February 12, 2003—Air Quality Sciences, Inc. (AQS), an indoor air quality research firm, has developed an environmental chamber test that measures the release of chemicals and particles from HVAC duct materials as building air is delivered to occupied spaces. This new technology enables manufacturers of HVAC materials to evaluate the types and levels of indoor pollutants that can be released during typical building operating conditions. The test measures the release of respirable particles, formaldehyde, and other volatile organic chemicals, and allows for resulting indoor concentrations to be determined. The concentrations can then be compared to current indoor air quality standards and guidelines.
AQS’ new duct material protocol utilizes sophisticated systems designed to move a high-velocity air stream through the ductwork. Particles and chemicals that are released and delivered into an occupied air space are measured down to extremely low levels of parts-per-billion and microgram per cubic meter of air. AQS’ environmental chamber technology allows these low levels emissions to be measured accurately and reproducibly.
The testing methodology is available to all manufacturers of duct materials, construction design managers, building managers, and others who want to measure the contribution of duct materials to indoor pollution. The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute has accepted this test method for measuring compliance with allowable pollutant emissions for the GREENGUARD Certification Program for Indoor Products.
The first Company to perform this testing and to certify their duct materials was Flexible Technologies, who recently announced GREENGUARD certification of their M-KC Flexible Duct.
For more information, contact AQS.
