Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are carbon-based chemicals that evaporate readily at normal temperatures, releasing gases that can affect health and contribute to ground-level ozone, a main ingredient of smog.
In and around parking facilities, VOCs come from vehicle exhaust and fuel evaporation, and from construction and maintenance products such as paints, coatings, sealers, adhesives and cleaning agents. Enclosed garages are where exposure matters most, because the air does not clear on its own. See mechanical ventilation.
Sources in a parking facility
- Exhaust and fuel vapor from combustion vehicles. See internal combustion engine.
- Deck sealers, traffic membranes, striping paint and coatings, especially during application.
- Cleaning and degreasing products used in maintenance.
How to limit them
- Specify low-VOC or zero-VOC sealers, coatings and paints, as many air districts and green building programs require.
- Ventilate well during and after coating work, and schedule it when the facility is lightly used.
- In enclosed garages, keep ventilation and sensors maintained. See demand-controlled ventilation.
- As the fleet electrifies, exhaust-related VOCs decline.
The Parkonomics view
The biggest VOC decision a parking owner makes is often on the maintenance spec, not the design. Choosing low-VOC products for the coatings applied every few years is an easy health and compliance win.
Related terms: Mechanical Ventilation System, Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, Demand-Controlled Ventilation, Internal Combustion Engine, HVAC