Vinyl meeting today's and tomorrow's indoor air quality requirements

Abstract

AbstractThe growth of the “green” building market has raised new questions about the indoor air performance of building products. Indoor air pollution can consist of chemical, biological, and particulate irritants. Vinyl products have been shown to be well suited with respect to indoor air criteria as defined in current standards and “green” building guidelines. People spend more that 80% of their time indoors. Measurements have shown that levels of some indoor air contaminants can be many times higher than those outdoors. Known sources and factors for poor indoor air quality include tobacco smoke, radon, microbial contamination, dust, pet dander, fibers, and particulates. But they seem to be secondary to public concern for chemical emissions from products. Concerns of health effects from certain chemical air pollutants at even very low concentrations (parts per billion) in the workplace and the home have driven suppliers to test their products for emissions in order to assess the impact of those products on indoor air quality. Technology and methods to evaluate the indoor air performance of products have advanced over the past decade. State, federal, and green building rating guidelines with health‐based exposure limits have evolved both domestically and globally. At the same time, the use of vinyl as a replacement for traditional materials and products in the building and construction sector continues to grow. New uses such as vinyl decking and rail, vinyl moldings and trims, along with new flooring and wall covering designs, have increased the use of vinyl in both exteriors and interiors of buildings. Product manufacturers' attention to impacts of products on indoor air quality has resulted in the development of new innovative vinyl compounds and new installation methods. Taken together, these improvements allow vinyl products to meet and exceed even the evolving target for product performance from an indoor air quality perspective. Many of these products require less maintenance and cleaning, thus resulting in lowering of indoor pollutants. Although technical successes have evolved, commercial success will depend on a conscientious consumer. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 13:138–142, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers