What Is VOC?
The VOC test identifies and quantifies the volatile organic compounds released into the air from materials used in the vehicle cabin. These compounds, the source of new-car smell, accumulate in the enclosed cabin and affect interior air quality. Measurement can be performed at material, component, or whole-vehicle level.
Purpose of VOC
The purpose is to quantify materials' contribution to interior air quality and to demonstrate compliance with OEMs' interior-emission specifications.
Which Products Is VOC Applied To?
- Seat fabric, foam and leather
- Instrument-panel and door-panel plastics
- Carpet, headliner and insulation materials
- Adhesive, gasket and sealing materials
- Cable insulation and protective materials
In Which Sectors Is VOC Used?
Standards Related to VOC
- VDA 277
- VDA 278
- ISO 12219-2
- ISO 12219-3
- ISO 12219-4
- ISO 16000-6
VOC Conditions
- VDA 277
- Static headspace method; gives the result as total carbon emission
- VDA 278
- Thermal desorption; VOC and FOG values are reported separately
- Emission chamber
- Temperature, humidity and air-exchange rate controlled under ISO 12219
Equipment for VOC
- Thermal-desorption unit
- Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
- Headspace sampler
- Emission test chamber (micro or large-volume)
- Tenax sampling tubes and pumps
Sample Requirements for VOC
- A representative material specimen; must be wrapped in aluminium foil immediately after cutting
- The specimen's packaging must not itself be a source of emission
- The amount of specimen varies by method (at gram level in VDA 278)
- The sampling date and storage conditions must be recorded
- For component- or vehicle-level measurement, the specimen description and surface area must be stated
Duration of VOC
Material-level analyses take a few days; emission-chamber studies and whole-vehicle measurements take longer owing to conditioning periods.
VOC Procedure
- 1The specimen is taken and packaged in a way that prevents loss of emission.
- 2The specimen is prepared according to the method to be applied.
- 3In VDA 278 the specimen undergoes two-stage thermal desorption.
- 4Released compounds are separated and identified by GC-MS.
- 5Quantity is determined using calibration standards.
- 6VOC and FOG values are calculated and reported.
VOC Acceptance Criteria
The acceptance criterion is not defined in the standard itself but in the OEM's interior-emission specification. Each manufacturer has its own limit values, which vary by material group.
Evaluation of Results
The VOC value represents low-boiling-point compounds, while the FOG value represents higher-boiling-point (condensable) compounds. The two values are interpreted together; a high FOG value is a precursor to a windscreen-fogging problem.
VOC Report
- Applied method and standard
- Specimen description, sampling date and storage conditions
- Analysis conditions
- VOC and FOG values, or total carbon emission
- Main compounds identified
- Comparison with the specification (if available)
Accreditation
EUROLAB holds internationally recognised accreditation obtained from accreditation bodies party to the IAF and ILAC multilateral recognition arrangements, under ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratory testing, ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection and surveillance, and ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC 17065 for system and product certification. This chain ensures the reports and certificates issued are accepted worldwide.
Whether this test can be offered within accredited scope depends on your product and the standard applied; since accreditation is method-based, the scope is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.
Scope and authorisationsRelated Regulations
- OEM interior-emission specifications
- National regulations on indoor air quality
Mobilya Testleri — What Does This Testing Field Cover?
The section below describes the field that the VOC test belongs to; the conditions and acceptance criteria of this particular test are given in the sections above. The scope specific to your product is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.
Furniture testing shows that a product stays safe and functional throughout its expected service life. Tests are run with loading cycles representing real use: sitting, leaning back, opening and closing drawers, loading doors, loading shelves and tipping.
The logic of the field rests on the NUMBER OF CYCLES. Sitting on a chair once shows nothing; repeating it tens of thousands of times reveals structural weaknesses. Furniture tests therefore combine static loading with fatigue cycles and define different levels according to intensity of use: domestic use, commercial use and heavy commercial use mean different cycle counts for the same product.
TIP-OVER SAFETY carries particular weight in this family. Because storage furniture tipping onto a child has caused serious injuries and deaths, product standards define separate tests for it: loading with drawers open, hanging from a door and climbing scenarios are simulated. In the United States this subject has become a legislative heading of its own and has produced a mandatory specification.
The second axis is chemical and concerns indoor air quality. Formaldehyde release from wood-based panels and volatile organic compound emissions from coatings and textile components are measured. For formaldehyde, a restriction regulation applies on the EU side and CARB Phase 2 and TSCA Title VI limits in North America; these limits differ and export requires assessment against the destination market.
The third axis is flammability. In upholstered furniture the filling material and the upholstery fabric are assessed together; real ignition sources such as a cigarette and a match flame are simulated. The United Kingdom has historically applied the strictest national regime on this subject.
Surface durability is the fourth axis: abrasion, scratching, stain resistance, heat and moisture resistance, light fastness. These tests show how well the product will keep its appearance and shape commercial expectations particularly for kitchen and office furniture.
There is NO sector-specific CE regime for consumer furniture; safety is demonstrated under the general product safety framework using EN durability standards. For furniture permanently fixed into a structure, construction products legislation may come into play. This distinction matters in project work: a kitchen cabinet and a built-in system fabricated in place can fall under different regimes.
Method groups in this field
Seating
Seat and back loading cycles, arm strength, drop test, tipping resistance, leg and joint strength.
Tables and work surfaces
Static and cyclic loading, horizontal strength, tipping, surface durability.
Storage furniture
Shelf and door loading, drawer cycles, tip-over safety and climbing scenarios.
Beds and mattresses
Durability cycles, edge strength, loss of thickness after loading.
Emissions
Formaldehyde release (chamber, perforator and gas analysis methods), VOC emission test chamber measurements.
Surface and flammability
Abrasion, scratching, staining, heat and moisture resistance; ignitability in upholstered furniture.
Commonly confused in this field
- A result obtained for domestic use does not support a claim of commercial use; the cycle counts and levels are different.
- Tip-over safety is a separate test; passing the durability cycles does not demonstrate tip-over safety.
- Formaldehyde limits differ by market; EU compliance does not mean CARB/TSCA compliance.
- Flammability in upholstered furniture is valid for the COMBINATION of fabric and filling; a change of fabric requires reassessment.
- A result obtained on one model does not cover the whole range; differences in size, material and joints may require separate assessment.
Which decisions these results support
- Determining the durability class for commercial and domestic use
- Tip-over safety and child safety conformity
- Compliance with formaldehyde and VOC emission limits
- Meeting tender and project specification requirements
- Determining destination market requirements for export
Related Tests
Frequently Asked Questions About VOC
What is the difference between VDA 277 and VDA 278?
VDA 277 gives total carbon emission as a single value and is a fast screening method. VDA 278 gives VOC and FOG values separately via thermal desorption and provides compound-level identification; it is more detailed.
How should I send the specimen?
The specimen must be wrapped in aluminium foil as soon as possible after cutting, and plastic bags that could themselves be a source of emission must be avoided. Compounds migrating from the packaging directly distort the result; the sampling date must always be stated.