Cold weather installation of wood flooring by adhesive bonding and its impact on indoor air quality

Abstract

This study discusses the effect of installation of wood flooring by adhesive bonding under cold weather conditions on indoor air quality (IAQ) and analyzes an onsite strategy that can ensure the adhesion strength of the wood flooring and improve IAQ. To examine the temperature effects of adhesive bonding on volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from wood flooring, the emission rates from flooring composites were compared with those from adhesive and plywood flooring as individual materials under temperature variations in a small-scale chamber. In addition, the effect of strategies, including room heating to enhance adhesion performance, and the ventilation on material emissions and indoor concentrations, were examined in onsite apartment units equipped with a radiant floor heating system. The results of the small-scale chamber test showed that VOC emissions increased notably when the temperature was elevated, particularly in the adhesive-bonded plywood flooring compared to plywood flooring alone. The results of the onsite field test showed that the flooring bonded onto the radiant floor heating system, which supplied direct heat to the flooring, caused emission of a large amount of VOCs due to the combined effects of the bonding installation and temperature-dependent characteristics. Overall, the results indicate that heating the room in conjunction with ventilation is an effective strategy to ensure adhesion strength and to improve IAQ under cold weather adhesive bonding conditions when the material temperatures can be properly maintained.