Comparison of a small and a large environmental test chamber for measuring VOC emissions from OSB made of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)

An investigation was undertaken to compare small environmental test chambers (23.5 L) with large ones (1 m³) for measuring the release of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from OSB made of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). Two samples were cut from one industrially manufactured OSB and were tested over a period of 45 days. Emissions are mainly composed of monoterpenes and aldehydes. Only small differences are obvious in the results acquired in both chambers. The maximum deviation of ±10% must be rather subscribed to stochastic and systematic errors of the method than to differences between both chambers. Thus, small environmental test chambers are generally suitable for measuring organic emissions from wood and wood-based products.