Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in construction

From adhesives to paints, sealants to flooring, VOCs remain part of everyday construction materials. But what are Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)? Before we explore exactly how they appear in the construction industry, we first need to understand what they are. In this blog, we’ll go through the ins and outs of VOCs, including how to measure and reduce them where possible. Let’s get started by going into more detail on what these are.

What are Volatile Organic Compounds?

VOCs are carbon-based chemicals that evaporate at room temperature. When they evaporate, they release gases into the air, creating a potential health and safety concern in high amounts. In a construction setting, VOCs can come from:

• Paints and primers
• Adhesives and bonding agents
• Sealants and caulks
• Varnishes, lacquers, and stains
• Flooring materials such as vinyl, laminate, or carpet adhesives
• Insulation
• Composite wood products and resins
• Cleaning agents and solvents

Many VOCs are not immediately hazardous in small quantities, but prolonged exposure or high concentrations can cause symptoms like headaches and nausea. This is why good ventilation is key, because in poorly ventilated spaces, these effects can worsen.

What is a VOC in construction

Now, when we talk specifically about VOCs in construction, we’re referring to gases released from building materials during application, drying, curing, and even products that are fully installed. Some examples include:

• The smell of a freshly painted room
• The “chemical” odour from new vinyl flooring
• The sharp scent of a newly applied adhesive or sealant
• Fumes released during insulation installation

These emissions impact workers because they can actually linger for weeks, potentially impacting occupants.

Why VOCs matter: Health, compliance, and reputation

VOCs matter for three main reasons: their impact on health, their relevance to regulations, and the expectations of your clients. 

From a health perspective, ongoing or heavy exposure to VOCs can lead to respiratory problems, headaches, nausea and allergic reactions. For tradespeople who work with adhesives, coatings or solvents, these are symptoms that they could experience. As we’ve discussed previously, prolonged use of poorly ventilated areas can make things worse, and repeated exposure can become an occupational issue. Frequent exposure to VOC emissions has been linked to:

• Respiratory irritation
• Migraines and dizziness
• Lung conditions (e.g. asthma, chronic bronchitis)
• Allergic reactions (e.g. contact dermatitis)

Regulation is another important driver of tackling VOCs, with sustainability frameworks like BREEAM, LEED and WELL that support the use of low-VOC materials, and UK and European standards that provide guidance on VOC for paints, adhesives and other construction products.

Then finally, client expectations might sometimes ask that low-VOC materials are used as part of wider sustainability goals, especially for homeowners, developers, facilities managers and architects. 

How to measure Volatile Organic Compounds on site

Understanding how to measure volatile organic compounds is critical for anyone responsible for building performance. Here are a couple of common ways VOCs are measured in construction:

• Handheld VOC meters: These are portable detectors used to measure total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) in parts per million (ppm) or micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³). They provide instant readings, are simple to use, and are great for spot checking areas.
• Indoor air quality sensors: In some projects, continuous monitoring could be used through semi-permanent air quality sensors that can be installed to give constant readings. They provide 24/7 results, and some can collect data for compliance reports. 

How to reduce Volatile Organic Compounds in construction

Knowing how to reduce volatile organic compounds is just as important as knowing how to measure them. Fortunately, the construction industry now has many practical and cost-effective strategies for minimising emissions on site.

Choose low-VOC products

The most straightforward method is to choose low-VOC or VOC-free products wherever possible. Many manufacturers have reformulated traditional materials to meet modern expectations, providing water-based paints, hybrid-polymer sealants, solvent-free adhesives and low-VOC flooring systems. These products can all reduce emissions without impacting performance, and in some cases, they are now the standard options. 

Ventilate

Ventilation also plays a crucial role. The faster VOCs disperse, the better, and the lower their concentration in the space. This can be achieved by keeping windows open, using extraction units, and promoting cross-ventilation by opening windows/doors on opposite sides of a room or building. 

Apply products correctly

Another essential factor is proper application. Whether it’s applying too much solvent-based materials, incorrect curing times, or leaving containers open that have VOC materials inside, these can all increase exposure. Following the manufacturer’s instructions carefully, sealing containers as soon as they are no longer in use, and avoiding the build-up of waste materials all help to create safer conditions.

Manage site storage and waste

Waste handling is extremely important in the construction industry, and VOCs are one reason for this. Making sure that containers are properly sealed, chemicals aren’t spilt, and that waste is handled in the right way all contribute to lowering VOC release. 

VOCs in key construction materials

Let’s see in more detail how different construction materials emit VOCs. Understanding how this happens can help you and others make more informed choices for the project at hand. 

Paints and coatings

These types of materials can be a common source of VOCs, especially older solvent-based formulations. But the good news is that modern water-based paints generally contain far fewer volatile compounds and still provide fantastic coverage and durability.

Adhesives and sealants

These are sources of VOCs because they often rely on solvents or reactive resins. Flooring adhesives, general-purpose construction adhesives and traditional sealants can also release VOCs when curing. 

Flooring systems

Flooring systems present a dual challenge because emissions can come from both the flooring material and the adhesive used to install it. This can include vinyl, carpets and engineered wood products. 

Timber and composite boards

MDF, chipboard and plywood can also emit VOCs, especially if they contain formaldehyde-based resins. However, many manufacturers are beginning to offer low-formaldehyde or formaldehyde-free alternatives.

VOC regulations in the UK

There are a number of regulations and standards that are worth knowing about. While not all of these VOC-related standards are legally binding, what they all point towards is best practice. Let’s take a look at some of these and unpick how they link to VOCs. 

• EU Paints Directive 2004/42/EC: Sets limits on VOC content in decorative paints and varnishes.

• Construction Products Regulation (CPR): States that construction products on the EU market must not impact human health through emissions of hazardous substances, which include VOCs.

• BREEAM: Although a voluntary scheme, it awards credits for the use of low-VOC materials.

Browse our construction products today

If you need particular products that meet the requirements for your projects, whether that’s related to VOCs or something else, then you can rely on Complete Construction Products to provide you with what’s needed. We offer a large collection of construction products from all major manufacturers, including flooring products, protective coatings, industrial cleaning products and more. 

If you need support in selecting the right products for your project, contact our team today.