A CLIMATE TEST CHAMBER FOR THE DETERMINATION OF THE EMISSION OF VOLATILE ORGANIC-COMPOUNDS (VOCS) FROM BUILDING-MATERIALS

A climate test chamber of 1 m3 volume for the determination of the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOC's) from building materials is presented. The chamber allows to vary the temperature (20 to 60-degrees-C) and the relative humidity (30 to 80% r.h.). It can be heated up to 200-degrees-C, while being purged simultaneously in order to reduce memory effects. Extended heating of the chamber and the systematic elimination of all plastic material especially in the humidifier leaded to blank values which are below the detection limit for most substances under investigation. Chamber gas mixing as well as wall effects have been studied systematically.