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Overview (this manuscript is an overview of an ASTM symposium. The authors, John Sebroski and Mark Mason, of the overview were the co-chairs of the symposium and co-editors of the manuscripts submitted for ASTM peer review and subsequent publication in the technical proceedings for the symposium)
Citation:
Sebroski, J. Overview (this manuscript is an overview of an ASTM symposium. The authors, John Sebroski and Mark Mason, of the overview were the co-chairs of the symposium and co-editors of the manuscripts submitted for ASTM peer review and subsequent publication in the technical proceedings for the symposium). In Proceedings, Symposium on Developing Consensus Standards for Measuring Chemical Emissions from Spray Polyurethan, Anaheim, CA, April 30 - May 01, 2015. ASTM International, W. Conshohocken, PA, 2, (2015).
Impact/Purpose:
The purpose of the overview is to provide potential readers of the ASTM symposium technical proceedings (STP-1589) with a summary of the manuscripts included in the proceedings, an assessment by the co-chairs/co-editors of what was learned, knowledge gaps, and a summary of subsequent actions within the ASTM Indoor Air Committee (D22.05).
Description:
The Symposium on Developing Consensus Standards for Measuring Chemical Emissions from Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) Insulation was held on April 30th and May 1, 2015. Sponsored by ASTM Committee D22 on Air Quality, the symposium was held in Anaheim, CA, in conjunction with the standards development meetings of the Committee. ASTM D22.05 is developing tools to answer fundamental questions: what is emitted from SPF, how long do the emissions persist, how does ventilation impact concentrations and potential exposures? How can we model these processes to address the multiplicity of products, applications, and environmental conditions that may impact exposure to emissions over the life cycle of the material? These are complex and interrelated questions that have challenged the indoor environments research community for many years. Objectives of Symposium: Standardized methods are needed to assess the potential impacts of SPF insulation products on indoor air quality, establish re-entry times for trade workers or re-occupancy times for building occupants after product installation and to evaluate post-occupancy ventilation. The objective of the symposium was to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas from SPF manufacturers, regulatory agencies, indoor air quality professionals, testing labs, air quality consultants, instrument vendors and other stakeholders. Following the presentations on the current status of measuring emissions from SPF insulation, participants discussed paths forward for research, method development and development of standards. The chairs of the symposium cast a broad call for papers on the following topics, representing the complex challenges of diverse stakeholders, including industry and government, during the application and use of SPF insulation products:• Research and method development for measuring potential SPF emissions of semi-volatile and volatile organic compounds used in the formulation (e.g., isocyanates, blowing agents, amine catalysts and flame retardants) and from potential reaction or byproducts;• Federal and other governmental agencies' regulatory approaches and supporting investigation, assessment and research needs; • Modeling, scaling up from lab to large scale chambers or buildings; • International perspective on regulation and testing of SPF insulation emissions; • Industry perspective/needs and product stewardship activities; • Field investigations or large-scale chamber/spray booth studies to evaluate emissions or ventilation rates; and• Applying the knowledge from product emissions data/research to practice (e.g., stewardship commitment, green building practices, codes for residential ventilation and global leadership).The collaboration and exchange of information during the symposium and their corresponding research papers are useful for the development of standards by ASTM D22.05 on Indoor Air for measuring emissions from SPF. New standards are being developed to estimate the emissions of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds (e.g. blowing agents, catalysts, flame retardants, byproducts) with micro- and large-scale chambers. Analytical methods must be developed to measure emissions from the chambers. Specialized chambers must be evaluated for measuring isocyanate emissions such as methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) to avoid adhesion to the chamber’s surfaces. The data generated from the new ASTM standards may be useful as input parameters in computer simulation modeling software to help manufacturers and distributors, researchers, and government agencies assess exposure potential and control mechanisms regarding the use of SPF products.