ECA 18: Evaluation of VOC emissions from building products

This report outlines the principles of a general evaluation procedure for emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from building materials with respect to their potential effects on health and comfort. Using available knowledge, the principles have been applied to a simplified case, i.e. a procedure for the evaluation of VOC emissions from solid flooring materials. The procedure IS intended for the classification and/or labeling of these materials and may serve for both voluntary and regulatory purposes.

ECA 17: Indoor air quality and the use of energy in buildings.

This report provides information and advice to policy and decision makers, researchers, architects, designers, and manufacturers on (i) strategies for achieving a satisfactory balance between good indoor air quality (IAQ) and the rational use of energy, (ii) guidelines on the use of energy in buildings and IAQ currently available, (iii) significant trends in the building sector with implications for IAQ and energy use and (iv) current research concerns.

ECA 16: Determination of VOCs emitted from indoor materials and products; second interlaboratory comparison of small chamber measurements

The results of the first interlaboratory comparison, carried out in 1991-92 in the framework of the European collaborative Action "Indoor Air Quality and Its Impact on Man", showed unacceptable interlaboratory discrepancies in the case of a thin layer fast decreasing source. A second interlaboratory comparison was subsequently organized and, in order to improve the agreement, the design included: (1) control of the chamber air velocity; (2) control of the source layer thickness; (3) adoption of both dilution and sink mathematical models.

ECA 15: Radon in indoor air

In an attempt to overcome the increasing difficulty of having concise essential information on important indoor pollutants at hand, the European Collaborative Action 'Indoor Air Quality and Its Impact on Man' has published several reports amongst which a short report on radon in indoor air was published in 1988. Since then, considerable new information has become available.

ECA 14: Sampling strategies for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in indoor air

Strategies for sampling chemical substances in indoor air have been discussed in a previous report in this series (Report No 6). This report gives more specific guidance for the development of sampling strategies for volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The report is divided into three sections: 

ECA 13: Determination of VOCs emitted from indoor materials and products. Interlaboratory comparison of small chamber measurements

An interlaboratory comparison using three materials has been organized to assess the agreement among laboratories undertaking tests to characterize the emission of volatile organic compounds from indoor materials and products using small test chambers. The twenty participating laboratories showed the following main results. Chambers of different materials (glass and stainless steel) and of widely different capacity (0.035 to 1475 l) appeared equally suitable. The repeatability of duplicate measurements (including sampling) within each laboratory was good.

ECA 12: Biological particles in indoor environments.

This report is concerned with the strategy and methodology for investigating four major categories of biological particles in the indoor air of private houses, non-industrial workplaces and public buildings (excluding hospitals). These particles are mites and their faeces; dander from pets and other furred animals; fungi, including moulds and yeasts; and bacteria, including actinomycetes.

ECA 11: Guidelines for ventilation requirements in buildings.

These Guidelines recommend the ventilation required to obtain a desired indoor air quality in a space. The first step is to decide the air quality aimed for in the ventilated space. A certain air quality is prescribed to avoid adverse health effects while a decision is required on the level of perceived air quality aimed for in the ventilated space. Three different comfort levels are suggested. The next step is to determine the pollution load on the air caused by pollution sources in the space.

ECA 10: Effects of indoor air pollution on human health.

The report contains a summary discussion of human health effects linked to indoor air pollution (IAP) in homes and other non-industrial indoor environments. Rather than discussing the health effects of the main different pollutants which can be found in indoor air, the approach has been to group broad categories of adverse health effects in separate chapters, and describe the relevant indoor exposures which may give rise to these health effects.

ECA 09: Project inventory - 2nd updated edition

This report gives short descriptions of 325 research projects and investigations originating from 14 European countries and the Joint Research Centre aimed at understanding causes and/or effects of inadequate indoor air quality and at removing or mitigating such causes. The descriptions contain the project title, keywords, name, address and phone number of the principal investigator(s) and the year of the project start and expected project end.

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