What are VOC?
VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compounds — volatile organic compounds that off-gas at room temperature from building materials, furniture and everyday products. These include hundreds of different substances: formaldehyde, toluene, xylene, styrene, benzene, limonene and many more. The aggregate parameter TVOC (Total VOC) encompasses them all.
You often recognise VOC by the typical "new smell" after renovation or buying furniture. But many VOC are odourless — and the most dangerous ones, such as formaldehyde, are only detectable by smell at concentrations that are already harmful to health.
Formaldehyde: the most common indoor pollutant
Formaldehyde is by far the most common VOC in indoor spaces. The main sources:
- Chipboard and engineered wood: Urea-formaldehyde resins as binders — continuous off-gassing over decades
- Furniture: Particularly inexpensive furniture with chipboard core
- Insulation: Urea-formaldehyde foam (UF foam), especially in older buildings
- Varnishes, paints and adhesives: Formaldehyde as preservative and solvent
- Floor coverings: Laminate, vinyl and their adhesives
Formaldehyde is classified by the IARC as carcinogenic (Group 1). The WHO recommends a guideline value of 0.1 mg/m³ as a 30-minute mean.
VOC sources in new builds and older buildings
VOC contamination does not only affect old buildings — on the contrary:
New builds and fresh renovations
In the first weeks and months after completion, VOC concentrations are at their highest. Fresh paints, varnishes, adhesives, floor coverings, sealants and furniture all off-gas simultaneously. In energy-efficient new builds with a tight building envelope, the contamination accumulates further because there is less natural ventilation.
Older buildings
VOC can also be a problem in older buildings: wood preservatives (PCP, lindane) in roof structures and timber panelling, old chipboard with formaldehyde binders, and solvent residues in parquet sealants and coatings. These substances off-gas over decades — slowly, but continuously.
Sick Building Syndrome
When several people in a building develop non-specific symptoms — headaches, fatigue, concentration difficulties, mucous membrane irritation — this is referred to as Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). VOC are one of the most common causes. Typical: symptoms improve at weekends or on holiday and return upon entering the building.
A systematic indoor air measurement identifies the causes and creates the basis for targeted action.
Health risks from VOC
The health effects depend on the substance, concentration and duration of exposure:
- Short-term: Eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches, dizziness, nausea
- Medium-term: Allergic reactions, respiratory complaints, concentration difficulties
- Long-term: Liver and kidney damage, neurological effects, increased cancer risk (formaldehyde, benzene)
Children, pregnant women, allergy sufferers and immunocompromised individuals are particularly susceptible.
Legal basis in Austria
There is no binding limit value for VOC in indoor spaces in Austria, but important guideline and orientation values:
- ÖNORM M 5899: Governs the measurement of VOC in indoor air (sampling, analytics, assessment)
- Federal Health Agency: Recommends a TVOC guideline value of 300 µg/m³ (hygienically unproblematic) — action is required from 1,000 µg/m³
- WHO guidelines: Formaldehyde guideline value of 0.1 mg/m³ (30-minute mean), no safe threshold for carcinogenic VOC
- IBO guideline values: The Austrian Institute for Building and Ecology recommends TVOC below 200 µg/m³ for ecological buildings
How we measure VOC
Depending on the question, we use different methods — often in combination:
1. Real-time sensors (our own IoT sensors)
Our speciality: with self-developed IoT sensors we measure TVOC, formaldehyde, temperature and humidity continuously over hours or days. Data is transmitted and visualised in real time. This allows us to identify concentration peaks that a one-off measurement would miss — for example, nocturnal off-gassing with windows closed, or spikes after heating.
Real-time monitoring is particularly suitable for verifying effectiveness during and after remediation.
2. Passive samplers (Tenax tubes)
For quantitative determination of individual VOC we use Tenax passive samplers. These are exposed in the room for a defined period (typically 4 weeks) and then evaluated in the laboratory by thermal desorption and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS).
3. Laboratory analysis (GC-MS)
Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry identifies and quantifies individual VOC substances with the highest accuracy. This tells us not only how much VOC is in the air, but also which substances are present — this is essential for identifying sources and planning remediation.
Costs
VOC measurements are too situational for a single price anchor. Costs depend heavily on the chosen method: passive sampler + GC-MS laboratory analysis, single indoor air measurement, or continuous real-time monitoring with our own IoT sensors. We prepare a transparent quote after the free initial consultation — no obligation.
The site inspection flat fee is €290 (flat, regardless of scope). Real-time monitoring is included. The video initial consultation is free.
In the free initial consultation we clarify which measurement method is right for your situation and you receive clarity on costs in advance.
Frequently asked questions about VOC measurement
VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) are volatile organic compounds that off-gas at room temperature from building materials, furniture, paints and adhesives. At high concentrations they cause headaches, mucous membrane irritation and allergies. Some VOC such as formaldehyde and benzene are carcinogenic.
VOC measurements are too situational for a fixed price — costs vary significantly between passive sampler + laboratory analysis (GC-MS), single indoor air measurement and continuous real-time monitoring with our IoT sensors. The site inspection flat fee is €290 (flat, regardless of scope) and real-time monitoring is included. In the free initial consultation we prepare a transparent quote for the right method.
Indoor air measurement is advisable when experiencing symptoms such as headaches or eye irritation without an identifiable cause, after renovation or new build, with unexplained smells, before purchasing a home, and during or after pollutant remediation for verification.
Real-time monitoring means we record VOC concentration continuously over hours or days with our own IoT sensors. This allows us to identify concentration peaks that a one-off measurement would miss — for example, nocturnal off-gassing with windows closed, or spikes after heating.
What does VOC remediation cost?
Typical remediation costs (indicative figures)
- Replace VOC-emitting floor coverings€1,500–€6,000
- Remove/encapsulate formaldehyde sources€500–€3,000
- Retrofit professional ventilation€2,000–€8,000
A VOC measurement gives you clarity — before health complaints become chronic. We prepare a transparent quote after a brief initial consultation.
After structural measures we offer a verification measurement to document the effectiveness of remediation. With our real-time sensors we can also monitor VOC levels continuously. More on renovation monitoring →