Pvc Flooring Off Gassing

Five steps to correct unacceptable levels of formaldehyde gas traced to laminate flooring or similar floor covering products.

Pvc flooring off gassing.

Indoor pollutants inside the home are likely to be five times higher than levels found outside according to studies conducted by the environmental protection agency. For two years all was well. How to correct outgassing of ormaldehyde from laminate flooring products. Then very sensitive customers began complaining about off gassing.

Vinyl on the other hand is a petroleum based synthetic product made from polyvinyl chloride pvc resin along with additives such as plasticizers stabilizers pigments and fillers. A study by the california air resources board found forty chemicals some of which are toxic off gassing from pvc flooringxxii. It has been commonly used in home products for decades in everything from certain types of wood flooring to. This article discusses possible steps to remove formaldehyde gas and formaldehyde gas emitting laminated floor or other outgassing products in order to improve indoor air quality in homes.

Luxury vinyl tile lvt flooring has recently become popular due to its durability price and unique looking surfaces. When we began to sell bamboo flooring many years ago we were told that it was safe and had no off gassing of toxic ingredients. Formaldehyde is an ever present colorless gas that can give off a pickle like smell. Pvc is one of the most environmentally hazardous consumer materials produced.

Pvc flooring and other pvc products can contribute to poorer indoor air quality as pvc products can off gas chemicals called volatile organic compounds vocs. The off gassing of vinyl flooring chemicals will be a painstakingly slow process that can progress for some time after the installation the duration of time will depend on a variety of factors such as the number of chemicals released into the air the ventilation in the space and the size of the environment that is impacted by the off gassing. Pvc is known to off gas releasing volatile organic compounds that harm indoor air quality. However it is made of new or recycled polyvinyl chloride or pvc.

Hirshberg the manufacturer said. Vinyl flooring can last anywhere from 10 to 20 years. Freed strongly advises clients to skip the vinyl which is a petroleum product that will off gas and instead opt for natural linoleum which offers most of the same benefits but not the health related drawbacks. Called outgassing these fumes are emitted from vinyl over time and are just one cause of indoor pollutants.