EMISSIONS FROM WALLCOVERINGS - TEST PROCEDURES AND PRELIMINARY-RESULTS

More than 200 wallcoverings of different kind were analyzed on emissio ns of formaldehyde, vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) and the heavy metals As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb, Sb, and Se. The formaldehyde emission was meas ured by a modified WKI-flask method. To determine indoor air concentra tions, the obtained material parameters were correlated with steady st ate concentration values from 1 m(3) chamber tests. VCM was analysed b y headspace gas chromatography. The metals were extracted with hydroch loric acid at 37 degrees C and quantified by AAS or ICP/AES. All inves tigated wallcoverings showed only low emission potentials for formalde hyde and the eight metals. In no case could VCM be detected. To find o ut more about emissions of other volatile organic compounds (VOC), wal lcoverings were exposed to inert gas at 60 degrees C (dynamic headspac e) and the emitted substances were specified by GC/MS. Alternatively, the release of VOC was investigated under specified climatic condition s in a 1 m(3) test chamber. The VOC-emissions of the tested wallcoveri ngs were low in all cases. Aliphatic hydrocarbons, probably coming fro m solvents like test benzines, were mainly found. Some aliphatic aldeh ydes and aromatic solvents could also be detected in small quantities. By testing the water vapour permeability of more than 40 samples, it was found that the permeability coefficients are widely spread, depend ing on the type and amount of the cover material.