| An environmental test chamber was used to measure the volatile organic compounds ( VOCs ) emitted by range of materials, including paints and adhesives, so that a typical family home could be constructed utilising materials with low VOC emissions. In addition, the house was designed to reduce VOC concentrations by maximising the ventilation rate, and by using appliances of known low VOC emissions. Measured total VOCs in the house were in the range non-detectable to 43 microgrammes/cu m, which was much lower than the published values of 0.48-31.7 mg/cu m for new houses in the USA and Scandinavia. 58 refs. |
