[Greenbuilding] Sealing in VOC's

[Steve Hussey]

I work for a Conservation District and one of my jobs is to advise  
people on greenbuilding. I have been asked this question:

The client has a wife who is very chemically sensitive and is  
building a new green home. The builder specified, on my  
recommendation, that low VOC paints and finishes be used throughout.  
The painters came in and primed all the drywall walls with Rodda Varr  
primer that is high VOC (106 gm/litre. They claimed that people only  
specify low VOC paints to be 'green' and that using a regular primer  
is fine. Sigh.

The client has asked the question as to whether the VOCs can be  
sealed in before painting with the low VOC paint, or whether there  
are any other options. My gut instinct is: Sealing in the VOCs will  
reduce off gassing but make it take much longer.

Maybe he should heat and ventilate the house for a set period prior  
to occupancy to off gas as much as possible? They do have a whole  
house HRV to ventilate year round.

Maybe they should rip the drywall out of the bedroom at least and use  
fresh drywall and a low VOC primer. I doubt they can afford to rip  
all the drywall out.

Any thoughts? Any way to measure VOC offgassing in the finished  
building?

Steve Hussey
Natural Resources Planner