Indoor Air Pollution in Newly Constructed Apartments

FutureTech on 14/01/2018 - 21:14
Last edited 15/01/2018 - 09:21 by 1 other user

Hi all,

About to move into an apartment that was completed about a month ago. My Chinese parents insisted me to wait for 2 months after its completion before moving in because I need to wait until all the "air pollutants" to be ventilated out.

They say that the pollutants (such as formaldehyde) are released from the cabinets, furniture etc slowly after they are installed and it would be unsafe for me to move in straight away. My view is that the occupation certification issued for my apartment already proves that the apartment is a habitable place that will not have any adverse effect on the occupants' health? Also I'd persume that the furniture sold at Ikea would need to meet certain emission standards before they can be sold to the public?

What are your thoughts on this?

• 

  wordplay on 14/01/2018 - 21:38

  +2

  you will be fine, move in as soon as you want. buy a xiaomi smart mi air purfier if you are worried (or just to put the parents minds at ease)

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  kahn on 14/01/2018 - 21:45

  +6

  I recall my father occasionally telling me to wait 10 minutes before entering the bathroom due to the methane pollution. Hope this helps.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 15/01/2018 - 12:58

    +1

    i thought the optimum timeframe was about 35 to 45 minutes

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  0FoxGiven on 14/01/2018 - 22:25

  +1

  I still keep my windows down and run the fan on full blast for a few minutes after I get into my car on hot days. Was conditioned to think the air inside was harmful to breathe..

  Don't really know if there is much truth to all of that.

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  dcep on 14/01/2018 - 23:43

  yea, most use cheap painting with high VOC which cause cancer

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  Youfah Mizzum on 15/01/2018 - 10:40

  +2

  Despite it seeming fanciful, your parents have some truth behind them. Formaldehyde does indeed leech out of new stuff, cabinets, furniture, carpet etc a few days to weeks after being installed.
  I don't think there is a consumer-level formaldehyde meter available to verify, but several health professionals have told me this also (albeit not doctors, they've been well…alternative, naturopaths & the like).
  I'd move in, but have the windows & verandah doors open as much as possible, even a few inches at night.

  The occupation certification doesn't take chemicals leeching out of carpets into account. They are there to assure you all fixtures & fitting are in place & working.

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  [Deactivated] on 15/01/2018 - 10:41

  +3

  Certificate of occupancy is limited to structural and nominal dimensions. In a residence, it has nothing to do with solvents and toxic fumes.

  Once upon a time, I would be comfortable trusting the builders to use Australian approved materials.

  Now, I don't trust the developers, builders, nor the Australian standards.

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  bluesky on 15/01/2018 - 19:57

  +2

  Also I'd persume that the furniture sold at Ikea would need to meet certain emission standards before they can be sold to the public?

  Bought a synthetic rubber mattress from IKEA a few years ago. No amount of airing would make the smell go away. Hardly used, left in spare room to air for more than 2 years, yet continued to emit the bad smell. Eventually threw it out during hard rubbish collection. Not quite sure if the smell was due to the synthetic rubber, the fire retardant used to treat it, something else, or a combination of things. Perhaps it did meet standards, but the smell was very unpleasant and ongoing.