BS ISO 12219-3:2012

Interior air of road vehicles. Screening method for the determination of the emissions of volatile organic compounds from vehicle interior parts and materials. Micro-scale chamber method | Status: Confirmed, Current

1 Scope This part of ISO 12219 specifies a fast, qualitative and semiquantitative screening method for vapour-phase organic compounds (volatile and some semi-volatile) released from vehicle trim materials under simulated real-use conditions using micro-scale test chambers. This method is intended for evaluating new car interior trim components but can, in principle, also be applied to used car components. Target analytes include VOCs (conventionally defined as organic compounds in the volatility range of n-hexane to n-hexadecane) and volatile carbonyl compounds such as formaldehyde. The specified analytical procedure for VOCs is ISO 16000-6 and for formaldehyde and some other light carbonyl compounds is ISO 16000-3.

NOTE 1 Some compounds more volatile than n-hexane and less volatile than n-hexadecane can also be analysed (for more information, see: ISO 16000-6:2011, Annex D; ISO 16017-1;[11] and Annex E).

NOTE 2 For dry, homogeneous materials, results from tests of volatile organic emissions carried out using micro-scale chambers on newly manufactured products have been found to correlate well with data obtained using standard (reference) methods and conventional emission test chambers (ISO 12219-4, VDA 276[1] and ISO 16000-9[6]) or test cells (ISO 16000-10[7]). Correlation with emission data obtained using bags (ISO 12219-2) has also been reported. The practice specified in this part of ISO 12219 is therefore complementary to existing standards.

This part of ISO 12219 provides third party test laboratories and manufacturing industry with a cost-effective approach for:

1. a) monitoring and screening VOC emissions as part of routine quality control;
2. b) monitoring product uniformity or conformity between formal certification tests;
3. c) comparing emissions from products within a range (e.g. different colours or patterns);
4. d) evaluating prototype, “low-emission” materials or products during development.

NOTE 3 All volatile carbonyl compounds except formaldehyde can be analysed according to ISO 16000-6.