Erin there are floor treatments that are inert. A product that lists no
VOC,s may still have heavier volatiles called SVOC,s in plain English
semi volatile meaning they just take longer to be emitted. VOC,s referee
to a specific list not to all VOC,s so it's a bit tricky and not all
ingredients are required to be listed on an MSDS declaration.There may
also be other concerns but it would require a review of the actual
formula ingredients. You could ask if the product has been reviewed and
listed on a green list but this also unfortunately is not a guarantee
but a good place to gather additional information. Unfortunately I am on
vacation but if you are not in a hurry I could forward a list in mid
April, or look up a few if you need it now. Ed
Original Message------
Planning construction of an archival space (which will house rare books and manuscripts), our contractor has inquired if we are comfortable with them using "Aquaria 2000 Cure & Seal" for the concrete floors, or if we have concerns about off-gasses from the product that could harm our collections. The product information (attached) says no VOC/VOS content, no "pollutants," and that it is "non-toxic." These terms seem rather non-specific. Does anyone know if this product is safe to use in an archival space, or what, exactly, we would need to know from the manufacturer to make that determination? Any suggestions would be very helpful!
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Erin Sutherland PhD
Special Collections, University Libraries
Washington University in St. Louis
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