ASTM D6330-98

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Designation: D 6330 – 98
Standard Practice for
Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds (Excluding
Formaldehyde) Emissions from Wood-Based Panels Using
Small Environmental Chambers Under Defined Test
Conditions
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 6330; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope directly to compare the emission characteristics of different
products and to estimate the emission rates up to one month
1.1 The practice measures the volatile organic compounds
after the production. They shall not be used to predict the
(VOC), excluding formaldehyde, emitted from manufactured
emission rates over longer periods of time (that is, more than
wood-based panels. A pre-screening analysis is used to identify
one month) or under different environmental conditions.
the VOCs emitted from the panel. Emission factors (that is,
1.5 Emission data from chamber tests can be used for
emission rates per unit surface area) for the VOCs of interest
predicting the impact of wood-based panels on the VOC
are then determined by measuring the concentrations in a small
concentrations in buildings by using an appropriate indoor air
environmental test chamber containing a specimen. The test
quality model, which is beyond the scope of this practice.
chamber is ventilated at a constant air change rate under the
1.6 The values stated in SI units shall be regarded as the
standard environmental conditions. For formaldehyde determi-
standard (see Practice E 380).
nation, see Test Method D 6007.
1.7 This practice does not purport to address all of the
1.2 This practice describes a test method that is specific to
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
the measurement of VOC emissions from newly manufactured
responsibility of the user of the standard to consult and
individual wood-based panels, such as particleboard, plywood,
establish appropriate safety and health practices and deter-
and oriented strand board (OSB), for the purpose of comparing
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
the emission characteristics of different products under the
For specified hazard statements see Section 6.
standard test condition. For general guidance on conducting
small environmental chamber tests, see Guide D 5116.
2. Referenced Documents
1.3 VOC concentrations in the environmental test chamber
2.1 ASTM Standards:
are determined by adsorption on an appropriate single adsor-
D 1356 Terminology Relating to Sampling and Analysis of
bent tube or multi-adsorbent tube, followed by thermal desorp-
Atmospheres
tion and combined gas chromatograph/mass spectrometry (GC/
D 1914 Practice for Conversion Units and Factors Relating
MS) or gas chromatograph/flame ionization detection (GC/
to Sampling and Analysis of Atmospheres
FID). The air sampling procedure and the analytical method
D 5116 Guide for Small-Scale Environmental Chamber De-
recommended in this practice are generally valid for the
terminations of Organic Emissions from Indoor Materials/
identification and quantification of VOCs with saturation vapor
Products
pressure between 500 and 0.01 kPa at 25 °C, depending on the
D 6007 Test Method for Determining Formaldehyde Con-
selection of adsorbent(s).
centration in Air from Wood Products Using a Small Scale
NOTE 1—VOCs being captured by an adsorbent tube depend on the 3
Chamber
adsorbent(s) and sampling procedure selected (see Practice D 6196). The
D 6196 Practice for Selection of Sorbents and Pumped
user should have a thorough understanding of the limitations of each
Sampling/Thermal Desorption Analysis Procedures for
adsorbent used.
Volatile Organic Compounds in Air
1.4 The emission factors determined using the above pro-
E 355 Practice for Gas Chromatography Terms and Rela-
cedure describe the emission characteristics of the specimen 4
tionships
under the standard test condition. These data can be used
E 380 Practice for Use of the International System of Units
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-22 on Sampling
and Analysis of Atmospheres and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.03.
D22.05 on Indoor Air. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.10.
Current edition approved Oct. 10, 1998. Published January 1999. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D 6330
(SI) (the Modernized Metric System) and other chromatographic parameters, and the type of GC
E 741 Test Method for Determining Air Change in a Single detector. One way to report TVOC values is recommended in
Zone by Means of a Tracer Gas Dilution 8.2.7.6.
2.2 Other Standard: 3.2.8 wood-based panel test specimen—a specimen of a
EPA TO-17 Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds panel cut from an original wood-based panel sample, such as
in Ambient Air Using Active Sampling Onto Sorbent particleboard, oriented strand board (OSB), or plywood.
Tubes, Compendium of Methods for the Determination of
4. Significance and Use
Toxic Organic Compounds in Ambient Air
4.1 The effects of VOC sources on the indoor air quality in
3. Terminology
buildings have not been well established. One basic require-
ment that has emerged from indoor air quality studies is the
3.1 Definitions—For definitions and terms that are com-
need for well-characterized test data on the emission factors of
monly used, refer to Terminology D 1356 and Practice E 355.
VOCs from building materials. Standard test method and
For definitions and terms related to test methods using small-
procedure are a requirement for the comparison of emission
scale environmental chamber, refer to Guide D 5116. For an
factor data from different products.
explanation of units, symbols, and conversion factors, refer to
Practice D 1914. 4.2 This practice describes a procedure for using a small
environmental test chamber to determine the emission factors
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 environmental enclosure—a container or space in of VOCs from wood-based panels over a specified period of
time. A pre-screening analysis procedure is also provided to
which the environmental test chamber(s) is placed. The enclo-
sure has controlled temperature and relative humidity. identify the VOCs emitted from the products, to determine the
2 3
appropriate GC/MS or GC/FID analytical procedure, and to
3.2.2 loading ratio (m /m )—the total exposed surface area
of each test specimen divided by the net air volume of the estimate required sampling volume for the subsequent envi-
ronmental chamber testing.
environmental test chamber.
4.3 Test results obtained using this practice provide a basis
3.2.3 nominal time constant (t )—the time required to
n
for comparing the VOC emission characteristics of different
obtain one air change in the environmental test chamber, which
wood-based panel products. The emission data can be used to
is equal to the inverse of the air change rate.
inform manufacturers of the VOC emissions from their prod-
3.2.4 pre-screening analysis—a procedure for identifying
ucts. The data can also be used to identify building materials
the VOCs emitted from a test specimen. The results are used to
with reduced VOC emissions over the time interval of the test.
determine the appropriate GC/MS or GC/FID analytical
4.4 While emission factors determined by using this prac-
method for subsequent dynamic chamber tests.
tice can be used to compare different products, the concentra-
3.2.5 standard environmental test chamber condition—a
tions measured in the chamber shall not be considered as the
test condition of temperature at 23 6 0.5°C, relative humidity
resultant concentrations in an actual indoor environment.
(RH) at 50 6 5 %, air change rate per hour in the chamber at
1 6 0.03 ACH, and chamber loading ratio at 0.40 6 0.01
2 3 5. Apparatus
m /m .
5.1 This practice requires the use of an environmental
3.2.5.1 Discussion—The VOC emission rates for wood-
chamber test system, an air sample collection system, and a
based panel products are generally controlled by VOC diffu-
chemical analysis system. A general guide for conducting small
sions within the material. The airflow condition (air velocity
environmental chamber tests is provided in Guide D 5116. The
and turbulence) over the test specimen has minimal effect on
following paragraphs describe the requirements that are spe-
the emission rates; therefore, it is not specified in the standard
cific to this practice:
test condition.
5.2 Environmental Chamber Testing System—The system
3.2.6 tracer gas—a gaseous compound that is neither emit-
shall include an environmental test chamber, an environmental
ted by the wood-based panel nor present in the supply air to the
enclosure, equipment for supplying clean and conditioned air
chamber. It can be used to determine the mixing characteristics
to the chamber, and outlet fittings for sampling the air
of the environmental test chamber, and it provides a cross-
exhausted from the chamber. Fig. 1 illustrates an example of
check of the air change rate measurements.
such systems. All materials and components in contact with
3.2.7 TVOC—total concentration of all the individual vola-
panel specimen or air stream from the chamber inlet to sample
tile organic compounds (VOC) captured from air by a given
collection point shall be chemically inert and accessible for
sorbent, or a given combination of several sorbents, thermally
cleaning. Suitable materials include stainless steel and glass.
desorbed into and eluted from a given gas chromatographic
All gaskets and flexible components shall be made from
system and measured by a given detector. For VOC definition,
chemically inert materials.
see Terminology D 1356.
5.2.1 Environmental Test Chamber—The chamber should
3.2.7.1 Discussion—The measured value of TVOC will
have a volume of 0.05 m with the interior dimensions of 0.5
depend on the collection and desorption efficiency of the
by 0.4 by 0.25-m high. A chamber with a different size and
sorbent trap, the efficiency of transfer to the GC column, the
shape may also be used if the same standard environmental test
type and size of the GC column, the GC temperature program
chamber conditions (see 3.2.6) can be maintained. The cham-
ber shall include a supply air system having an inlet port with
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.11. distributed openings to assist mixing between the supply air
D 6330
NOTE 1—The chamber assembly should be contained in an environmental enclosure to maintain the required temperature.
FIG. 1 Schematic of an Example Small Chamber Test System
and chamber air and an outlet port with distributed exhaust example, a personal computer cooling fan) in the chamber; (2)
openings to ensure that concentration measured at the chamber operate the chamber under the standard test condition and turn
exhaust is the average concentration in the chamber. The
on the mixing fan; (3) inject a small amount (a pulse) of an
chamber criteria are as follows:
inert tracer gas (for example, SF ) into the chamber directly or
5.2.1.1 Air-Tightness of the Chamber—The nominal air
by means of the supply air; (4) allow 5 min for the gas to mix
leakage rate of the chamber shall be less than 1 % of the air
with the chamber air; (5) turn off the mixing fan and record the
change rate used for the emission test at 10 Pa. Air-tightness is
time as t = 0; and (6) measure the concentrations of the tracer
measured as follows: (1) seal the outlet of the chamber; (2)
gas at the exhaust of the chamber at the following time points:
supply air to the chamber through the inlet and adjust the
t = 0, 0.25 t , 0.5 t , 1.0 t , 1.5 t , and 2.0 t , where t is the
n n n n n n
airflow rate so that the pressure difference between the inside
nominal time constant and is equal to 1.0 h for the standard test
and outside of the chamber is maintained at 10 6 1 Pa, which
condition. The measured concentrations are compared to the
is measured by a pressure transducer with a minimum specified
values given by the following theoretical equation under the
accuracy of6 1 Pa; and (3) measure the airflow rate. The rate
perfect mixing condition (in which the concentrations mea-
is the nominal leakage rate of the chamber.
sured at the exhaust are the same as those in the chamber):
5.2.1.2 Air Mixing in the Chamber—Adequate air mixing in
–Nt
C 5 C e (1)
the chamber shall be achieved to ensure that concentrations ~t! 0
measured at the chamber exhaust are representative of those in
where:
the chamber. This may be determined by using the following
C = initial concentration at t=0, μg/m ,
tracer gas decay method: (1) place a small mixing fan (for
D 6330
holder shall be designed to minimize the emissions from edges
C = concentration at time t, μg/m ,
(t)
–1
and non-testing surface of the specimen. A design example is
N = air change rate, h , and
t = time from the start of the air purging, h. shown in Fig. 2.
The maximum difference between the measured and calcu-
5.2.1.4 Sink Effect—The chamber and specimen holder shall
lated theoretical values shall be within 6 5 % of the theoretical
have minimum sink effect. The recovery factor determined by
value. The above mixing test shall be conducted with a
the following procedure shall be higher than 95 % for decane:
simulated test specimen placed in the chamber.
(1) seal the supply inlet and exhaust of the chamber; (2) inject
5 μg of vaporized decane into the chamber; (3) take an air
NOTE 2—The above test method is a simplified version of the decay
method described in Guide D 5116. Alternatively, the method of deter- sample from the chamber exhaust at 5 min after the injection,
mining adequate air mixing described in Guide D 5116 may also be used
and record this concentration as the initial concentration C and
to check the mixing condition in the chamber.
the time as t =0;(4)at t = 0, begin purging the air through the
5.2.1.3 Sample Specimen Holder—A sample specimen chamber at t = 0 under standard test conditions; (5) take air
holder shall be used to hold the test specimen so that only the samples from the chamber exhaust at the following times after
test surface of the specimen is exposed to the chamber air. The the start of purging: t1 = 0.25 t , t2 = 0.5 t , t3 = 1.0 t , t4 = 1.5
n n n
NOTE 1—All materials for the sample holde
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