PSA D10 5517 Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)

The PSA D10 5517 standard, developed by the Peugeot automobile company, describes the requirements for the evaluation of the volatile organic compound (VOC) amount of the materials in the vehicle passenger compartment by the thermodesorption / GC / MS method. In other words, the purpose of this method is to evaluate the odor power in the vehicle.

The source of odors in the vehicle interior and luggage compartment contains large amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOC). Volatile organic compounds (VOC) are chemical pollutants commonly found in new vehicles, particularly in new vehicles, and are a source of odour. These are organic (carbon containing) chemicals that can easily evaporate into the air. Many products used in vehicle upholstery have the potential to release VOCs. The most common types of volatile organic compounds in vehicle emissions are ethane, isopentane, propane, ethylene, toluene, propylene and 2,3-dimethylbutane.

Formaldehyde is largely present in products such as molded plastics and lacquers and is one of the most common volatile organic compounds. It is necessary to avoid heating plastics, or rather limit the use of plastics to keep formaldehyde concentrations low.

Many volatile organic compounds have a specific odor. Automobile interiors, made up of many materials, from natural textiles to synthetic polymers and adhesives, emit a wide variety of volatile organic compounds, including acetaldehyde. But acetaldehyde is just one of countless volatile organic compounds produced by an automobile. Resources are generally:

• Residual compounds from the manufacturing process and material treatment of different interior components and textiles
• Adhesives and carrier solvents to degas (a modern car can contain up to 2 kg of glue, much higher than in the past when mechanical riveting and bolting was more common)
• Long-term deterioration of cabinet materials due to oxidation, ultraviolet light and heat.

Despite the measures taken today, automobile exhaust emissions represent the main source of atmospheric volatile organic compound (VOC) pollution in urban areas.

Today, the quality of the odor in the interior air of cars is still an important factor in the decision to buy a car and in overall customer satisfaction with the car over time.

Our organization also provides services for the determination of volatile organic compounds (VOC) within the scope of PSA D10 5517 standard, with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment, among the numerous test, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies it provides for businesses in various sectors.