Direct off-gas testing

In direct off-gas testing, a small piece of the sample is placed directly into a thermal desorption tube. The tube is then slightly heated before the analytes present in the tube atmosphere is separated by gas chromatography and identified by mass spectrometry. This is a fast method to evaluate the off-gassing potential of simple materials such as fabric, plastic, paint and more.

Available analyses from direct off-gas testing include:

• Volatile organic compounds (VOC)

Chamber off-gas testing

Larger components consisting of multiple materials may also have to be off-gas tested. Components are off-gas tested before being introduced into a closed environment where people are present. Hyperbaric chambers used in saturation diving is an example of such an environment.

Our facilities are set up for off-gas testing in a hyperbaric chamber where pressure, temperature, humidity and gas composition can be controlled and monitored. Available analyses from chamber off-gas testing include:

• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
• Carbon monoxide (CO)
• Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
• Oxygen (O₂)
• Hydrogen (H₂)
• Nitrogen (N₂)
• Argon (Ar)
• Oil (C₁₁₊)
• Methane (CH₄)
• Water vapor

Umbilical off-gas testing

Breathing umbilicals for diving shall be off-gas tested to ensure diver safety. At NUI, we are equipped to perform off-gas testing from all types of umbilicals.