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USGBoral.com Plasterboard Ceilings Interior Finishes Metal Framing Substrates

©2019 USG Boral. All rights reserved. The trademarks USG BORAL, INNOVATION INSPIRED BY YOU, AIRTOUGH, FIRESTOP, WETSTOP AND IMPACTSTOP are trademarks of USG Boral Building Products or one or more of its affiliates. SHEETROCK is a trademark owned by United States Gypsum Company and used under license.

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USG BORALAIRTOUGH™BROCHURE

CHANGING THE AIR WE BREATHE WITH USG BORAL’S AIRTOUGH™ WALL PANEL

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INDOOR AIR POLLUTION AND VOCS

HOW CLEAN IS THE AIR IN HEALTHCARE ENVIRONMENT?

We spend 90% or more of our time indoors—making the air quality of the indoor environment an important issue for overall health and comfort. Indoor air pollution has become not just a concern in houses, but also offices, schools and especially in healthcare centres. Studies show that some types of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as formaldehyde, that are emitted from building materials or furniture have been associated with health risks. Their concentrations in buildings depend mainly on the emission sources and the ventilation rates.

WHAT ARE VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOCS)?

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) include a wide variety of chemical substances that are volatile at ambient temperature. They are organic compounds having at 20°C, a vapour pressure of 0.01kPa or more. An organic compound is defined as any compound containing at least the element carbon and one or more of hydrogen, halogens (e.g., chlorine, fluorine or bromine), oxygen, sulphur, phosphorus, silicon, or nitrogen, with the exception of carbon oxides and inorganic carbonates and bicarbonates.

OUT OF SIGHT IS NOT OUT OF MIND

VOCs are found everywhere and can be produced by most of our household products such as paint and liquid detergents. They are invisible to the naked eye, and some VOCs are harmful to the human health and the environment. Although harmful VOCs are not immediately toxic to human health, researches show that long-term exposure may cause ill health effects in healthcare environments thus having the need to create an anti-VOC environment becomes crucial for the overall well-being of both practitioners and patients.

THE AIR WE BREATHE

FORMALDEHYDE Emitted from furniture and carpets.

VOCS Emitted from

computers and office equipment.

FORMALDEHYDE Emitted from paints,

adhesives and wallpapers

FORMALDEHYDE Emitted from liquid

soap and shampoos.

VOCS AND OTHERSEmitted from cleaning fluids and disinfectants.

VOCSEmitted from gasoline.

The typical Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and its sources that we are exposed to in a healthcare centre.

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THE COMMON SOURCES OF VOCS

The pollutant sources are many and complex; they come from the heating and combustion equipment, furniture, cleaning and other household products. Some substances can also react with each other from other sources creating new pollutants. Due to today’s building design, natural air exchange is inadequate resulting in the exchange and growth of pollutants within the same environment.

There are several sources of VOC pollutants:

• Building Materials • Carpets and Adhesives• Composite Wood Products • Paints and Varnishes• Vinyl Floors • Home and Personal Care Products• Cleaning and Disinfecting Chemicals • Cosmetics

WHAT DOES VOC DO TO US?

The VOC effects on human health are difficult to quantify. They may extend from just perceptible up to irritative on the conjunctiva, nasal and throat mucous membrane. They can be accompanied by reddening, itching and sneezing and have an effect on the nervous system which manifests itself in headaches, dizziness and tiredness.

The primary exposure is by breathing air containing off-gassed formaldehyde. Everyone is exposed to small amounts of formaldehyde in the air that has off-gassed from products that are containing VOC pollutants.

HOW DOES VOCS AFFECT US?

SOURCES & EFFECTS OF VOCS

1. LOWERS OVERALL IMMUNITY2. INCREASED SINUS REACTION

3. INCREASES FATIGUE

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AIRTOUGH™ TECHNOLOGY

REDUCING THE EFFECTS OF VOCS WITH USG BORAL AIRTOUGH™

HOW DOES THE USG BORAL AIRTOUGH™ TECHNOLOGY WORKS?

The USG Boral AirTough™ technology uses a simple yet effective combination of methods comprising of a specially formulated core that promote the interaction of the VOCs with gypsum crystal surface and drive their destruction. VOCs are conditioned and rendered harmless thanks to the unique micro-porosity of the USG BORAL gypsum boards.

AirTough™ technology is based on an efficient formulation in the core of our board which substantially reduces the formaldehyde concentration to form a non-volatile molecule. This solution remains active in the long term.

This results in cleaner air as the USG Boral panels with AirTough™ technology works 24/7 to condition the air we breathe.

Gypsum crystal surface that contributes to conditioning the air against VOCs.

Van der Waals force and AirTough™ additive leads to the absorption and destruction of formaldehyde molecules.

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HOW EFFECTIVE IS USG BORAL’S AIRTOUGH™ TECHNOLOGY?

USG BORAL LAB TESTS OF VOCS

USG Boral’s AirTough™ formaldehyde absorptions tests are performed in the Eurofins laboratory in Denmark based on strict methods of (ISO 16000-23:2010-Performance test for evaluating the reduction of formaldehyde concentrations by sportive building materials). Board samples are placed into a 120-litre test chamber where formaldehyde containing gas is continuously injected throughout the duration of 28 days.

The formaldehyde absorption is obtained by analysing the air quality and comparing against a control sample which is an exact 120 litres chamber without USG Boral’s AirTough™ plasterboard.

The test results show that in a well-ventilated environment, USG Boral’s AirTough™ technology is capable of removing up to 70% of formaldehyde thus conditioning the air quality in a healthcare environment.

VOCs tested in ventilated stainless steel climate chambers. Image source: Eurofins

Continuous injection of formaldehyde into both test and control chamber

Air Circulation

Chamber with AirTough™ Plasterboard

Formaldehyde sampling outlet

*Formaldehyde testing chamber shown for illustration purposes only, edges of plasterboard shown as unsealed for clarity.

The formaldehyde absorption tests are conducted to the precise methods, limitations and uncertainty as recognised under the ISO 16000-23 : 2010 standard and Eurofins Scientific reports.

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AIRTOUGH™ DRAWING AND CONFIGURATIONS

TYPICAL HEALTHCARE WALL TYPE

AIRTOUGH™ CONFIGURATIONSThe USG BORAL’S AirTough™ technology is available in the following USG BORAL products.

1. USG Boral Firestop™ portfolio2. USG Boral Wetstop™ portfolio3. USG Boral Impactstop™ portfolio4. USG Boral SHEETROCK® Brand StandardCORE portfolio

USG BORAL 155mm 2hr Fire-Rated Impactwall System

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BREATHE BETTER WITH USG BORAL AIRTOUGH™ TODAY

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USG BORAL PTE LTD8 Boon Lay Way #02-06 TradeHub 21 Singapore 609964 Tel: (65) 6272 9272 Fax: (65) 6278 5310Email: contact-us.sg@usgboral.com