Challenges of Indoor Air Sampling for VOCs in New Buildings

Dennis Fee, EIT and Prasad Thimmappa, PE, QSD, presented a comprehensive abstract that was selected for inclusion at the 34th Annual International Conference on Soil, Water, Energy, and Air, hosted by the Association for Environmental Health and Sciences (AEHS) Foundation, in San Diego, California. Their observations and suggestions were based on a case study involving several newly-constructed medical and office buildings in Southern California, built with vapor intrusion mitigation systems (VIMS), highlighting the complexities of vapor assessments during pre-occupancy testing prior to obtaining agency approval for building occupancy. They demonstrated how variations in indoor air quality, influenced by the off-gassing of new building materials and furnishings, and the observed discrepancies between sub-slab and indoor air vapor concentrations, complicate the detection and attribution of VOC sources, potentially skewing the results. They highlighted the significant challenges of managing background VOCs and VOCs emitted by new furnishings and construction materials, emphasizing the need for refining strategies to better manage these challenges, and enhance environmental assessment protocols. Their suggestions for more robust pre-sampling assessments, adoption of prescribed guidelines for pre-occupancy flushing of indoor air using the building HVAC systems, and adaptation of sampling protocols targeting specific sources, aimed to better account for "false positives" often presented by these situations. The presentation was well-received by industry peers, and highlights the dynamic nature of environmental science and the ongoing need for innovative approaches in the face of evolving challenges in new buildings and Brownfields redevelopment projects.

The AEHS Foundation is dedicated to advancing knowledge and discussion on environmental health and safety, providing a platform for experts to share research and innovations in the field. For more details about the conference and other initiatives by the AEHS Foundation, visit AEHS West Coast Conference. https://www.aehsfoundation.org/westcoast