Berkeley Analytical Associates, LLC services

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) consist of a broad range of carbon-based chemicals that vaporize at room temperature and, when in air, predominantly exist in the vapor phase. VOCs contained in products tend to diffuse to the surface and are emitted into the air over time. When these emissions occur indoors, building occupants are exposed via inhalation.

Formaldehyde is contained in and emitted into air by many different products used in buildings. Despite changes in the manufacturing of composite wood and other products over the last 25 years, formaldehyde is still a primary indoor air quality (IAQ) concern. Berkeley Analytical (BkA) has a long history with the testing of products for formaldehyde emission and content. We have the capability to conduct testing in accordance with many formaldehyde emission standards such as CDPH Standard Method V1.1, ANSI/BIFMA M7.1, ASTM D6007, and EN 717-1. We operate several Field and Laboratory Emission Cells (FLECs), which allow the rapid determination of emissions from planar materials following ASTM D7143.

Special techniques are used to analyze SVOCs. Because of their low vapor pressures, SVOCs tend to condense on surfaces and only very low concentrations are measured in air. Consequently, standard environmental chamber techniques used for VOCs are unreliable for determining the emissions of SVOCs from products because these compounds stick to chamber surfaces. For example, scientific studies have shown that the air concentration of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) emitted from resilient flooring in environmental chambers takes more than one month to reach equilibrium.

Many types of furniture, building insulation, and consumer products are subject to fire safety regulations and must be tested for flammability. The type of ignition source for a test, typically either an open flame or a smoldering source, largely dictates the approach needed to ensure compliance of a product to a flammability standard. For example, an open flame ignition source often requires the addition of flame retardant chemicals, while a smoldering source may allow the use of barrier technologies. Fires in buildings obviously are a substantial public safety issue, but there also are concerns about the human health and environmental risks associated with a number of flame retardant chemicals as well as many regulations impacting this class of chemicals.

Field investigations, properly designed and executed, provide a means of assessing potential risks associated with exposures to VOCs and SVOCs within an indoor environment. Since 1989, Berkeley Analytical (BkA) has provided industrial hygienists, engineering companies, environmental health and safety departments of schools, hospitals, and other organizations with high quality indoor air quality testing services tailored to the customers’ objectives.