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Indoor Air Quality

Indoor Air Quality

We support the industrial development of "clean" materials, using certification methodologies to assure a healthier indoor environment and better conditions for national and international markets.

The issue of indoor air quality has been of growing interest in terms of its scientific, technical and political expression, as a consequence of the increasing evidence of health negative impacts of indoor air as asthma and other respiratory tract diseases. Our

Indoor Air Quality Laboratory

operates in this field and is the first accredited national laboratories to devote itself to the detailed characterization of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

We support the production of interior coating and finishing materials in the industrial development phase evaluating their impact on indoor air quality as sources of volatile organic compounds.

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The area of Indoor Air Quality

Assessment of the quality of materials in terms of pollutant emissions
Emission tests and VOC analysis and Chemical characterization of products

Evaluation of the quality of building materials in terms of emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and aldehydes in test chambers, according to the criteria established by several international laws and bodies:
- German criteria: AgBB / Dibt / GEV / EMICODE
- French Legislation Criteria (classe A+, A, B ou C)
- Belgium legislation criteria
- North American Regulation Criteria, such as LEED (Section 01350 California Standard Specification) and GreenGuard criteria
- Japonese standard JIS A1901: 2009
- IKEA criteria
Determination of the emissions of VOCs, aldehydes and ketones in materials used in the automotive industry:
- VOC emissions / content by direct thermal desorption (VDA 278) and in a temperature test chamber (VDA 276)
- Analysis of aldehydes and low molecular weight ketones, according to GMW 15635 and equivalent standards (VDA275; PV3925; VCS 1027.2739; PSA D40 5535; FLTM BZ 156-01 sections A and B and AA-0061)
Determination of the presence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polluting substances that can appear in products such as paints, polymers, sealants or other products with color pigments, through thermal extraction followed by analysis by GC / MS.
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Determination of the content of volatile organic compounds in products

Chemical characterization of products

Determination of the content of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in paints and varnishes, according the standard ISO 11890-2, to verify compliance with Directive 2004/42/EC and to verify the criteria established by North American Regulations: South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule #1168.

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Analysis of specific volatile and very volatile organic compounds
Analysis of indoor and workplace samples
- Sampling and determination of concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and very volatile organic compounds (COMVs) in an industrial environment to assess occupational exposure and verify compliance with NP-1796 and Decree-Law No. 24/2012, as amended by Decree-Law No. 1/2021 (according to ISO 16000-3 and 16000-6 methods).
- Analysis of volatile organic compounds in samples from gaseous effluent characterization tests in accordance with the EN 13649/2010 standard.
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Indoor air quality assessment
Analysis of indoor and workplace samples
- Sampling and determination of the concentration of formaldehyde and total volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (according to the ISO 16000-3 and ISO 16000-6 reference methods), to verify compliance with the thresholds provided for in Ordinance no. 138-G/2021, including quantification of specific compounds potentially present and which may pose a risk to building occupants.
- Continuous monitoring tests of the levels of other indoor air quality parameters contained in Ordinance No. 138-G/2021, including carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10).
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Determination of volatile organic compounds in waste

Chemical characterization of products

Determination of the content of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in different types of waste, in order to elaborate the Solvent Management Plan provided for in Decree-Law no. 127/2013.

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Determination of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

Analysis of the presence of PCBs, pollutants that can appear in products such as paints, polymers, sealants or other products with colour pigments, but also in recycled materials, where the search for these toxic components is extremely important.

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Characterization studies of the performance of air purifiers and indoor air quality sensors
- Laboratory tests and/or tests in a real environment (eg, offices) to characterize the performance of existing technologies or in the prototype phase, namely:
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Creating Value

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Circular Economy and Construction: safe materials in an era of recycling

Article by Gabriela Ventura and Anabela Martins, INEGI researchers in the field of air quality.

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Face masks: how we help prevent inhalation of volatile organic compounds

Article by Teresa Mata, researcher in the area of environment and sustainability, and Gabriela Ventura, researcher...

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