Carpet Padding Off Gassing

The materials used in the carpet installation process including glues and other adhesives that contain formaldehyde and a range of vocs that off gas into the home environment.

Carpet padding off gassing. Off gassing is something that s continually happening although it happens at a faster pace when something is drying such as glue or paint or when temperatures are increased think of the plastics leather bonding chemicals and carpet from a new car that s been sitting in the sun. If you can t remove the carpet the next best thing i can suggest is to keep the area ventilated to the highest level possible. The carpet and rug institute cri an industry group has made reductions in 4 pc for example which is one of the most odorous vocs. If adhesives are required choose those with fewer vocs and overall fewer chemicals.

4 pch gives off a pungent odor that can linger for days even weeks sometimes. In fact off gassing can last for years. If carpet is non negotiable consider natural carpets with fewer vocs and padding made from natural materials like cotton. Off gassing refers to possible volatile organic compounds or vocs and chemicals being emitted from new furniture or similar household materials.

While the first few weeks or months generally have the highest levels of off gassing it doesn t mean that the off gassing stops afterwards. Styrene butadiene rubber is what one must surely avoid as some even have the same toxicity as formaldehyde. Most of the off gassing that happens is from the 4 phenylcyclohexene 4 pch that the latex used for the adhesive gives off. Carpet off gassing can definitely last five years or more.

But let s take a look at the facts. Potential sources of off gassing range from construction materials to carpeting cabinetry furniture paint and any number of household goods. Open doors and windows and use exhaust fans. The dye can also be a major source of vocs in your carpet.

Use installation methods that don t require adhesives if possible. Carpet s tendency that to accumulate dust mites dirt pesticides and other toxins brought into our homes on our feet and our pets feet. As you can tell by now your carpet can have quite the number of synthetic chemicals that can off gas as vocs. Although there has been progress to minimize the toxicity of carpet and carpet padding the vast majority of carpets still off gas pollutants that are not good for your health.

Alternatively there are various chemical free low emitting and non solvent adhesives in the market. The best way to stop off gassing is to first remove the source from your breathing space.