Volatile Organic Compounds

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air is found to be up to 70 times more polluted than outdoor air. As our homes are being built tighter and becoming well sealed, airborne contaminants called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are released into the indoor air and are dispersed much slower than in a 'leaky' home. VOCs can cause tiredness, headaches, allergic reactions, respiratory problems and other illnesses.

Where are they ?

VOCs are found within many consumer products including household cleaning products and aerosols. They are also present within the fabric of the building such as in adhesives, solvents and treatments. New furniture and finishings release a pollutant called formaldehyde. This is now classed as one of the more harmful VOCs which can irritate the mucus membrane and can make people feel irritated and uncomfortable.

With good ventilation the concentration of VOCs is reduced. A variety of methods can be used from bathroom or kitchen extract fans, which remove contaminants directly from the room, to whole house mechanical ventilation systems such as positive input ventilation or heat recovery that bring in fresh air into the property.