Understanding Requirements for VOC Content vs. Emissions for Adhesives

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1 Understanding Requirements for VOC Content vs. Emissions for Adhesives Michael Lehmann National Sales Manager UL Environment 2013 Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.

2 Agenda Introduction to Air Quality VOC Content Test Methods and Requirements VOC Emissions Test Methods and Requirements 2

3 Clean Air Act of 1970 In the 50 s and 60 s air pollution created significant smog in many cities in the US. Smog is a brownish haze made up of ground-level ozone combined with other gases and particles. Smog causes respiratory problems for many people and also affects visibility. In 1970, the Clean Air Act was amended and the US Environmental Protection Agency was established to develop and enforce standards on the amount of pollution that could be emitted into the air. 3

4 State and Local Regulations Currently, there are no direct federal regulations concerning the VOC content of adhesives and sealants. The Clean Air Act only sets National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Areas that do not meet the NAAQS are designated as nonattainment areas. These areas must submit State Implementation Plans (SIPs) showing how they will attain the standards. Many of these state plans include limits on the VOC content of adhesives and sealants. The exempt compounds vary by state and even local jurisdictions. States with VOC Content Regulations Consumer and Commercial Products Consumer Products Commercial Products Pending (as of 2014) 4

5 Volatile Organic Compounds Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are defined as any compound of carbon, which will vaporize (volatilize) easily into the air and participate in atmospheric photochemical reactions. VOCs that are determined to have negligible photochemical reactivity may be exempt from being included in VOC content calculations. Exempt solvents vary in different state and local jurisdictions, thus materials that maybe compliant in one state may not be compliant in another. 5

6 SCAQMD Rule 1168 The first regulation concerning adhesives and sealants was adopted by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) in the state of California in The SCAQMD is responsible for air quality regulations in the Los Angeles area which has a very significant smog problem. SCAQMD Rule 1168 regulates the VOC content of adhesive and sealants. Another 12 of the California air districts have adopted rules similar to the SCAQMD rule. 6

7 EPA Reference Test Method 24 VOC Content is measured in terms Grams of VOC per Liter of Adhesive (g/l). Many regulatory limits include calculations to adjust for exempt solvents and water content. The primary method for measuring VOC content of adhesives or sealants is USEPA Reference Method 24. This is a gravimetric weight loss method which includes measuring the mass (grams) lost when heating a specific volume (liters) of material to a specified temperature. The exempt compound's content can be determined by chemical analysis such as those in SCAQMD "Laboratory Methods of Analysis for Enforcement Samples" or ASTM Method D

8 VOC Content Limits VOC Emissions The VOC limits of the Clean Air Act did improve the quality of outdoor air, however, human asthma cases are still rising and it does not address quality of inside air or human exposure to various VOCs. Many products that have low content have high VOC emissions during installation and application life. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has sued several major paint manufacturers under their Green Guides for using zero VOC claims to mislead consumers that their products will result in low indoor exposure. 8

9 Importance of Indoor Air Quality People spend more than 90% of their time indoors* Thousands of chemicals and biological pollutants exist at elevated levels Air pollutants are 2 5X (sometimes 1,000X) higher than found outside* Children who are regularly exposed to VOCs are four times more likely to develop asthma.** * EPA The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality, **Centers for disease control and prevention, May

10 Key Components of Indoor Air Quality Sources of Contaminants Ventilation 10

11 Green Building Rating Systems and Codes Green buildings are energy efficient buildings which are especially susceptible to indoor air quality programs due to reduced ventilation rates. Some early versions of green building programs required using adhesives and sealants with low VOC content (SCAQMD Rule 1168); however, indoor air quality problems persisted. The current versions of the major green building programs include low VOC content requirements AND low VOC emission requirements. 11

12 VOC Emissions Testing Process Air Purification and Conditioning Environmental Chamber Testing Predicting Indoor Exposure Levels Sample Preparation Analysis and Reporting 12

13 Chamber Methods Clean air generation systems Temperature and Humidity Control Chamber Validation Sample collection and analysis equipment ISO Determination of the emission of volatile organic compounds from building products and furnishing Emission test chamber method ASTM D 5116 Standard Guide for Small-Scale Environmental Chamber Determinations of Organic Emissions from Indoor Materials/Products ASTM D 6670 Standard Practice for Full-Scale Chamber Determination of Volatile Organic Emissions from Indoor Materials/Products 13

14 Air Sample Analysis Methods VOC Measurement EPA Method TO-17 / ISO Part 6 Collect chamber air on Tenax Sorbent Media, thermally desorb chemicals and analyze by GC/MS Applicable to 1,000 s of chemicals Total VOC level includes C6 C16 compounds with no exemptions for non-reactive compounds Aldehyde Measurement EPA Method TO-11 / ISO Part 3 Collect chamber air on DNPH Cartridge, elute with acetonitrile and analyze by HPLC Primarily for formaldehyde and acetaldehyde 14

15 Risk Assessments Identify toxic substances, odorants and irritants Develop exposure model for standard product usage (installation, consumer, etc.) Compare predicted exposure with health based benchmarks (Occupational, CA Prop 65, Odor, Irritation) 15

16 Standards for VOC Emissions Building Products CDPH Standard Method v1.1 (CA Section 01350) California Department of Public Health Standard Method for the Testing and Evaluation of Volatile Organic Chemical Emissions from Indoor Sources Using Environmental Chambers Version 1.1 Office Furniture BIFMA M7.1 and e3 criteria 7.6.1, 7.6.2, Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association M7.1 Test Method X7.1 Emissions Standard e3 Multi-attribute Sustainability Standard (with up to 3 points for low emissions) UL 2818 / UL 2821 GREENGUARD Standard and Test Method for Building Products and Furnishings 16

17 Questions? Michael Lehmann National Sales Manager UL Environment