Assessing the Uncertainty Associated with Product Emission Measurements

Published

August 17, 2008

Author(s)

Cynthia H. Reed, Steven J. Nabinger, Andrew K. Persily

Abstract

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by building materials and products have been shown to significantly impact human health and comfort. As a result, the market for low emitting building materials and products is growing rapidly. However, existing product labeling programs for ranking and certifying low emitting building products and materials are not yet supported by reliable VOC emission rate measurements. Measuring VOC emissions from building materials and products is a complex multi-step process with numerous sources for measurement uncertainty. These sources include 1) selection, packaging, transport and storage of material/product samples; 2) preparation and conditioning of sample specimens; 3) operation of emission test chambers; 4) gas-phase sampling and storage; and 5) gas sample transfer and analysis. This paper describes methods to evaluate the performance of the emissions testing process and to quantify the associated measurement uncertainty. Improved understanding of emission measurement uncertainty through method validation and performance checks has the potential to increase consensus and confidence in emissions testing as well as to “level the playing field” for product testing laboratories and manufacturers.

Conference Dates

August 17-22, 2008

Conference Location

Copenhagen, FI

Conference Title

Indoor Air 2008

Pub Type

Conferences

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Keywords

Material emissions, volatile organic compounds, chamber tests, quality control, uncertainty

Citation

Reed, C. , Nabinger, S. and Persily, A. (2008), Assessing the Uncertainty Associated with Product Emission Measurements, Indoor Air 2008, Copenhagen, FI, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=861528 (Accessed March 14, 2025)