PulseTest: a new method to locate sources of indoor volatile organic compounds and particulate matter

“PulseTest” is a new method developed to detect the sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter (PM) in one office room. The 5 phases consisted of: room normal operating condition, neutral phase (inlet and outlet closed), under pressure (inlet closed), positive pressure (outlet closed) and outdoor air. A 6-channels particle counter was used to monitor PM of size ≤ 0.3, ≤ 0.5, ≤ 1.0, ≤ 2.0, ≤ 5.0 and ≤ 10.0 μm. VOCs were actively sampled on Tenax TA and analysed by thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Except for the increased concentration of PM<2μm from outdoor air, the highest concentrations of VOCs and PM<2μm were detected during under pressure with a significant increase of undecane, limonene, β-pinene, ten-fold acetone concentrations and 3-fold PM1 concentration compare with the other phases. PM5 and PM10 were not influenced by the change of phase. The PulseTest helped to detect sources of PM and VOCs. © Healthy Buildings Europe 2017. All rights reserved.