Monitoring VOCs in the workplace

With Channel 4’s programme Grand Designs frequently referencing low-VOC buildings and products, it appears the issue is definitely becoming a mainstream topic for discussion. 

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are also commonly found in the workplace and examples of potentially hazardous VOCs include solvents in paints, adhesives and cleaning products and plastics. Diesel, petrol, gasoline, heating oil and aviation fuel are all VOCs and these, along with benzene, toluene, ethylene, xylene and formaldehyde, require careful monitoring. VOCs can be detected using specific detectors which utilise photoionisation detection (PID) technology. 

Ion Science's Tiger is a handheld monitor that measures down to 1 ppb and is ready to use straight out of the box. The Tiger LT variant is said to be the lowest-cost handheld VOC detector, still performing to 0.1ppm and offering fast response and cleardown time.

At just 66mm tall, the lightweight Tiger Cub personal monitor offers a detection range down to a market-leading 1 ppb and measures 480 selectable compounds, including benzene.

FALCO is the latest generation of fixed PIDs for continuous area detection of VOCs. With Typhoon technology it is protected from condensing moisture even in severe weather conditions. The FALCO TAC option specialises in monitoring total aromatic compounds (TACs), while Titan is designed for benzene-specific area monitoring.

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