Ministry ofEconomy, Trade and Industry
Standards Department,
Industrial Science Technology Policy and
Environment Bureau
1. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has been engaged in development of JIS standards for environment-friendly products in approximately 130 subjects, based on the "Environmental JIS Development Action Program" (developed by Japanese Industrial Standards Committee in April 2002). As the first step in this effort, JIS standard for eco-friendly cement and Technical Report (TR) (regarded pre-JIS standard) for molten slug aggregate have been developed and published in July 2002.
2. Following this, JIS standards to address the "sick house" syndrome will be developed, following revision of the Building Standard Law in July 2002. As of January 20, 2003, JIS A1901 (Determination of the emission of volatile organic compounds and aldehydes for building projects - Small chamber method) (hereinafter referred to as small chamber method) has been developed and promulgated. Subsequently on March 20, JIS standards for 45 construction-related products such as building interior material, paints, adhesives, and heat insulation materials (see attached sheet) have been developed, revised and published.
3. The small chamber method that has been established recently is aimed at measurement of volatile organic compounds such as toluene, xylene, etc., in addition to formaldehydes, and is expected to be effective in dealing with the "sick house" syndrome in the future. Furthermore, the method is capable of measuring dispersion speed for construction materials, enabling forecast of formaldehyde and VOC concentration in room air. With the establishment of a common measurement method and JIS standard, compatibility and effective utilization of measurement data are realized. It is also expected to promote development, application, and dissemination of construction materials with low dispersion levels for formaldehydes and VOCs.
In addition, JIS standards for specific materials now define grading and labeling based on formaldehyde dispersion level, such as F
(material that does not require restrictions in use due to low dispersion level), and F
and F
(material that shows a measure of dispersion but can be used as construction material within a certain proportion to area of application). Selection of appropriate material becomes possible by confirming these labels. Development of these JIS standards are expected to foster and facilitate action in controlling the "sick house" syndrome with the revision of the Building Standard Law in July 2003.
This standard establishes the method employing the small chamber method to measure volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehydes, and other carbonyl compounds dispersed into ambient air from construction materials (construction boards, wallpapers, carpets, adhesives, paints, etc.).
Organic compounds that evaporate at relatively low boiling point of 50 to 150 °C, collectively known as VOCs.
Mass of formaldehydes and VOCs that disburses from construction material per hour. This is based on calculation of the speed of dispersion per unit area of the construction material.
When dispersion speed for the construction material is determined, concentration of formaldehydes and VOCs in room air, based on cubic volume of interior, area on which the construction material is used, and interior ventilation volume, can be predicted.
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Industrial Science Technology Policy and Environment Bureau
Standards Development and Planning Division
Standardization Office for Industrial Infrastructure
Telephone: 03(3501)9277 (Attention: Iwanaga/Nagata)
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