1.1 Planar polyvinyl chloride (vinyl) indoor materials can contain semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), such as phthalate esters and other non-phthalate plasticizers, that can emit into indoor air. Phthalate esters and other non-phthalate plasticizers that have been measured using this standard are listed in Table 1 and are referred to as SVOCs in the remainder of this document.

1.2 The SVOCs listed in Table 1 are present in a wide range of products and not limited to planar polyvinyl chloride (vinyl) indoor materials. This standard discusses specific planar polyvinyl chloride materials due to method development and associated quality control data produced from testing these materials. The materials inclusion in this standard does not indicate the SVOC source strength of specific polyvinyl chloride planar materials relative to other products.

1.3 This method describes the design of a 1 L environmental chamber with minimal exposed chamber walls.

1.4 This method measures the steady-state gas phase concentration of SVOCs in the chamber. Samples of products are tested at specified conditions of temperature, airflow rate, and elapsed time in a specially designed chamber with dry air. Air samples are collected periodically using sorbent sampling tubes at the chamber exhausts at controlled flow rates, and then analyzed by thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS).

1.5 This method determines the SVOC convective gas-phase mass transfer coefficient across the material surface, h_m, from the known dimethyl phthalate mass transfer coefficient in the chamber (1).2

1.6 Using the steady-state gas phase concentration and mass transfer coefficient, the method estimates the gas-phase concentration of SVOC in equilibrium with the material phase (y₀) at a specified temperature. The obtained y₀ data can be used to predict emissions in real indoor environments. However, exposure modeling is beyond the scope of this method. For more information on mass transfer emission and exposure modeling see Little et al. (2), Liang and Xu (1, 3), and Guo (4).

1.7 The results for gas phase concentration change in the chamber with time, steady-state gas phase SVOC concentrations (y_ss), and y₀, only represent the conditions specified in the test method and are the result of assumptions built into the method such as instantaneous equilibrium at the source/air interface. The results may not be representative of those collected under other test conditions (that is, temperature or flow rate) or comparable with other SVOC test methods.

1.8 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

1.9 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.10 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.