Full scale test system for indoor impact study of volatile organic compound emissions from buildin materials

A full-scale (30 cubic meters) test chamber was developed for the study of the effects of volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions from materials in real indoor environments. This test chamber is located outdoor and was designed to optimize the realism of the test. The chamber is supplied with unfiltered air and is realized in concrete with gypsum-finished walls and ceiling. The air supply system allows the operation in static conditions (no air change) and dynamic conditions (controlled air change). An arbitrary time schedule of different air change rates can be established in order to simulate variable indoor conditions. A ceiling fan assures the proper air mixing. The temperature control system is based on electrical heating elements in winter, while in summer the temperature is given by a balance of the solar radiation, the thermal inertia of the chamber structure, the temperature of external air and the air change rate.