Analytical Lab Services Menu
Small-scale chamber methods
CDPH/EHLB Std. Method V1.2, 2017
CDPH/EHLB Std. Method V1.1, 2010
CAN/ULC-S774
ASTM D5116
ASTM D6007
ASTM D7706
ASTM D8142
ISO 16000-9
ISO 16000-11
EN 16516
Large-scale chamber methods
ANSI/BIFMA M7.1-2011(R2021)
ANSI/BIFMA X7.1-2011(R2021)
ASTM D6670
ISO 16000-9
VOC and Aldehyde methods
U.S. EPA Compendium Method TO-17
U.S. EPA Compendium Method TO-1
ASTM D7339
ISO 16000-6
ASTM D5197
ISO 16000-3
Phthalate ester and other SVOC methods
CPSC-CH-C1001-09.3
U.S. EPA Method 8270D
U.S. EPA Method 3545A
Small-scale chamber methods
CDPH/EHLB Std. Method V1.2, 2017
Document Title: Standard Method for the Testing and Evaluation of Volatile Organic Chemical Emissions from Indoor Sources Using Environmental Chambers, Version 1.2
Developer: California Department of Public Health
Summary of Scope: The CDPH Standard Method is the primary VOC emissions standard for North America. It is required by USGBC for LEED v4/4.1, EQ: Low-Emitting Materials testing of interior building products used on floors, walls and ceilings. It is used for the FloorScore® certification program for hard surface flooring and is referenced by many other programs and building standards. This current version of the standard was published by CDPH in January 2017. It updates the allowable concentration for benzene emissions in Table 4-1 to 1.5 µg/m3. The revision was based on a downward revision of the benzene chronic REL from 60 to 3 µg/m3 made by OEHHA in 2014. All other requirements of the standard are unchanged from V1.1.
CDPH/EHLB Std. Method V1.1, 2010
Document Title: Standard Method for the Testing and Evaluation of Volatile Organic Chemical Emissions from Indoor Sources Using Environmental Chambers, Version 1.1
Developer: California Department of Public Health
Summary of Scope: Emission testing and evaluation standard for USGBC LEED Low-Emitting Materials credit and many other applications. Formerly known as CA Section 01350. Applicable to the full range of building products including paints & coatings and adhesives & sealants that can be tested in small-scale chambers. Section 7 adopts ANSI/BIFMA M7.1 for furniture products. Section 8 describes best practices for making environmental claims based on this standard. Acceptance criteria are referenced to CA OEHHA chronic RELs. Superceded by CDPH/EHLB Std. Method V1.2, 2017.
Document Title: Standard Laboratory Guide for the Determination of Volatile Organic Compound Emissions from Polyurethane Foam
Developer: ULC Underwriters Laboratories of Canada
Summary of Scope: This guide specifies procedures for evaluating the emissions of VOCs from spray polyurethane foam (SPF) insulation over a period of 30 days following product application. The guide contains a head-space analysis procedure for initial identification of VOCs released by the material and a dynamic chamber procedure for characterizing the rate of VOC emissions. Chamber tests are conducted at 40°C and 50% relative humidity with samples collected periodically over the 30-day interval.
Document Title: Standard Guide for Small-Scale Environmental Chamber Determinations of Organic Emissions from Indoor Materials/Products
Developer: ASTM International
Summary of Scope: Describes use of small chambers to characterize VOC emissions from indoor products. Guidelines for all aspects of emissions testing and data analysis are provided. Identifies essential aspects of emissions testing that must be controlled and documented. Provides essential equations for VOC emission testing.
Document Title: Standard Test Method for Determining Formaldehyde Concentration in Air from Wood Products Using a Small-Scale Chamber
Developer: ASTM International
Summary of Scope: Measures formaldehyde concentrations in air in small chambers from composite wood products under defined chamber loading, temperature, and humidity. Results are intended to be comparable to results for composite wood panels by large-scale chamber method ASTM E 1333. Describes use of chromotropic acid for collection and analysis of formaldehyde and also allows use of other methods such as ASTM D 5197. Used as secondary compliance test method for CARB ATCM and U.S. EPA TSCA Title VI regulations to control formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products.
Document Title: Standard Practice for Rapid Screening of VOC Emissions from Products Using Micro-Scale Chambers
Developer: ASTM International
Summary of Scope: Micro-scale chamber practice is used for rapidly screening materials and products for their vapor-phase emissions of VOCs including formaldehyde. Micro-chambers operate at elevated temperatures, 30°C to 60°C, to eliminate the need for cooling, reduce test times, enhance analytical signals, and facilitate screening for emissions of SVOCs such as phthalate esters.
Document Title: Standard Test Method for Determining Chemical Emissions from Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) Insulation using Micro-Scale Environmental Test Chambers
Developer: ASTM International
Summary of Scope: Micro-scale chamber test method is used to identify and measure emissions of VOCs, aldehydes, and TCPP flame retardant from samples of freshly applied SPF insulation. Test specimens are maintained micro-scale chambers at a controlled area-specific airflow rate and 35°C. Duplicate air samples are collected at 2 h and 24 h elapsed times (or longer) for VOCs on specified sorbent tubes and aldehydes on DNPH cartridges. VOCs are analyzed by thermal desorption GC/MS following U.S. EPA TO-17 or ISO 16000-6. Formaldehyde and other carbonyl compounds are analyzed by ASTM D5197. Method reports area-specific and mass-specific emission rates of emitted organic chemicals.
Document Title: Indoor Air−Part 9: Determination of the Emission of Volatile Organic Compounds from Building Products and Furnishing−Emission Test Chamber Method
Developer: International Organization for Standardization
Summary of Scope: ISO 16000 is an international standard for energy management with several parts focusing on indoor air quality issues. ISO 16000-9 specifies general test methods for determination of area-specific emission rates of VOCs from building products or furnishings in test chambers. It applies to small- and to full-scale chambers and specifies collection of VOCs on sorbent tubes and analysis by thermal desorption GC/MS or GC/FID following methods in the ISO 16000 family of standards. Emission data can be used to calculate concentrations in a model room. Used as test method for German AgBB scheme for evaluating VOC emissions from building products and French product labeling law.
Document Title: Indoor Air−Part 11: Determination of the Emission of Volatile Organic Compounds from Building Products and Furnishing−Sampling, Storage of Samples and Preparation of Test Specimens
Developer: International Organization for Standardization
Summary of Scope: Part 11 of ISO 16000 defines three types of building products: solid, liquid, and combined. For each, specifications are given for sampling procedures, transport conditions, storage, and substrate. For individual products, preparation of a test specimen is prescribed by type. It is used in conjunction with ISO 16000-9.
Document Title: Construction products: Assessment of release of dangerous substances – Determination of emissions into indoor air
Developer: European Committee for Standardization
Summary of Scope: EN 16516 is a harmonized test method intended for use in the European market to measure VOC emissions from interior building products. It is based on ISO 16000 series standards Parts 3, 6, 9, 11. It provides additional specifications intended to improve the reproducibility of test results. An EU reference room is defined for modeling of indoor air VOC concentrations. Amended in 2020 to include procedures for the measurement of formaldehyde emissions from finished and unfinished wood products.
Large-scale chamber methods
Document Title: Standard Test Method For determining VOC Emissions From Office Furniture Systems, Components and Seating
Developer: American National Standards Institute and the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Associations (BIFMA)
Summary of Scope: Describes methods for identifying and determining the emissions of VOCs from office furniture systems and office seating using large-scale, mid-scale and small-scale environmental chambers. Covers all aspects of environmental chamber testing and chemical analysis through the generation of test reports. VOC emission rates are modeled to typical office environments, either open-plan or private office, to estimate the impact of new office furniture on indoor air quality. Allows either a concentration approach or an emission factor approach for assessing compliance. Basic acceptance criteria are contained in ANSI/BIFMA X7.1-2011(R2021).
Document Title: Standard for Formaldehyde and TVOC Emissions of Low-Emitting Office Furniture Systems and Seating
Developer: American National Standards Institute and the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Associations (BIFMA)
Summary of Scope: Defines acceptance criteria for VOC emissions from furniture used in offices to be classified as low-emitting products. Criteria are not health based. Intended to be used in conjunction with ANSI/BIFMA M7.1-2011(R2021). Describes general procedure grouping similar products and selecting representative (a worst-case) sample. Establishes testing interval and factors that determine the need for more frequent testing.
Document Title: Standard Practice for Full-Scale Chamber Determination of Volatile Organic Emissions from Indoor Materials/Products
Developer: ASTM International
Summary of Scope: Describes design, construction, performance evaluation, and use of full-scale chambers for VOC emission testing. Intended for tests of materials, products, and equipment (printers, photocopiers, air cleaners, etc.) under environmental and product usage conditions typical of offices and residences. Describes determination of VOC emission rates over time.
Document Title: Indoor Air−Part 9: Determination of the Emission of Volatile Organic Compounds from Building Products and Furnishing−Emission Test Chamber Method
Developer: International Organization for Standardization
Summary of Scope: ISO 16000 is an international standard for energy management with several parts focusing on indoor air quality issues. ISO 16000-9 specifies general test methods for determination of area-specific emission rates of VOCs from building products or furnishings in test chambers. It applies to small- and to full-scale chambers and specifies collection of VOCs on sorbent tubes and analysis by thermal desorption GC/MS or GC/FID following methods in the ISO 16000 series standards. Emission data can be used to calculate concentrations in a model room.
VOC and Aldehyde methods
U.S. EPA Compendium Method TO-17
Document Title: Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds in Ambient Air Using Active Sampling Onto Sorbent Tubes
Developer: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Summary of Scope: Describes a sorbent tube/thermal desorption/gas chromatographic-based monitoring system for VOCs in ambient air at 0.5 to 25 ppb concentration levels. Updates Compendium Method TO-1 covering newer generation thermal desorption systems as well as new sorbents that can be used singly or in multi-sorbent packings. Includes guidelines for sorbent selection. Covers all aspects of sample collection and thermal desorption GC/MS analysis.
U.S. EPA Compendium Method TO-1
Document Title: Method for the Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds in Ambient Air Using Tenax® Adsorption and Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS)
Developer: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Summary of Scope: Describes procedures for collection and determination of certain VOCs, which can be captured on Tenax sorbent and analyzed by thermal desorption GC/MS techniques. Sorbent and sampling cartridge preparation, and air sampling procedures are covered. A two-stage thermal desorption analytical procedure with GC/MS analysis is described.
Document Title: Standard Test Method for Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds Emitted from Carpet using a Specific Sorbent Tube and Thermal Desorption / Gas Chromatography
Developer: ASTM International
Summary of Scope: Describes analytical method for identifying and quantifying masses of individual VOCs emitted into air from carpet specimens and collected on sorbent sampling tubes during emissions testing. Thermal desorption with GC/MS or flame ionization detection is used to measure most VOCs from n-hexane to n-hexadecane.
Document Title: Indoor Air−Part 6: Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds in Indoor and Test Chamber Air by Active Sampling on Tenax TA sorbent, Thermal Desorption and Gas Chromatography Using MS/FID
Developer: International Organization for Standardization
Summary of Scope: Specifies method for determination of VOCs in indoor air and in air sampled from test chambers and cells. Method is based on use of Tenax TA® sorbent with subsequent thermal desorption GC/MS or GC/FID analysis. Method is applicable to measurement of non-polar and slightly polar VOCs in concentration range of sub-mg/m3 to several mg/m3.
Document Title: Standard Test Method for Determination of Formaldehyde and Other Carbonyl Compounds in Air (Active Sampler Methodology)
Developer: ASTM International
Summary of Scope: Method draws air through a cartridge containing silica gel coated with acid solution of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) reagent. Carbonyl compounds form stable derivatives with DNPH reagent. DNPH derivatives are eluted with acetonitrile and analyzed for parent carbonyls by HPLC. Sampling method is described.
Document Title: Indoor Air−Part 3: Determination of Formaldehyde and Other Carbonyl Compounds−Active Sampling Method
Developer: International Organization for Standardization
Summary of Scope: Standard is nearly identical to ASTM D 5197. Method draws air through a cartridge containing silica gel coated with acid solution of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) reagent. Carbonyl compounds form stable derivatives with DNPH reagent. DNPH derivatives are eluted with acetonitrile and analyzed for parent carbonyls by HPLC. Sampling method is described.
Phthalate ester and other SVOC methods
Document Title: Standard Operating Procedure for the Determination of Phthalates
Developer: Consumer Product Safety Commission
Summary of Scope: Describes sample preparation procedures, a solvent extraction method for PVC polymers, and a GC/MS analytical technique to determine the concentrations of six phthalate esters or groups of phthalate esters in toy samples.
Document Title: Semi volatile Organic Compounds by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS)
Developer: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Summary of Scope: Describes method used to determine concentrations of SVOCs in extracts prepared from many types of solid waste matrices, soils, air sampling media, and water. Prescribes appropriate preparation methods for listed SVOCs. Describes GC/MS analysis of extracts, calibrations, data analysis, and calculations.
Document Title: Pressurized Fluid Extraction (PFE)
Developer: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Summary of Scope: Describes method for extracting water-insoluble or slightly water-soluble organic compounds from soils, clays, sediments, sludges, and solid wastes. The method uses elevated temperature and elevated pressure in a commercially available extraction system to achieve analyte recoveries equivalent to those of Soxhlet extraction.
