air Quality and Green Building.
Presentation by John P. Lapotaire, CIEC
for Lake and Sumnter County Home Builders Association.
Greentech commercial air surface purifiers from Cleanworld.caPhil Shames
PureAir Commercial Air Purifiers made by Greentech Environmental and sold by Cleanworld.ca are far superior to air purifiers that simply filter the air.
PureAir air and surface purifiers emit particles that are effective against viruses, bacteria, mold, mildew, and allergens.
This document outlines the commercial line of air and surface purifiers offered. It also includes an independent lab report that outlines the effectiveness of the technology.
DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF CATCH AND KILL AIR FILTERvivatechijri
Airborne transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) via airconditioning systems poses a significant threat for the continued escalation of the current coronavirus disease
(COVID-19) pandemic. Considering that SARS-CoV-2 cannot tolerate temperature above700C, here we are
designing and fabricating efficient filter based on heated nickel (Ni) foam to catch and kill SARS-coV-2. The virus
can remain in the air for about three hours, a filter can kill the virus almost instantly. According to the study,
published in journal Materials today Physics, 99.8 percent of aerosolized SARS-CoV-2 was caught and killed by
single pass through a novel Ni- Foam-based filter when heated up to 2000C. In addition, the same filter was also
used to catch and kill 99.9 percent of Bacillus anthracis, an airborne spore. This study paves the way for
preventing transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and other highly infectious airborne agents in closed environments. Air
filters are common enough daily items, familiar to anyone who has ever used an air conditioner on a hot summer’s
day, but scientist clarified that a common air filter cannot kill the SARS-CoV-2 as well as other highly infectious
airborne viruses. Hence This project is about designing and fabricating the catch and kill air filter to help essential
workers are at elevated risk of exposure mainly at schools, health care facility, hospitals etc. by providing them
safety. This project will help people to buy air filters with lower cost and highest safety during this pandemic
Sustainability is not just a word! Some facts behind the market drivers for more sustainable products. Contact environment@ul.com for more information.
For more than a century, UL has advanced Fire Safety with the goals of helping to prevent fires, injury and loss of life, and minimize property damage. Advances in materials, design and construction techniques offer new benefits but also present new challenges and risks, making fire more dangerous today than in the past. From detection and reaction to containment, suppression and prevention, Fire Safety represents an increasingly complex ecosystem. UL works with manufacturers, authorities, built environment professionals and the firefighter community to stay at the forefront, creating New Science to shape the future of Fire Safety.
http://www.ul.com/firesafety
Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a term which refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants.
Green Building And Indoor Air Quality Jpl 6 14 09guest23a287b
MicroShield Environmental Services provides a presentation reviewing their approach to Indoor Air Quality and Green Building.
Presentation by John P. Lapotaire, CIEC
for Lake and Sumnter County Home Builders Association.
Greentech commercial air surface purifiers from Cleanworld.caPhil Shames
PureAir Commercial Air Purifiers made by Greentech Environmental and sold by Cleanworld.ca are far superior to air purifiers that simply filter the air.
PureAir air and surface purifiers emit particles that are effective against viruses, bacteria, mold, mildew, and allergens.
This document outlines the commercial line of air and surface purifiers offered. It also includes an independent lab report that outlines the effectiveness of the technology.
DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF CATCH AND KILL AIR FILTERvivatechijri
Airborne transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) via airconditioning systems poses a significant threat for the continued escalation of the current coronavirus disease
(COVID-19) pandemic. Considering that SARS-CoV-2 cannot tolerate temperature above700C, here we are
designing and fabricating efficient filter based on heated nickel (Ni) foam to catch and kill SARS-coV-2. The virus
can remain in the air for about three hours, a filter can kill the virus almost instantly. According to the study,
published in journal Materials today Physics, 99.8 percent of aerosolized SARS-CoV-2 was caught and killed by
single pass through a novel Ni- Foam-based filter when heated up to 2000C. In addition, the same filter was also
used to catch and kill 99.9 percent of Bacillus anthracis, an airborne spore. This study paves the way for
preventing transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and other highly infectious airborne agents in closed environments. Air
filters are common enough daily items, familiar to anyone who has ever used an air conditioner on a hot summer’s
day, but scientist clarified that a common air filter cannot kill the SARS-CoV-2 as well as other highly infectious
airborne viruses. Hence This project is about designing and fabricating the catch and kill air filter to help essential
workers are at elevated risk of exposure mainly at schools, health care facility, hospitals etc. by providing them
safety. This project will help people to buy air filters with lower cost and highest safety during this pandemic
Sustainability is not just a word! Some facts behind the market drivers for more sustainable products. Contact environment@ul.com for more information.
For more than a century, UL has advanced Fire Safety with the goals of helping to prevent fires, injury and loss of life, and minimize property damage. Advances in materials, design and construction techniques offer new benefits but also present new challenges and risks, making fire more dangerous today than in the past. From detection and reaction to containment, suppression and prevention, Fire Safety represents an increasingly complex ecosystem. UL works with manufacturers, authorities, built environment professionals and the firefighter community to stay at the forefront, creating New Science to shape the future of Fire Safety.
http://www.ul.com/firesafety
Driving Performance and Transparency in Green Building Products and Materials...Sustainable Brands
is UL white paper provides an overview of the various ways in which building product manufacturers can demonstrate compliance with green building certification programs and codes, such as LEED, International Green Construction Code (IgCC), California’s Green Building Standards Code, Green Globes, and the Living Building Challenge. The paper also discusses the various tools intended to aid in the evaluation and selection of environmentally preferable products, such as environmental product certifications, Lifecycle Assessments (LCAs) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), as well as the specific functions of each. The white paper concludes with some thoughts about the value of both performance and transparency metrics in achieving environmental leadership.
All You Need to Know About Customer Journey MappingRealtimeBoard
A simple guide to customer journey mapping. It covers the basic definition of the journey, step-by-step mapping process, common mistakes, and related templates.
Bonus: click on the link to get a free demo board with online templates https://realtimeboard.com/app/board/o9J_k0oPqnw=/
Original article: https://realtimeboard.com/blog/customer-journey/
Journey mapping tool: https://realtimeboard.com
Product Presentation Manual
Dean Nedvecki
Owner and CEO - Windrift NrG [Natural resources Group]
Windrift@EcoQuestintl.com
"Clean - Air : Power : Water for your Healthy Home & Business”
Visit my store at: http://www.ecoquestintl.com/windrift
Evaluation of the indoor air quality of beato angelico building of the univer...University of Santo Tomas
This research work on the Evaluation of the Indoor Air Quality of Beato Angelico Building of the University of Santo Tomas, Manila was made possible through a grant provided by the university.
Apart from the presence of airborne contaminants and other harmful pollutants within the workplace, pathogenic microorganisms that, if left uncontrolled, will eventually become a significant health risk and the consequent cause of infection and ill health amongst staff members. The Air Revolution™ boasts nanotechnology at the forefront of Applied Physical Science, and furthermore is unparalleled in efficiency and reliability, making it a unique forerunner in portable ‘surface to air’ purification devices.
The slide show attached is from a webinar given by Airmid Healthgroup in particularly the team that run the health friendly air™ division. It is a broad overview of issues relating to optimising the indoor environment for health and well-being.
In addition to the health friendly air program airmid healthgroup regularly conducts major environmental field studies in homes throughout the USA and Europe as a key part in assessing the impact of a product or service on indoor air quality and health. These studies produce highly valuable data by quantifying the level of reduction in bio-aerosols achieved in a real world situation.
They provide the opportunity for a company to move up the value chain and establish a strong evidence based premium position over their competitors by focusing on health in the home.
The quality of indoor air has deteriorated as we increasingly seal up our homes for energy efficiency. The consequential effects on health are evidenced by the numbers of people suffering from asthma and allergies. In the USA alone, it is estimated by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America that almost 70% of homes have occupants who can be defined as sufferers. Any product or service which can be proven by established data to reduce allergen levels in the home will be of considerable interest and importance to a significant proportion of the population.
Particulates including allergen, bacteria and mold can be measured both in surface and airborne samples. Particle size in the breathing zone can also be assessed, which is of importance due to the risk associated with inhalation of small particles. A particle size of less than 10μm has been associated with adverse health effects and this is more pronounced at particle sizes less than 2.5μm. This is reinforced by the WHO and EPA stance on particle size. Sampling is carried out by our qualified occupational hygienists and all samples are processed and analysed at our accredited facilities.
We customise the studies to meet the requirements of the client, providing advice and sourcing the type and number of homes required in order to achieve high quality and meaningful statistical data on the efficacy of the product or service being studied.
If you have any questions please contact: Graeme Tarbox; gtarbox@airmidhealthgroup.com
Proposal Procedure toDesign AnOptimum Ventilation System For Chemical LaboratoryIJRESJOURNAL
ABSTRACT:This paper aims to provide a proposal for design of an optimum ventilation system for: Good and safe environment,Comfortable workplace for laboratories occupants and Ensure the health of the surrounding environment while minimizing the energy consumption. Concentration level of materials in laboratory is analyzed in correlation with air exchange rate, toxicity and area of laboratory.
This report is a complement to a global study, Navigating the Product Mindset, that features marketplace trends, statistical data, differing stakeholders, varied geographies, diverse industries and a technical panel of UL experts. This report presents the key findings related to the high-tech industry. It is based on 2,430 quantitative interviews with manufacturers and consumers across a range of significant export and import markets — China, Germany, India and the United States.
Navigating the Product Mindset and its additional industry reports seek to better understand market forces; drivers of decisions; findings related to safety, performance, sustainability and innovation; and the motivations behind these views.
This report is a complement to a global study, Navigating the Product Mindset, that features marketplace trends, statistical data, differing stakeholders, varied geographies, diverse industries and a technical panel of UL experts. This report presents the key findings related to the food industry. It is based on 2,430 quantitative interviews with manufacturers and consumers across a range of significant export and import markets — China, Germany, India and the United States.
Navigating the Product Mindset and its additional industry reports seek to better understand market forces; drivers of decisions; findings related to safety, performance, sustainability and innovation; and the motivations behind these views.
UL Product Mindset Industry Report Building MaterialsUL
This report is a complement to a global study, Navigating the Product Mindset, that features marketplace trends, statistical data, differing stakeholders, varied geographies, diverse industries and a technical panel of UL experts. This report presents the key findings related to the building materials industry. It is based on 2,430 quantitative interviews with manufacturers and consumers across a range of significant export and import markets — China, Germany, India and the United States.
Navigating the Product Mindset and its additional industry reports seek to better understand market forces; drivers of decisions; findings related to safety, performance, sustainability and innovation; and the motivations behind these views.
This is the inaugural issue of a global study by UL that features marketplace trends, statistical data, differing stakeholders, varied geographies, diverse industries and a technical panel of UL experts. Entitled, Navigating the Product Mindset, the study and its additional industry reports seek to better understand market forces; drivers of decisions; findings related to safety, performance, sustainability and innovation; and the motivations behind these views.
The Product Mindset is conducted annually to help businesses better understand the growing concerns and priorities of their diverse constituents and the impact perceptions have on making, selling, buying and consuming products.
The 2012 study is based on quantitative research of manufacturers and consumers in China, India, Germany and the U.S. This year’s study uncovers the Forces creating uncertainty and shaping the market; the Attitudes that have shifted from last year’s optimism to a new realism and sophistication; Priorities like safety, quality and the environment that address fundamental demands; and the Impact created by the supply chain, globalization and traceability that defines how the priorities are delivered.
Technology is transforming transactions — offering greater ease, speed and mobility — but also creating potential security risks. New Science is working to safeguard innovation and protect transactions.
Inside this journal:
Brand Test Tool, Smart Wave Box, TSM Test Suite, Vulnerability Analysis
About New Science Journals:
This journal is part of New Science, dedicated to showcasing how UL is advancing and innovating safety in our fast changing world through the demonstration of fundamental discovery, testing methodologies and equipment, procedures, software and standards.
Inside this journal:
Air Quality Databases, Paint and VOCs, Semi-VOCs, Environmental Chamber To Go
About New Science Journals:
This journal is part of New Science, dedicated to showcasing how UL is advancing and innovating safety in our fast changing world through the demonstration of fundamental discovery, testing methodologies and equipment, procedures, software and standards.
Fire Safety, Issue 1
Synthetic materials, new types of smoke and complex energy sources are making fires today more hazardous than ever before. New Science helps prevent, mitigate and educate about the risks involved.
Inside this journal:
PV Panels, Lithium-Ion Batteries, Redefining Smoke, Modern Residential Fires
About New Science Journals:
This journal is part of New Science, dedicated to showcasing how UL is advancing and innovating safety in our fast changing world through the demonstration of fundamental discovery, testing methodologies and equipment, procedures, software and standards.
Directed at: Manufacturers, retailers, built environment professionals, policy and other influencers, service professionals, press/media
An introduction to the cryptocurrency investment platform Binance Savings.Any kyc Account
Learn how to use Binance Savings to expand your bitcoin holdings. Discover how to maximize your earnings on one of the most reliable cryptocurrency exchange platforms, as well as how to earn interest on your cryptocurrency holdings and the various savings choices available.
Recruiting in the Digital Age: A Social Media MasterclassLuanWise
In this masterclass, presented at the Global HR Summit on 5th June 2024, Luan Wise explored the essential features of social media platforms that support talent acquisition, including LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok.
Navigating the world of forex trading can be challenging, especially for beginners. To help you make an informed decision, we have comprehensively compared the best forex brokers in India for 2024. This article, reviewed by Top Forex Brokers Review, will cover featured award winners, the best forex brokers, featured offers, the best copy trading platforms, the best forex brokers for beginners, the best MetaTrader brokers, and recently updated reviews. We will focus on FP Markets, Black Bull, EightCap, IC Markets, and Octa.
Top mailing list providers in the USA.pptxJeremyPeirce1
Discover the top mailing list providers in the USA, offering targeted lists, segmentation, and analytics to optimize your marketing campaigns and drive engagement.
FIA officials brutally tortured innocent and snatched 200 Bitcoins of worth 4...jamalseoexpert1978
Farman Ayaz Khattak and Ehtesham Matloob are government officials in CTW Counter terrorism wing Islamabad, in Federal Investigation Agency FIA Headquarters. CTW and FIA kidnapped crypto currency owner from Islamabad and snatched 200 Bitcoins those worth of 4 billion rupees in Pakistan currency. There is not Cryptocurrency Regulations in Pakistan & CTW is official dacoit and stealing digital assets from the innocent crypto holders and making fake cases of terrorism to keep them silent.
3.0 Project 2_ Developing My Brand Identity Kit.pptxtanyjahb
A personal brand exploration presentation summarizes an individual's unique qualities and goals, covering strengths, values, passions, and target audience. It helps individuals understand what makes them stand out, their desired image, and how they aim to achieve it.
Building Your Employer Brand with Social MediaLuanWise
Presented at The Global HR Summit, 6th June 2024
In this keynote, Luan Wise will provide invaluable insights to elevate your employer brand on social media platforms including LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok. You'll learn how compelling content can authentically showcase your company culture, values, and employee experiences to support your talent acquisition and retention objectives. Additionally, you'll understand the power of employee advocacy to amplify reach and engagement – helping to position your organization as an employer of choice in today's competitive talent landscape.
Discover the innovative and creative projects that highlight my journey throu...dylandmeas
Discover the innovative and creative projects that highlight my journey through Full Sail University. Below, you’ll find a collection of my work showcasing my skills and expertise in digital marketing, event planning, and media production.
At Techbox Square, in Singapore, we're not just creative web designers and developers, we're the driving force behind your brand identity. Contact us today.
Implicitly or explicitly all competing businesses employ a strategy to select a mix
of marketing resources. Formulating such competitive strategies fundamentally
involves recognizing relationships between elements of the marketing mix (e.g.,
price and product quality), as well as assessing competitive and market conditions
(i.e., industry structure in the language of economics).
2. NEW CHALLENGES
CALL FOR NEW SCIENCE
Progress is an unstoppable, transformative force. New technologies,
product advances and globalization are arriving one on top of another
at a dizzying pace. Innovation makes us more efficient, more productive
and more connected. But there is a cost, and that cost is risk. To help
mitigate the emerging risks, UL is developing New Science. Through
fundamental discovery, testing methodologies and equipment,
procedures, software and standards, UL is creating new and important
ways to make the world safer.
3. Indoor AIR QUALITY
OVERVIEW
UL’s Indoor Air Quality New Science involves a variety of important
breakthroughs that help improve quality of life. Leaders in environmental
chambers, we have created a first-of-its-kind environmental chamber to
go, allowing companies to test large equipment that previously could not
be examined. Our proprietary air quality databases for Product Chemicals,
Building Air and Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds enable us to apply
advanced data mining, analytics and predictive modeling capabilities to
help in the development and use of products that are environmentally
safe. We have furthered New Science by establishing an innovative
analytical technique to measure semi-volatile organic compound
emissions like those given off by phthalates and flame retardants.
INDOOR AIR QUALITY 3
4. Environmental
Chamber To Go
Paint & volatile
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
Semi-volatile
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
Air Quality
Databases
5. context
With increased regulatory requirements and growing sensitivity about chemical
emissions, there is a growing need for product testing. For some large-scale industrial
products and equipment, such testing has not been possible. There was no way for our
customers to ship these products to one of our labs in the U.S., China or Germany to
test for chemical emissions.
What did UL do?
In 2012, our R&D teams in Atlanta diligently worked to create a prototype chamber that
could recreate conditions approaching those found in our state-of-the-art facilities.
The chamber needed the ability to enclose products as constructed, but it also needed
to be able to be shipped easily to different locations, to be collapsible and to be scaled
to various sizes. Design and engineering experts had to create the chamber from
inert materials that would have minimal impact on the testing. The air supply to the
chamber is perhaps its most unique feature. It is pure and stripped of all chemicals
and particles, and it utilizes air manifolds that simulate regular air patterns to recreate
typical conditions in the space. Design engineers worked to develop a modular and
portable system that would provide the necessary clean air. The resulting innovation
is the Environmental Chamber To Go — a controlled testing environment that can
be easily packaged, shipped anywhere in the world and constructed in multiple sizes.
Through its clean-air system, the chamber is supplied with 100-percent purified air, and
with built-in air manifolds air is able to move at the proper room exchange rate.
UL’s unique Environmental Chamber
To Go provides manufacturers of
large equipment with chemical
emissions information they were
not able to obtain previously.
INDOOR AIR QUALITY / ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMBER TO GO 5
6. WHY IT MATTERS
UL’s unique Environmental Chamber To Go provides manufacturers of large equipment
with chemical emissions information they were not able to obtain previously. The
chamber testing also provides a comprehensive understanding of their equipment’s
effects on air quality by collecting three key pieces of information:
• Determining what type of occupational exposure there is to equipment operators
• Determining what type of emissions there are to the outdoor air, which are often
regulated to meet certain VOC requirements
• Determining emissions to the indoor environment and the emissions’ effect on
indoor air quality
IMPACT
The Environmental Chamber To Go provides information that will help keep operators
safer, inform manufacturers about the impact of their products on both outdoor
and indoor air, and allow any improvements and updates to be made efficiently.
UL’s Environmental Chamber To Go has been successfully piloted in Europe.
Through its clean-air system
the chamber is supplied with
100-percent purified air, while built-
in air manifolds allow air to move at
the proper room exchange rate.
INDOOR AIR QUALITY / ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMBER TO GO 6
7. Environmental
Chamber To Go
Paint & volatile
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
Semi-volatile
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
Air Quality
Databases
8. context
Twenty percent of the U.S. population, or nearly 55 million people, spend their days
in elementary and secondary schools.1 Studies show that half of the nation’s 115,000
schools have problems linked to indoor air quality. Young students in particular are at
greater risk of exposure to indoor air pollutants because of the hours spent in school
facilities, their biological susceptibility and the inability to detect airborne hazards.2
Children breathe at a faster rate than adults; this coupled with their smaller body mass
results in a higher dose of available pollutants for a child than for an adult.3
Paint products, a common source of volatile organic compounds, are frequently used
to refresh school appearance and improve surface durability. The requirements for
paint are often based on VOC content limits and do not address the emissions of
specific compounds. The VOCs associated with paints and coatings, however, may be
by-products of the paint drying process, or they may be low in concentration and not
determined by content measurement.4
What did UL do?
Conventional wisdom is that “No-VOC” or “VOC-Free” paint has little to no VOC
emissions and thus would not contribute to the level of VOCs in indoor air. However,
results of two recent innovative studies of VOC content and emissions conducted by UL
show that VOC emissions from a paint claiming “No VOCs” are not uncommon.5
First, to better understand the relationship between VOC content and emissions, UL
scientists conducted multiple dynamic environmental chamber emissions tests on a
series of paint and coating products with a range of stated VOC content levels from 0 to
150 g/L. Products were applied to interior drywall using standard application procedures
and placed in environmental chambers, and air emissions were analyzed for VOCs and
low-molecular-weight aldehydes.6
INDOOR AIR QUALITY / PAINT & VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS 8
9. Results demonstrated that there was no direct correlation between reported VOC
content and VOC emissions into indoor air. It was also demonstrated that a paint
product with a reported “No VOC” content, according to outdoor air regulations,
can emit VOCs into the indoor air.7
To add a further dimension to our findings, UL scientists in partnership with the Georgia
chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council conducted a school demonstration study
at a public middle school in Savannah, GA, to evaluate the indoor air quality benefits
of using a third-party-verified low-VOC-emission interior semigloss paint. Airborne
measurements of VOCs were made up to 14 days after the application of both the
traditional paint and the verified low-VOC-emission paint. The low-VOC-emission paint
resulted in a 90 percent reduction in total VOCs within 24 hours after application, in
comparison to the one industrial paint that had traditionally been used in the school.8
In addition, all the VOCs associated with the low-VOC paint were below detectable
levels within seven days, whereas emissions from the traditional paint could still be
observed in the air after 14 days.9
Overall, UL’s R&D team was able to demonstrate that low total VOC content is not
necessarily indicative of acceptable VOC emissions for specific chemicals with known
health impacts. The VOCs associated with paints and coatings can be either ingredients
that are added to the paint to formulate and enhance product performance and shelf
life, or they can be by-products of the paint application and drying process.10 UL’s study proves that low-VOC-
emission paints minimize indoor air
pollution loads and reduce health risks
WHY IT MATTERS
to both students and faculty.
Currently, high-quality, “low-toxicity,” and “low-VOC” paint and coating products with
required performance characteristics are available for use in school environments,
but they have not been widely adopted. UL’s study proves that these paints minimize
indoor air pollution loads and reduce health risks to both students and faculty.
IMPACT
As a result of UL’s innovative research proving the lack of correlation between measured
VOC content and emissions, building owners, facility managers and consumers can
be aware and take proactive steps to minimize indoor air pollution resulting from the
use of wet construction products such as paints, coatings, adhesives and sealants. They
can specify and choose paints that have been verified to have low VOC emissions for
indoor environment use and avoid claims made for VOC content based on outdoor air
regulations. This data also supports the USGBC’s recommended LEED 2012 EQ Credit
for Low-Emitting Interiors, which proposes explicit requirements for VOC emissions for
wet products including adhesives, sealants, paints and coatings.
INDOOR AIR QUALITY / PAINT & VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS 9
10. Environmental
Chamber To Go
Paint & volatile
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
Semi-volatile
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
Air Quality
Databases
11. context
Semi-volatile organic compounds are the least volatile of all VOCs. They include
plasticizers such as phthalates, flame retardants such as brominated organic
compounds and organophosphate esters, and material components such as
caprolactam. Even though they are the least volatile, there is strong concern about
product-related SVOC emissions, as these chemicals may attach to indoor surfaces
such as airborne particles and settled dust. The particles then become an exposure
route for SVOCs when they are inhaled or ingested.11
What did UL do?
The analytical technique needed to test for SVOC emissions is especially challenging,
because they emit for a longer period of time at a much lower concentration than
typical VOCs. Our R&D team’s advancing research methods have allowed UL to
optimize our measurement protocol, thus enabling us to test SVOC emissions
commonly found in products at very low levels.
To assist product manufacturers, built environment professionals (specifiers, building
managers, architects), and health experts, UL has developed analytical techniques
for measuring common SVOCs in the air. This technique involves collecting indoor air
on specialized sorbent tubes, followed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry
analysis. GC/MS is a method that combines the features of gas-liquid chromatography
and mass spectrometry to identify substances within a test sample. Our scientists
use this technique in tandem with product evaluations conducted in controlled,
environmental chambers to measure a wide range of volatile organic compounds from
very volatile to semi-volatile.12
INDOOR AIR QUALITY /SEMI-VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS 11
12. Why it matters
Many SVOCs have been linked to serious health concerns, and many, like some
phthalates, are endocrine disruptors and affect reproductive development. Possible
serious health risks associated with the chemicals used as flame retardants have
sparked a debate about whether the benefits outweigh the risks. In a comprehensive
assessment of polybrominated diphenyl ethers, the Environmental Protection
Agency concluded that the key routes of human exposure are likely from their use in
household consumer products and their presence in house dust — not from dietary
routes as with other Persistent Organic Pollutants.13
Impact
The unique testing methods UL has created for evaluating SVOCs enable us to measure
a very broad range of chemicals emitted by manufactured products. As chemicals
continue to proliferate in our work and living environments and manufacturers seek
to monitor their global supply chains and minimize hazardous chemicals, our ability
to develop new measurement tests for more chemicals contributes to creating safer
products and healthier homes and offices.
INDOOR AIR QUALITY /SEMI-VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS 12
13. Environmental
Chamber To Go
Paint & volatile
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
Semi-volatile
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
Air Quality
Databases
14. context
There are more than 80,000 chemicals used in commerce today, and only three percent
of those have been fully evaluated for adverse human health effects.14
Indoor air pollutants pose a serious environmental threat to people, especially because
most people spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors — where air is
typically two to 10 times more polluted than it is outdoors.15 Poor indoor air quality in
commercial buildings can lower worker productivity.16
In addition, studies have shown that poor IAQ can adversely impact learning in school
children and worsen allergy and asthma symptoms. The EPA cites IAQ as one of the top
environmental health risks and indoor air pollution as one of the greatest overall risks
to human health.17
What did UL do?
UL applies advanced data mining, analytics and predictive modeling capabilities to our
three proprietary air quality databases to assist manufacturers and built environment
professionals in the development and use of safe products. Our searchable
databases have been compiled over a period of 20 years, providing an unmatched
depth of information and building on our unique ability to categorize chemicals for
environmental or health impact. Our databases cover three areas:
• Product Chemical Emissions Database
• Building Air Database
• Microbial VOC Database
Our Product Chemical Emissions Database is based on more than 70,000 different Our Product Chemical Emissions
product tests for chemical emissions. It is unmatched both in terms of size — with Database is based on more than
more than 13,000 unique VOCs identified in the emissions of the products tested — 70,000 different product tests for
and in the selectivity of the data, which categorizes results by specific product types. chemical emissions.
Further, we constantly expand the database, each month identifying 40-60 new
chemicals that we’ve never encountered before.
Our Product Chemical Database includes regulatory chemical lists and a proprietary
database of odor and irritation thresholds for common indoor pollutants. UL also
has an analogous Building Air Database, based on tests of indoor air conducted in
more than 10,000 buildings over two decades, and a Microbial VOC Database, which
specifically identifies VOCs released by molds that grow on building materials.
Our MVOC Database is the only one of its kind and empowers a more cost-effective
and less destructive approach to identifying molds in building structures and their
potential sources.18
INDOOR AIR QUALITY / AIR QUALITY DATABASE 14
15. UL’s databases are unique not only in their breadth and depth but also in their ability to
empower data mining, analytics and predictive modeling. The information and insights
embedded give UL an unmatched ability to interpret test results and evaluate them
against health and government agency standards. UL can also provide interpretive
reports that explain the significance of the data our tests produce. Specifically, when
indoor air is tested, its composition will be characterized as typical or representative of
a problem building. If it is the latter, our analytics capability allows us to identify the
likely products and product uses that have contributed to the air quality problems.
With our predictive modeling capability, UL scientists conduct product risk
assessments in order to identify problematic chemicals that a manufacturer might
not have been aware of, based on product interactions or the manufacturing processes
utilized. This allows manufacturers to readily get feedback on the potentially hazardous
chemical emissions associated with their products along with their sources, so they
can more effectively regulate or modify their products.
UL’s databases are unique not
only in their breadth and depth,
but also in their ability to
empower data mining.
UL also conducts analyses of indoor air using our MVOC Database in order to help
building owners and developers detect mold without having to tear down walls or
wait for visual evidence.
We also leverage our extensive knowledge to play a consultative role in rapidly
urbanizing nations, such as China, where we recommend the optimal products to
create safe indoor air environments.
INDOOR AIR QUALITY / AIR QUALITY DATABASE 15
16. WHY IT MATTERS
With the global sourcing of chemicals that go into products, the proliferation of
new products and materials, the increasingly complex indoor environments and the
amount of time people spend indoors at home and at work, there are significant
potential health risks, including asthma and allergies; headaches; respiratory disease;
eye, nose and throat irritation; reproductive and developmental defects (potential) and
some forms of cancer (potential).
IMPACT
The UL air quality databases are invaluable resources that we use to help
manufacturers and built-environment professionals understand the potential harmful
effects of their products on human health and the environment (both internal and
external). UL’s data mining, analytics and predictive modeling capabilities also provide
our customers with the answers they need quickly and affordably to ensure safer
products and environments. As the world becomes increasingly urbanized and indoor
air quality issues proliferate, the intelligence embedded in our air quality databases will
become increasingly critical.
INDOOR AIR QUALITY / AIR QUALITY DATABASE 16
17. sources
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Sciences, Inc. and Sherwin Williams.
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Sciences, Inc. and Sherwin Williams.
3 Black, M. et al., “Impact of Paint on IAQ in Schools,” GREENGUARD Environmental institute, Air Quality
Sciences, Inc. and Sherwin Williams.
4 Black, M. et al., “Impact of Paint on IAQ in Schools,” GREENGUARD Environmental institute, Air Quality
Sciences, Inc. and Sherwin Williams.
5 “LEED 2012 Recommends Product Testing of VOC Emissions,” Tech Brief, 2011 Air Quality Sciences, Inc.
6 Mason, S., and Ceragioli, A., “Paint Volatile Organic Compound Emissions and Volatile Organic Compound
Content Comparison Study,” Air Quality Sciences, Inc.
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Content Comparison Study,” Air Quality Sciences, Inc.
8 Black, M. et al., “Impact of Paint on IAQ in Schools,” GREENGUARD Environmental institute, Air Quality
Sciences, Inc. and Sherwin Williams.
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Sciences, Inc. and Sherwin Williams.
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Sciences, Inc. and Sherwin Williams.
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Oct. 2012.
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quality. Web. 12 Oct. 2012.
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gov/iaq/pubs/insidestory.html. Web. 12 Oct. 2012.
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INDOOR AIR QUALITY / SOURCES 17