What Is VOC Emission Testing?

Indoor building materials often contain organic chemicals that can evaporate into the air, potentially leading to indoor air pollution. These volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may originate from residual solvents, byproducts of chemical reactions or breakdowns, added substances, or manufacturing contaminants. VOC emission testing is a process used to measure the rate at which these compounds are released into indoor air.

Why Does It Matter?

Today’s consumers and professionals are more conscious than ever about indoor air quality. VOC testing provides assurance that your product meets high standards for low emissions—making it safer for homes, schools, offices, and more.

How Does the Testing Process Work?

VOC emission testing involves placing a sample of the product inside an environmental chamber where temperature and humidity are tightly controlled. Clean air continuously flows through the chamber. As the product emits VOCs, their concentration in the chamber air increases. Once equilibrium is reached, air samples are collected for analysis.

The VOC emission rate—typically expressed in micrograms per square meter per hour—is calculated based on the concentration of VOCs in the chamber air, the airflow rate, and the surface area of the emitting material. These calculated emission rates are then used to estimate indoor air concentrations in real-world settings, which are compared against established inhalation exposure standards.