volatile organic compounds (VOCs) OSB SERVICES/OSB LAB      
   Services

   -Indoor Air Quality
   -Emission Sources

   Introduction  

   

   -Environmental
    Management

  

The quality of indoor air is generally affected by three components. The first is outside air quality which varies greatly with season, weather and location. The second is the indoor environment and the human activity that takes place within the building envelope. The third component is the method and effectiveness of ventilation. OSB Services specializes in air quality testing and assessment with a view to defining problems and offering reasonable solutions. Often, indoor air quality and internal sources are not the main issue but the surrounding environment which will contain emission sources that can degrade the air quality. The services offered are integrated with site sampling and laboratory testing, which together are considered one component or protocol.

     

   -Indoor Sampling
    Programs

   -Managing Indoor Air

      
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OSB Services/OSB Lab

 2759 Thamesgate Dr.
  Mississauga, Ontario
Canada L4T 1G5
Phone: 905 677 0022
Fax: 905 677 0029

  

OSB Services has gained considerable industrial experience which enables it to identify sources of air contamination in environmental samples collected in any location and circumstance. OSB Lab specializes in VOC testing using gas chromatography and is capable of resolving multiple input sources through forensic pattern analysis and recognition.

Air Quality Test Parameters

Carbon Dioxide is a good indicator of sufficient fresh air supply. Indoor Carbon Dioxide levels are associated with the number of people occupying an area and related to each individual's metabolic activity as well as the ventilation rate in the area.  Carbon Dioxide levels in an indoor office environment are generally not high enough to be a health issue, however, elevated levels can indicate inadequate fresh air ventilation and the accumulation of other indoor contaminants.

  






 

    

osblab@osbservices.com
 osb@osbservices.com
Created by Aga





 

  


Carbon Monoxide is a good indicator of intrusion of combustion source exhausts. Most problems are associated with furnace/boiler or automobile/propane lift truck exhausts.  Carbon monoxide is extremely toxic.  At elevated levels, symptoms of exposure include headaches, decreased alertness, nausea, fatigue and chest pains.

 Temperature and Relative Humidity are often the primary causes of air quality complaints.  Low relative humidity levels are associated with discomfort and dryness of mucous membranes and skin.  Temperature, relative humidity, air motion, activity level and clothing are all factors affecting the thermal comfort of a person.

      



























 

Particulates and Airborne Dust at moderate to high levels can cause allergic reactions, such as dry eyes, nose, throat and skin irritation, coughing, sneezing and respiratory difficulties.  The particles that are responsible for most of the adverse health effects are 10 micron or smaller in diameter and are classified as respirable suspended particulates.  Respirable particulates are measured by high efficiency filtration and particle counting instrumentation (Met One Laser Particle Counter).

Airborne Microbials, such as bacteria, molds, fungi and yeast, are correlated with particulates and airborne dust. High humidity, reduced ventilation and HVAC systems that employ water or condensation (humidifiers, cooling coils) allow for the growth of microorganisms.  Viable colonies and spores are collected on agar media (RCS Impactor Microbial Sampler) and incubated to determine the Total Counts. Identification of microbial samples to the Family or Genus level (dependent upon number of colonies) is subcontracted to outside laboratories.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) consist of chemicals (containing carbon, hydrogen and other elements) that have boiling points below 250oC. All buildings contain a large variety of VOC sources such as plastics, cleaning compounds, paints, adhesives and combustion processes. Products used by occupants in the office such as perfumes, cosmetics and deodorants contain VOCs which are often identified in indoor office air. VOC samples taken by OSB Services identify and quantify individual VOCs to determine potential health effects or causes of irritation in people. VOC sources can be identified and eliminated by corrective action.

Air Circulation is affected by the operation of the HVAC system and room layout (interference). It creates some of the perceptions of good or poor air quality in the workplace. Vertical temperature gradient measurements provide a good indication of how well the air in the workspace is mixed.

Air Quality Assessment

 The results of the audit will be used to determine how reasonable the air quality is at the facility and highlight any areas of concern. If some areas are considered for improvement in air quality, these will be identified.
 
 
 
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