I try to keep at least one door open, and the window open a crack, to allow for outgassing, even if there's a slight probability of rain. If it's clear and not too windy, I open both doors.
On Tuesday afternoon I was going to close one door and the window because of 20% chance of rain. However, at around 1am, I noticed NO smell. It hasn't always been that way, even late at night. I decided that I should let the smell purging continue at that point. Best to keep the smell at no smell as much as possible to avoid reabsorption. With only one door open, very little rain would get onto the floor and it would quickly dry.
I've been wondering if the current smell is mainly from formaldehyde. I would describe it as sweet and pungent, somewhat earthy, and that also describes formaldehyde.
Formaldehyde could be in just about everything, but mainly the plywood (for which the plywood shelves are particularly important, less so the plywood wall sheathing on the outside of the foam insulation), the floor grout and quickset, and the oil based paint.
Here is some information on formaldehyde outgassing.
Some important points:
1) High heat and humidity accelerate outgassing and shorten the time during which the smell is noticeable. (That's why I got the electric lightbulbs, and I have been thinking about using high power lights and a humidifier.)
2) People are very sensitive to formaldehyde smell, and can detect it at very low concentrations far below where it is acutely toxic.
3) Formaldehyde is carcinogenic. The trailers FEMA provided for displaced New Orleans residents often had formaldehyde outgassing at many times the regulated "safe" level.
4) Formaldehyde release diminishes over time. In one test, it took particleboard 216 days for the formaldehyde outgassing to be reduced 50%. Most release occurs in the first year. It can still be smelled after 5 years, and possibly 10.
5) Just as I had thought, evaporating formaldehyde fumes can be absorbed and later re-released by plywood, paints, and wall board. That is why workshop must be kept warm and open for the outgassing period, and the fan kept operating.
6) Once the building is to be used, keeping it as cool and dry as much as possible will minimize formaldehyde outgassing.
7) Stain blocking paints can block formaldehyde emissions. Examples: Polyureseal BP, hard seal, acrilyac.
Here is another link about formaldehyde outgassing.
On Tuesday afternoon I was going to close one door and the window because of 20% chance of rain. However, at around 1am, I noticed NO smell. It hasn't always been that way, even late at night. I decided that I should let the smell purging continue at that point. Best to keep the smell at no smell as much as possible to avoid reabsorption. With only one door open, very little rain would get onto the floor and it would quickly dry.
I've been wondering if the current smell is mainly from formaldehyde. I would describe it as sweet and pungent, somewhat earthy, and that also describes formaldehyde.
Formaldehyde could be in just about everything, but mainly the plywood (for which the plywood shelves are particularly important, less so the plywood wall sheathing on the outside of the foam insulation), the floor grout and quickset, and the oil based paint.
Here is some information on formaldehyde outgassing.
Some important points:
1) High heat and humidity accelerate outgassing and shorten the time during which the smell is noticeable. (That's why I got the electric lightbulbs, and I have been thinking about using high power lights and a humidifier.)
2) People are very sensitive to formaldehyde smell, and can detect it at very low concentrations far below where it is acutely toxic.
3) Formaldehyde is carcinogenic. The trailers FEMA provided for displaced New Orleans residents often had formaldehyde outgassing at many times the regulated "safe" level.
4) Formaldehyde release diminishes over time. In one test, it took particleboard 216 days for the formaldehyde outgassing to be reduced 50%. Most release occurs in the first year. It can still be smelled after 5 years, and possibly 10.
5) Just as I had thought, evaporating formaldehyde fumes can be absorbed and later re-released by plywood, paints, and wall board. That is why workshop must be kept warm and open for the outgassing period, and the fan kept operating.
6) Once the building is to be used, keeping it as cool and dry as much as possible will minimize formaldehyde outgassing.
7) Stain blocking paints can block formaldehyde emissions. Examples: Polyureseal BP, hard seal, acrilyac.
Here is another link about formaldehyde outgassing.
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