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The use of bio-based insulation materials is widely spreading in buildings. Due to their organic load, they can be an important source of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). This study is among the first that evaluates the spatial and seasonal in-field VOC surface emissions from bio-based and conventional building structures as a whole, in a French public building insulated with wood wool. In addition to surface emissions, measurements of VOC concentrations in indoor air were taken. Results showed that a spatial difference (up to 5 times) in VOC emissions was observed due to the inhomogeneity of the surface. Moreover, the cardinal orientation of building structures with the same constitution induced a difference (up to a factor 30) in emission rates due to the exposure to different hygrothermal conditions. The variation in temperature and relative humidity between seasons led to higher summer VOC emissions and indoor air concentrations. In addition, indoor VOC concentrations were shown to be higher at night compared to daytime due to the decreased ventilation rate. Furthermore, an interesting approach was developed in this study to have a primary overview of the impact of surface emissions on indoor VOC levels. Results confirmed that the three bio-based walls have no significant specific VOC emissions at high rates compared to the floor and the ceiling. Bio-based insulations showed no impact on microbial indoor air concentrations during the two seasons. Moreover, no detected VOCs could be attributed to microbial development as they were also emitted from building materials. [Display omitted] • Spatial, temporal, and seasonal variations affect in-field measured VOC emissions. • VOC emissions rates from bio-based and conventional structures are comparable. • No specific VOCs are exclusively emitted from bio-based surfaces. • Emissions from building structures contribute moderately to VOC indoor air levels. • No direct link between VOCs and microbial development could be evidenced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The building industry is called to a generalized use of eco friendly materials for a climate change limitation. In this context, the EU project ‘Rehafutur’ aims to promote the use of bio-based materials in building. Thus, a traditional north France house was renovated using 8 bio-based materials and was instrumented. The instrumentation allows different parameters monitoring during several months and seasons. In this article, we present an over view of the project and the first recorded data. Then, we focus on the south-east wall data to apply an inverse heat transfer method. The method was developed and applied in our laboratory, it allows thermophysical properties estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]