VOC Testing Services

Monitoring air quality for exposure to harmful volatile organic compounds.

Why You Need VOC Testing Services and What You Need From Them

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are chemicals that easily vaporize at room temperature and can significantly impact air quality. Common sources of VOCs include paints, cleaning products, adhesives, and certain industrial processes. They can leak into the air from materials like building products or during activities such as petroleum refining and fuel combustion. Many industrial and construction worksites produce VOCs.

Common VOCs Include:

Formaldehyde
Benzene
Toluene
Acetone

Why Is VOC Testing Important for Indoor Air Quality?

VOC testing is crucial for understanding and managing air quality, especially in industrial or commercial environments. Testing helps to monitor VOC levels to prevent adverse health effects  and ensures a safe working environment. VOC testing is part of SITEX’s comprehensive approach to industrial hygiene monitoring.

Health Impacts

Poor indoor air quality due to VOCs can lead to:

Headaches
Dizziness
Allergic reactions
Long-term health issues like cancer

VOC testing provides critical information on the concentrations of these  harmful compounds, allowing you to take action before health problems arise.

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Regulatory Compliance

While OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) does not regulate all VOCs in general terms, it does set standards for certain VOCs. These regulations include permissible exposure limits (PELs) for substances like formaldehyde and benzene, which help employers ensure workplace safety. VOC testing plays a key role in maintaining compliance with OSHA’s General Industry Standards and mitigating worker exposure.

sitting man in hard hat and vest writing on clipboard

What VOCs Does OSHA Specifically Regulate?

OSHA also has specific regulations for individual VOCs due to their known  potential health effects. OSHA sets specific PELs for these compounds:

Compound Name	Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA)
Formaldehyde	0.75 ppm as an 8-hour TWA
Benzene	1 ppm as an 8-hour TWA
Ethyl Benzene	100 ppm as an 8-hour TWA
Toluene	200 ppm as an 8-hour TWA
Xylene	100 ppm as an 8-hour TWA
Methylene Chloride	25 ppm as an 8-hour TWA

Even if no specific PEL exists for a particular VOC, OSHA’s General Duty Clause mandates  a workplace free from known hazards, which dictates that employers take action to address  potential VOC exposures.

What VOC Testing Methods Do Industrial Hygienists Employ?

Industrial hygienists employ multiple methods to assess VOC levels in the workplace, depending on factors like the VOCs of concern, duration of exposure, and regulatory needs. Common VOC testing methods include:

Grab Sampling: Collecting air samples at a specific time for immediate analysis.
Passive Sampling: Using samplers to collect VOCs over extended periods (e.g., days).
Active Sampling: Drawing air through a device to capture a volume of air for lab analysis.
Real-Time Monitoring: Using portable instruments like Photo Ionization Detectors (PID) to measure VOC concentrations in real time.
Area Monitoring: Placing samplers in different areas to identify sources of VOCs.
Personal Monitoring: Attaching samplers to workers to measure individual exposure levels.

Samples collected from grab sampling, passive sampling, or active sampling methods are typically analyzed in laboratories using techniques such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) or high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to provide detailed information on the types and concentrations of VOCs present in the samples.

Using VOC Testing Services: What Should You Look For?

Choosing the right VOC testing service is  critical for accurate results and compliance. Here’s what to look for:

Ensure the provider is certified by recognized organizations, such as the American Industrial Hygiene Association.

Evaluate the provider’s experience conducting VOC testing, especially in your industry or with similar types of facilities and processes. Experience indicates familiarity with relevant regulations, sampling techniques, and analytical methods.

Choose a provider that offers a range of testing methods, from grab sampling to real-time monitoring. The provider should be able to provide tailored solutions based on your specific needs.

Look for modern, precise instruments like GC-MS or HPLC. Ensure the provider follows strict quality control measures throughout the process and provides clear, reliable reports.

Ensure the provider can assist you in meeting regulatory requirements for VOC testing. They should be able to provide clear, detailed reports that document sampling protocols, analysis methods, results interpretation, and compliance with applicable standards or limits.

Choose a provider that offers excellent customer support and communication. They should be responsive to your inquiries, provide timely updates on testing progress, and offer expert advice on interpreting results and implementing control measures.

Compare pricing structures among different providers, but also consider the value offered in terms of expertise, quality of service, reliability of results, and compliance assurance. Avoid solely basing decisions on the lowest cost without considering overall service quality.

Why Use SITEX for VOC Testing Services?

SITEX combines extensive experience with state-of-the-art technology to provide accurate, reliable testing services in industrial environments. VOC testing is just one part of our Industrial Hygiene services that control workplace hazards before they lead to injury or illness.

For more information or to schedule a consultation about VOC testing or any of our Industrial Hygiene services, fill out the form to speak with one of our experts.

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