What is VOC in indoor air quality context?

• A. VOCs are volatile organic compounds; a contaminant category addressed by filtration and source control.
• B. VOCs are not addressed by 62.1.
• C. VOCs are beneficial to IAQ and should be encouraged.
• D. VOCs are controlled by humidity alone.

Answer: (B)

Volatile organic compounds are a broad group of chemicals that can off‑gas from paints, solvents, cleaners, furnishings, and other building materials. In IAQ practice, VOCs are treated as contaminants that we manage by reducing emissions at the source (source control) and by removing them from the air through filtration and ventilation to dilute remaining concentrations. Humidity control alone does not reliably remove VOCs, and VOCs are not beneficial to indoor air quality. ASHRAE 62.1 addresses VOCs as a contaminant category to be controlled, primarily through source control and filtration/air cleaning, with ventilation providing dilution.