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DIN Standards Committee Technical Fundamentals

Overview

This part of DIN ISO 16000 describes a standardized measurement method for the determination of organophosphorus compounds in indoor air. The method can be applied for the determination of the need of renovation or for the evaluation of the success of renovation. Internal spaces according to this standard include, in addition to the field of private households, offices, schools, nursery schools, hospitals, event locations (such as theatres, cinemas) as well as the cabin interiors of vehicles, amongst others. This part of ISO 16000 specifies a test method for the sampling and analysis of the phosphoric acid esters in indoor air and in test chamber air through gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Both principle methods of the low-resolution mass spectrometry and the high-resolution mass spectrometry are described. In general terms, phosphoric acid esters are formed by the reaction of alcohols or phenols with phosphoryl chloride (POCl₃). A distinction is made between mono-, di-, and triesters. The triesters with aryl and alkyl groups, as well as with mixed halogenated and halogen-free ester groups serve as plasticizers and flame retardants in plastics and varnishes. Parallel therewith, phosphoric acid esters are incorporated in hardeners and accelerants, in mordant and adhesion boosting agents, and serve as cleaning, corrosion inhibition, and adhesion-facilitating substances by the treatment of metal surfaces. They are used as auxiliary means in paper and textiles, as wetting and defoaming agents, emulsifiers, and stabilizers, as additives to cleaning agents and detergents, as not readily flammable hydraulic liquids, and as oil and fuel additives. Such multiplex applicability of the organophosporus compounds (OPCs) leads to the effect that large indoor areas with OPC-containing building materials, varnishes, paints, floor care products, or fire protection coatings can be encountered. Due to their varying physical and physical-chemical properties, OPC can also be detected in the indoor transfer media (dust and air). As a rule, OPCs boiling at high temperatures such as tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBEP, see Annex A) can be found in relevant concentrations in indoor air only if the emission source reaches elevated temperatures. In the case of such sources (for example screens or roller blinds for sun protection), the importance of higher temperatures must be taken into consideration when emission chamber tests are carried out. There is an increasing public interest in the possible health effects of OPCs indoors. For indoor air, a Guideline Value II of 0,05 mg/m³ was published for TCEP and, in simplified terms, for the sum of 6 OPCs. The Guideline Value I derived there amounts to 0,005 mg/m³. The document is directed at representatives of supervisory authorities, testing laboratories, professional associations and planning offices as well as representatives of interior designers, the furniture industry, the paint industry, the adhesives industry, the automotive industry or other sectors producing items for the interior. The International Standard has been prepared by ISO/TC 146/SC 6 "Indoor air" at Working Group 18 "Flame retardants". The secretariats and chairmanships of SC 6 and the working group are held by Germany. The German committee responsible for this standard is NA 134-04-04-11-01 AA "Flammschutzmittel" ("Flame retardants").

Document: references other documents

Responsible national committee

NA 134-04-04-03 UA - Assessment of organic substances in air  

Responsible international committee

ISO/TC 146/SC 6 - Indoor air