• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.24-37
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• 2007

The Korean Ministry of Environment started controlling indoor air quality (IAQ) in 2004 through the introduction of a law regulating the use of pollutant emitting building materials. The use of materials with formaldehyde emission levels above $1.25 mg/m^2{\cdot}h$ (JIS A 1901, small chamber method) has been prohibited. This level is equivalent to the $E_2$ grade ($>5.0mg/{\ell}$) of the desiccator method (JIS A 1460). However, the $20{\ell}$ small chamber method requires a 7-day test time to obtain the formaldehyde and volatile organic compound (VOC) emission results from solid building interior materials. As a approach to significantly reduce the test time, the field and laboratory emission cell (FLEC) has been proposed in Europe with a total test time less than one hour. This paper assesses the reproducibility of testing formaldehyde and TVOC emissions from wood-based composites such as medium density fiberboard (MDF), laminate flooring, and engineered flooring using three methods: desiccator, perforator and FLEC. According to the desiccator and perforator standards, the formaldehyde emission level of each flooring was ${\le}E_1$ grade. The formaldehyde emission of MDF was $3.48 mg/{\ell}$ by the desiccator method and 8.57 g/100 g by the perforator method. To determine the formaldehyde emission, the peak areas of each wood-based composite were calculated from aldehyde chromatograms obtained using the FLEC method. Formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, butyraldehyde and benzaldehyde were detected as aldehyde compounds. The experimental results indicated that MDF emitted chloroform, benzene, trichloroethylene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m,p-xy-lene, styrene, and o-xylene. MDF emitted significantly greater amounts of VOCs than the floorings did.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.46-55
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• 2008

This study assesses the formaldehyde and TVOC emissions from bio-composites with attached fancy veneer manufactured using wood flour and polypropylene (PP) measured using the Field and Laboratory Emission Cell (FLEC) method and 20 L small chamber method. To determine and compare the effects of the adhesive, samples were prepared with different manufacturing methods. In the FLEC result, the formaldehyde emission level of the bio-composites with attached veneer by hot-press was the lowest than pure bio-composite and bio-composite attached veneer using adhesive. The TVOC emission levels are similar to the formaldehyde emission. The TVOC emission level is very low in all of the samples except fancy veneer that is attached with bio-composites using adhesive. The TVOC emission varies depending on how attaching fancy veneer. The results of the 20 L small chamber method were very similar to those obtained with the FLEC, but the correlation was not perfect. However, the FLEC method requires a shorter time than the 20 L small chamber method to measure the formaldehyde and TVOC emissions. The internal bonding strength exceeded the minimum value of $0.4N/mm^2$ specified by the KS standard. All of the bio-composites with attached veneer satisfied the KS standard.

• Proceedings of the SAREK Conference
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.277-282
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• 2006

In order to predict the indoor air pollutant, the VOCs emission rate is used through small chamber in the design process. However, the small chamber method has limitations as the convective mass transfer coefficient, the most important factor when predicting VOCs contamination of indoor air, is different between the small chamber result and the measured data in the actual building. Furthermore, the existing studies which analyzed mass transfer coefficient in the small chamber were directed on the small chambers developed at the time and FLEC(Field and Laboratory Emission Cell), thus, are different from the current small chamber which has been changed with improvements. The purpose of this study is to determine the emission rate of pollutant in double-layered building materials through the CFD(Computational of Fluid Dynamics) and Numerical analysis based on the mass transfer coefficient on singled-layered building material by using the current small chamber widely used in Korea. Futhermore, this study used the new convective mass transfer coefficient($h_m'$) which indicates the existing convective mass transfer coefficient($h_m$) including VOC partition coefficient(k). Also, formaldehyde was selected as target pollutant.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.53-58
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• 2007

In order to predict the indoor air pollutant, the VOCs emission rate is used through small chamber in the design process. However, the small chamber method has limitations as the convective mass transfer coefficient, the most important factor when predicting VOCs contamination of indoor air, is different between the small chamber result and the measured data in the actual building. Furthermore, the existing studies which analyzed mass transfer coefficient in the small chamber were directed on the small chambers developed at the time and FLEC(Field and Laboratory Emission Cell), thus, are different from the current small chamber which has been changed with improvements. The purpose of this study is to determine the emission rate of pollutant in multi-layered building materials, and predict the indoor pollutant concentration through the CFD(Computational of Fluid Dynamics) and CRIAQ2 based on the mass transfer coefficient on singled-layered building material by using the current small chamber widely used in Korea. Futhermore, this study used the new convective mass transfer coefficient(hm') which indicates the existing convective mass transfer coefficient(hm) including VOC partition coefficient(k). Also, formaldehyde was selected as target pollutant.