Sources and Source Strengths of Volatile Organic Compounds in a New Office Building

Conference · Tue Mar 06 04:00:00 EST 2012 · Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/10473289.1991.10466944· OSTI ID:6026187

Hodgson, Alfred T. ^[1]; Daisey, Joan M. ^[1]; Grot, Richard A. ^[2]

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1. Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (LBL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
2. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Washington, DC (United States); Lagus Applied Technology, Inc., Olney, MD (United States)

This study was conducted at a newly constructed Federal office building in Portland, OR. The primary objectives were to identify the major sources of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the building and to measure both long-term (one-year) and short-term (several day) variations in source strengths. Samples for VOC were collected on four occasions over a period of 14 months starting with the first month of occupancy. During the final sampling period, samples were collected over four days (Friday-Monday). The samples were analyzed for individual compounds and for total VOC (TVOC). The results were expressed as specific source strengths, as well as concentrations, to facilitate comparisons of measurements made under different ventilation conditions. The primary source of VOC in the building was identified as liquid-process photocopiers and plotters which emitted a characteristic mixture of C₁₀-C₁₁ isoparaffinic hydrocarbons. The specific source strength of TVOC, which was dominated by the office-machine emissions, remained relatively constant over the course of study. During the final four-day sampling period, the specific source strength of TVOC varied by about a factor of six with occupancy. The source strengths of many other compounds during those four days were also related to occupant activities. Motor vehicles in the below-ground parking garage were implicated as another major source of hydrocarbons in the building.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (LBL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Energy Efficiency Office. Building Technologies Office; General Services Administration
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 6026187
• Report Number(s): LBL--26950; CONF-890692--25; ON: DE91009328
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association Journal Issue: 11 Journal Volume: 41
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320107* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Building Systems-- (1987-)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AIR POLLUTION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BUILDINGS
COMPUTER OUTPUT DEVICES
COMPUTER-GRAPHICS DEVICES
EMISSION
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INHALATION
INTAKE
MATTER
MONITORING
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
OFFICE BUILDINGS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCOPYING
PLOTTERS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION SOURCES
SITE SURVEYS
TIME DEPENDENCE
VENTILATION SYSTEMS
VOLATILE MATTER
WORKING CONDITIONS