Green Technology

Low VOC Products

Indoor air quality is an important consideration when creating or renovating your living environment. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)—present in many building supplies and products—can cause dizziness and headaches, eye irritation and asthmatic reactions. At high concentrations, they can even be toxic. Millions of people are chemically sensitive and even low levels of VOCs can make them really sick.

VOCs may be present in treated wood products, insulation, adhesives, carpeting, as well as whatever you put into the finishing details. All engineered and manufactured wood products are made with adhesives and resins, including plywood, OSB (oriented strand board), laminated beams, MDF and particleboard.

VOC chemicals evaporate into the air and are dispersed—a process known as off-gassing. Some products—like spray foam insulation—will cure quickly, and within a few days the VOCs are virtually gone or are at non-detectable levels. Other products, like pressed wood cabinets, will off-gas for many months. And, if the material is exposed to high temperatures or high moisture levels, the level of emission will be higher.

But you have options. Glass, ceramic tile, metal, stone and other hard and inert materials don’t release any VOCs. Solid wood is better than composite wood products. Tile and hardwood are a better choice than vinyl flooring. Natural carpet is better than synthetic. Water-based products, like latex paint and caulking, have lower levels of VOCs than solvent-based products.

But be careful when buying products and materials that say they are “low VOC”. There are no standards for using the term; it can mean one thing to one manufacturer and something else to another. Your best bet is to buy products that have been tested and certified to emit low levels of VOCs. One standard to look for is the Green Seal (GS). This tells you a product has been rigorously evaluated and tested and meets certain environmental standards.