Material emission and indoor air quality recent experiences in Japan

In Japan problems caused by aldehydes and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) have been recognized to be serious especially in new constructed houses. During 2000 a big field study on over 4500 houses was conducted in Japan by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (formally Ministry of Construction). For indoor air concentration of formaldehyde, 27% of houses were over the guideline of 100 μg/m ³. About 12.3% houses were over the toluene guideline of 260 μg/m ³. From 2000 the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has started to establish guidelines on VOCs. Finally new building standard law on sick house issues in Japan was promulgated on 2002 and it was enforced since July 1, 2003. To prevent "sick house syndrome", suitable ventilation and reduction of emission rates from building products are strongly required. In Japan a small-scale chamber method was standardized as JIS A 1901 in 2003. In this paper background of recent issues is described. Examples of emission rates measurement with 20 I chamber were also shown for flooring materials and expanded polystyrene form.