2. Getting involved
3. Standards Committees
4. NMP

DIN Standards Committee Materials Testing

Overview

Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is a complex phenomenon that can be attributed to a number of factors. It is assumed that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are one of the reasons for SBS, even if the VOC concentration is low. VOCs diffuse from building materials, bonding agents, furniture, pesticides and can also originate from biological sources. Some VOCs are hazardous to human health and constitute an important reason for SBS because they are widely used in the manufacture of various substances used in buildings. The World Health Organization identifies specific VOCs as toxic or allergenic, even at low air concentrations. Although the use of hazardous chemicals is now restricted, alternative chemicals are used whose health risk to humans is only partially known. Against this background, VOC detectors are expected to be widely used for overview analysis and monitoring of indoor VOC concentrations to detect sources. Therefore, it is desirable to use highly sensitive VOC detectors that can detect a range of VOCs within a building. Reflecting the situation as such, several VOC detectors are commercially available. This part of ISO 16000 contains important quantitative and technical specifications for VOC testing methods intended to improve the reliability of the VOC detection and realize broader use of VOC detectors. This part of ISO 16000 specifies test methods of the performance of VOC detectors that are designed to monitor indoor and living atmosphere VOC concentration as well as to control indoor air quality in portable, mobile, and remote applications. The provisions in this part of ISO 16000 cover multi-component VOCs detectors as well as detectors for individual VOCs. In the case of the specific VOC detector, the target VOC concentration is provided upon testing of a standard test gas containing the VOC as one component. In the other case, VOV gas mixtures are given up. This part of ISO 16000 sets out only the requirements for VOC detectors to be used in a test procedure, such as response time, stability and measurement range, and recommendations for test gas mixtures. The document is addressed to representatives of testing laboratories, supervisory authorities, professional associations and planning/architect offices as well as representatives of interior designers, the furniture industry, the paint industry, the adhesives industry, the automotive industry or other sectors that produce items for the interior. The International Standard has been prepared by ISO/TC 146/SC 6 "Indoor Air" in Working Group 16 "Test methods for VOC detectors". The secretariats and chairmanships of the TC and SC 6 are held by Germany. The responsible German committee is NA 134-04-02-01-02 AK "Prüfverfahren für VOC-Detektoren" ("Test methods for VOC detectors").

Document: references other documents

Responsible national committee

NA 134-04-04-01 UA - Planning of indoorair analyses  

Responsible international committee

ISO/TC 146/SC 6 - Indoor air