AirRenew VOC “eating” Gypsum Board Improves Indoor Air Quality

AirRenew is a really neat new product developed by CertainTeed that actually works to reduce the volume of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in an indoor space.  AirRenew cleans indoor air by metabolizing the aldehyde family of volatile organic compounds, making them inert and storing the compounds in its material for up to 75 years. It also incorporates CertainTeed’s M2Tech technology that inhibits mould and mildew growth on drywall.

AirRenew is perfect for a variety of places including schools, hospitals and new homes where the indoor air quality can be less than stellar thanks to the volatile organic compounds off-gassed into the air from glues, adhesives, primers and paints, not to mention any new furniture and carpets. It’s a great product for people with asthma, multiple chemical sensitivities and for children.

When AirRenew is installed according to specifications, it will absorb up to 70% of all aldehydes in the air in the room. Note that an entire room must be covered with the gypsum board in order for it to work to its maximum level of efficiency. For more information on the specifications, read the AirRenew FAQ sheet.

AirRenew gypsum board cuts and installs like standard drywall and can be painted with most water-based acrylic paints, and will maintain its effectiveness even through several coats of breathable paint. It can also be covered with breathable wallpaper. At end-of-life it can be recycled with standard drywall products. The gypsum board is available in standard 4 foot widths, and 8, 10, 12 foot lengths with thickness of either 1/2″ or 5/8″.

From CertainTeed website: a measure of chemicals indoors

Indoor air quality has been in the news for the past several years as it’s now understood that the air inside your home is actually more toxic than outdoor air. Given that Canadians can spend up to 90% of their time indoors, we could be breathing in a potential toxic soup of materials — particularly in newer homes where glues, adhesives and particle board are more prevalent. Pollution Probe has done some excellent awareness-raising campaigns on indoor air quality. In order to improve indoor air quality, there are several steps you can take, for example,  limiting the kinds of products you buy that contain volatile organic compounds from furniture and carpets to household cleaners. It’s also important to maintain a certain amount of ventilation allowing fresh air into your home. As building envelopes become tighter, the build-up of chemicals inside the home can become more of an issue. Heat and energy recovery ventilators and air exchangers are important pieces of HVAC equipment that allow for fresh air into a home while preserving indoor temperature.

AirRenew is available across Canada at select retailers. To find a dealer near you, use CertainTeed’s contact  information form.