Respisafe White Paper

Addressing Indoor Air
Quality With Sustainable

Paints & Coatings
ADDRESSING INDOOR AIR QUALITY

WITH SUSTAINABLE PAINTS
FORMALDEHYDE ABATEMENT CASE

STUDY
Dubai, United Arab Emirates

2017
®™* Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company ("Dow") or an affiliated company of Dow
Addressing IAQ with Sustainable Paints and Coatings
FORMALDEHYDE ABATEMENT CASE STUDY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .....................................................................................................................................3

INDOOR AIR QUALITY (“IAQ”) ..........................................................................................................................4
IAQ – Volatile Organic Compounds: Formaldehyde Sources & Exposure Risks .............................................4
IAQ – Volatile Organic Compounds: Low VOC Interior Paints & Coatings .....................................................5
IAQ – Volatile Organic Compounds: Formaldehyde Abatement Paint ..........................................................6
THE CASE STUDY ..............................................................................................................................................7
Study Scope .................................................................................................................................................7
Measurement Schedule ...............................................................................................................................7
Appendix I .....................................................................................................................................................10
Appendix II ....................................................................................................................................................11
Disclaimer ......................................................................................................................................................13
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Respisafe®2 is a brand from COLORTEK®1 https://www.colortek.eu/

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it
relates to the health and comfort of building occupants. Understanding and controlling common pollutants
indoors can help reduce your risk of indoor health concerns. [Environmental Protection Agency, 2017]
The study presented hereafter revolves around actively reducing major indoor air pollutants known as Volatile
Organic Compounds (“VOCs”), through advanced paint systems. There is a wide range of VOCs emitted as
gases from certain solid or liquid materials; these materials can be natural or artificial. Critical pollutants are
often man-made VOCs. One of the most prevalent and most dangerous VOCs is formaldehyde, a known
carcinogen (IARC Class 1), which primarily affects people with weak immunity systems and/or with breathing
problems.
The Dow Chemical Company (hereafter “Dow”), and as part of Dow’s ongoing commitment to innovations
that support more sustainable solutions, introduced “FORMASHIELD™” Polymers as a novel technology used
as a backbone of water based paint which enable active reduction of formaldehyde from indoor air, hence
creating a healthier building environment.
FORMASHIELD™ Technology has been successfully applied in a local college located in Dubai, United Arab
Emirates with Dow’s partner, COLORTEK®1. COLORTEK®1 is one of the leading paint manufacturers in the
region with a proven track record for sustainability and green building solutions commitments. This paper
gives a close and in-depth real life analysis of the paint functionality, under Respisafe®2brand from
COLORTEK®1, where it proves paint effectiveness in actively abating formaldehyde in classrooms’ indoor air.
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INDOOR AIR QUALITY (“IAQ”)

In indoor environments, different indoor sources of pollutants that release gases or particles into the air are
the primary cause of indoor air quality problems. Inadequate ventilation can increase indoor air pollutant
levels by not bringing in enough outdoor air to dilute emissions from indoor sources and by not carrying indoor
air pollutants out of the area. High temperature and humidity levels can also increase concentrations of some
pollutants.
While air is essential for life, its purity is far from guaranteed. Outdoors the dangers are obvious – billowing
smoke from chimneys, exhaust from automobiles, and the smog settling over cities all remind us that our air
quality is being compromised.
Indoors however, the dangers are less obvious and few realize that indoor air can be up to 10 times as much
polluted as outdoor air with impurities that can build to levels high enough to affect our health, the quality of
our lives and the condition of the very homes we live in. This indoor air pollution is in part due to dangerous
airborne chemicals called VOCs (abbreviation of Volatile Organic Compounds) that once inhaled cause a range
of harmful health effects. Formaldehyde, a known carcinogenic chemical widely released from many products
found in the home or by common household activities is one of the most common VOCs and as people spend
80% of their time in closed environments, there is a growing concern about formaldehyde buildup in our
buildings and on its impact on our health.
Globally, more and more awareness and regulations are in place to adopt environmentally preferably paints
by mandating VOCs content limits and VOCs emissions in indoor air. In some countries, regulatory and
environmental agencies are closely monitoring the adoption and implementation of these regulations.
IAQ – Volatile Organic Compounds: Formaldehyde Sources & Exposure Risks
Formaldehyde is an important chemical used widely by industry to manufacture building materials and
numerous household products. It is also a by-product of combustion and certain other natural processes.
[Environmental Protection Agency, 2017]
Sources of formaldehyde in the environment include, not limited to: manufactured wood products such as
furniture, laminate flooring, cigarettes smoke, household products such as paints, detergents, etc. Everyone
is exposed to small amounts of formaldehyde in the air. Exposure to low levels of formaldehyde can cause
eyes, nose, throat or skin irritation. Higher levels of exposure may cause respiratory symptoms and some
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types of cancers. People who may be sensitive to the effects of formaldehyde are the very young (infants,
kids), the very old, and people with asthma and other breathing problems (refer figure 1).
Figure 1. Sources of Formaldehyde
IAQ – Volatile Organic Compounds: Low VOC Interior Paints & Coatings
In paints and coatings, VOCs are used as solvents or thinners that work with the resin — the part that binds
together all the ingredients of the paint and sticks them onto the wall or surface — to achieve excellent
performance and durability. These organic solvents facilitate the paint’s application, drying, and the
formation of a regular paint film. [American Coating Association, 2017]
Today’s consumer paints and coatings preferences are shifted towards more environmentally friendly – low
VOC- water based paint. These paints are having similar, if not better, performance than solvent borne, also
known as “oil based” paints, particularly in the architectural coatings market, while complying with VOC limits
mandated by local and regional regulatory authorities. Environmentally friendly paints on the market are
specifically important for use around sensitive populations, such as in nurseries, schools and hospitals.
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IAQ – Volatile Organic Compounds: Formaldehyde Abatement Paint
Using “low VOC” building materials, in particular paints and coatings, constitute a first preventative step for
enhancing IAQ. These materials fall under controlled sources of VOCs. On the other hand, there are
uncontrolled sources of VOCs which can pollute indoor air (i.e. air circulation systems).
Consequently, new market trends are merging and are geared more and more towards the need of smart
solutions that can actively reduce VOC concentration in closed spaces, in particular for paints and coatings.
Hence the classification of “Active Smart Paint” solutions.
Sustainable and environmentally friendly systems would constitute one aspect of the equation and should be
complemented by additional active functionalities in the paint system. Smart Paints are paints that actively
reduce certain types of VOCs via specific innovative functionalities. Dow’s FORMASHIELD™ Polymers are a
leading technology that serves as a backbone of a paint, and abates certain types of VOCs, specifically
formaldehyde. Thus the designation “formaldehyde abatement paint”.
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THE CASE STUDY
Study Scope
Dow, in collaboration with COLORTEK®1, conducted a large-scale real life demonstration for the
FORMASHIELD™ Technology within a college campus premises located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Core
Objectives of this study was to evaluate in a non-controlled environment the effectiveness of formaldehyde
abatement paint, Respisafe™ from COLORTEK®1 via real life measurements and close monitoring.
Measurement Schedule
1. Area to be painted:
 Two Floors area consisting of 1 AC Unit
 Ground Floor - Tested area parameters:
o Total area painted exc. ceilings: 1,220 sqm
o Number of rooms (excluding corridors): 5
o Volume (2.5m ceiling height): 3,050 m3
o Traffic type: Medium to high traffic rooms
 First Floor - Tested area parameters:
o Total area painted exc. ceilings: 1,160 sqm
o Number of rooms (excluding corridors): 10
o Volume (2.5m ceiling height): 2,900 m3
o Traffic type: Medium to high traffic rooms
2. Possible sources of formaldehyde:

 Enamel skirting
 Vinyl glue on the walls bottom
 Tables and Chairs
 Wooden Doors
 False Ceiling
 Lab equipment & tools
3. Measurement Tool
 Formaldemeter- htV from PPM Technology
 Type: interchangeable digital CMOSens®3.
CMOSens®3is a brand from Sensirion www.sensirion.com
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 Range: -40 to + 128 °C, 0-100%RH

 Target Gas: Formaldehyde (HCHO) in air
 Response Time: 60 seconds in high accuracy mode
 Range: 0 – 10 ppm as standard
 Resolution: 0.001 ppm
4. Measurement Process
 Two random rooms measurements per floor
 Two measurements per day: 8am and 4pm
 Corridor HCHO was measured once daily
 Duration: 3 weeks
5. Measurement Results
Formaldehyde concentration was reduced by around 40% within non-controlled environment
(Following page)
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Source: Real life Measurements, 2017
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Appendix I
About Dow
The Dow Chemical Company (Dow) combines science and technology knowledge to
develop premier materials science solutions that are essential to human progress. Dow
has one of the strongest and broadest toolkits in the industry, with robust technology,
asset integration, scale and competitive capabilities that enable it to address complex
global issues. Dow’s market-driven, industry-leading portfolio of advanced materials,
industrial intermediates, and plastics businesses deliver a broad range of differentiated
technology-based products and solutions for customers in high-growth markets such as
packaging, infrastructure, and consumer care. Dow is a subsidiary of DowDuPont (NYSE:
DWDP), a holding company comprised of Dow and DuPont with the intent to form three
strong, independent, publicly traded companies in agriculture, materials science and
specialty sectors. More information can be found at www.dow.com.
Dow FORMASHIELD™ Technology

http://coatings.dow.com/en/products/formashield
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Appendix II
About COLORTEK®
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About COLORTEK®
COLORTEK® is an international producer of decorative, architectural and industrial coatings with a franchised
retail concept conceived as a designer space where customers can browse through a wide selection of wall
and floor coating solutions within an inviting and clearly organized space.
Technologically advanced and sustainable products, manufactured following international safety and
performance standards coupled with an extensive know-how in the sales and application of architectural,
decorative and technical coatings place COLORTEK® at the forefront of the wall and floor finishes industry,
allowing it to develop into a fast-growing paints brand with a retail network present in Morocco, KSA, Egypt,
United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Lebanon and France.
Respisafe™
Respisafe™ is a smart paint specifically developed in response to growing concern over the health effects of
formaldehyde exposure in homes, schools and other indoor settings. It contains anti-formaldehyde
technology that reacts with dangerous chemical present in the air, capturing formaldehyde and transforming
it to harmless vapor. As such, Respisafe effectively clean the air we are breathing indoor just like a tree would
clean the oxygen outside. Going beyond safety, Respisafe™ combines formaldehyde abetment with high-
performance technologies such as burnish resistance, crack-bridging, stain-resistance and anti-bacterial
properties to produce a revolutionary 5 in 1 coating that can make you rethink what paint can do for your
interiors and your health without compromise on color selection.
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Disclaimer
Real-life testing of the formaldehyde abatement technology is complex. There are many factors to be
controlled and many variables that may be hidden. The cases and results reported herein are based on local
causes, conditions, circumstances and assumptions. These are subject to normal experimental variability and
errors. Should these facts, circumstances or assumptions be different, the results might be different. Thus,
while this information is provided in good faith, no representations or warranties are made by The Dow
Chemical Company or Colortek with regards to its completeness, accuracy or applicability beyond the local
conditions and situations herein. No liability will be accepted for damages of any nature whatsoever resulting
from the use of or reliance on the information.
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Addressing Indoor Air

Quality With Sustainable

ADDRESSING INDOOR AIR QUALITY

FORMALDEHYDE ABATEMENT CASE

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .....................................................................................................................................3

Respisafe®2 is a brand from COLORTEK®1 https://www.colortek.eu/

Respisafe®2 is a brand from COLORTEK®1 https://www.colortek.eu/

INDOOR AIR QUALITY (“IAQ”)

IAQ – Volatile Organic Compounds: Formaldehyde Sources & Exposure Risks

Respisafe®2 is a brand from COLORTEK®1 https://www.colortek.eu/

Figure 1. Sources of Formaldehyde

Respisafe®2 is a brand from COLORTEK®1 https://www.colortek.eu/

IAQ – Volatile Organic Compounds: Formaldehyde Abatement Paint

Respisafe®2 is a brand from COLORTEK®1 https://www.colortek.eu/

THE CASE STUDY

2. Possible sources of formaldehyde:

Respisafe®2 is a brand from COLORTEK®1 https://www.colortek.eu/

 Range: -40 to + 128 °C, 0-100%RH

Respisafe®2 is a brand from COLORTEK®1 https://www.colortek.eu/

Source: Real life Measurements, 2017

Respisafe®2 is a brand from COLORTEK®1 https://www.colortek.eu/

Dow FORMASHIELD™ Technology

Respisafe®2 is a brand from COLORTEK®1 https://www.colortek.eu/

Respisafe®2 is a brand from COLORTEK®1 https://www.colortek.eu/

Respisafe®2 is a brand from COLORTEK®1 https://www.colortek.eu/

Respisafe®2 is a brand from COLORTEK®1 https://www.colortek.eu/

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