Formaldehyde measurements in Dutch houses, schools and offices in the years 1977

Formaldehyde measurements in Dutch houses, schools and offices in the years 1977–1980

Van Der Wal, J.F

Abstract Many formaldehyde concentration measurements were performed in houses, schools and offices where chipboard material was used during the period 1977–1980 following complaints made by inhabitants. In one building the reason for the complaints was formaldehyde emission from urea-formaldehyde insulation foam instead of chipboard. The threshold limit value, established in the Netherlands at 120 μg formaldehyde m⁻³ (0.1 ppm) for living accommodation was exceeded in most cases. The limit was exceeded in 80% of the investigated houses, in 90% of the investigated schools and in 60% of the investigated offices. The efficiency of measures taken to decrease the formaldehyde concentration were investigated in several rooms by repeated measurements afterwards. In some cases the formaldehyde concentration could be reduced to a level lower than the limit value. This was shown to be difficult when the formaldehyde concentration is higher than 300–500 μg m⁻³, due to emission from chipboard. In one building where formaldehyde was emitted from insulation foam in the cavity wall, the formaldehyde concentration could be decreased from 2300 μ μ⁻³ to 80 μg m⁻³. The influence of the temperature and the ventilation rate could be verified in some cases in practice.