Laboratory evaluation of volatile organic compounds emissions from coated and uncoated oriented Strandboard

Emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from oriented Strandboard (OSB) samples were measured. The OSB samples were from a new house constructed using structural engineered panels. The OSB samples were tested: 1) uncoated; 2) coated with oil-based primer; 3) coated with topcoat latex; and 4) coated with both. The highest total VOC emissions were measured from the primer-coated OSB samples. The laboratory results indicate that terpens were found mainly in the uncoated OSB samples (9.5% of total VOC emissions represented alpha-pinene) while N-decane (18%) and N-undecane (36%) are the most abundant components in the oil-based primer used as coating. The water-based latex was found to contain mainly benzene derivatives (30%). The experimental results and information from relevant studies were combined for the toxicological evaluation of the OSB and coatings. The uncoated isocyanate-bonded OSB had very low VOC emissions through the 28-day test period. All tested materials met the "very low emitting materials" benchmark of widely referenced total VOC evaluation procedure after 3 and 28 days.