VOC Emission Calculator – Information & Guide

What are VOCs?

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are carbon-based chemicals that easily evaporate into the air at room temperature. Many 3D printing materials release VOCs during extrusion as the filament is heated and melted. These compounds can include styrene, lactide, caprolactam, acetaldehyde, and others commonly identified in research.

VOC levels depend on material type, printing temperature, printer count, room size, and especially ventilation. This calculator uses published emission data to estimate the total VOC concentration in your space under different conditions.

How This Calculator Works

The calculator is based on measured emission rates from peer-reviewed research that evaluated VOC output from desktop FDM/FFF printers. Each material has known emission factors expressed in Micrograms per hour (µg/h) for its dominant compounds.

The calculator estimates total airborne VOC concentration using:

• Selected material
• Room volume (m³)
• Number of printers
• Air exchange rate (ACH)
• Known emission rates from scientific studies

The output shows the approximate VOC concentration under steady-state conditions. While real-world results vary due to drafts, room geometry, enclosure leakage, and filtration, this method aligns with indoor air quality engineering practices.

How to Use the Calculator

Choose your material
Each filament type has a different emission profile.

Enter your room volume
Use length × width × height or estimate the value.

Enter the number of printers
More Printers = more combined emissions.

Enter your air exchange rate (ACH)
This determines how quickly VOCs are diluted.

Click “Calculate VOC”
The calculator will display the estimated total VOC concentration and list the chemicals linked to the chosen material.

Note about results

The study that this calculator is based on uses Printers with material deposition rates of around 11 g/h when modern Printers have material deposition rates that are multiple times that.

To know your Printers material deposition rate simply slice a part and divide the used material with the time it will take to print

Understanding Air Exchange Rate (ACH)

ACH (Air Changes per Hour) describes how many times the air inside a room is refreshed in one hour. Higher ACH reduces VOC buildup and improves overall air quality.

Typical ACH Values

• 0.1–0.3 ACH: Very low ventilation
• 0.5–1 ACH: Normal residential ventilation
• 1–3 ACH: Open window or small fan
• 5–10 ACH: Active exhaust or ducted enclosure
• >10 ACH: Mechanical workshop or lab

How to Estimate Your ACH

Using an exhaust fan
ACH = (Fan airflow in m³/h) ÷ (Room volume in m³)
Example: 120 m³/h fan in 30 m³ room = 4 ACH .

Natural ventilation
Typical home values ​​range from 0.2–0.7 ACH.
If unsure, use 0.5 ACH .

Using a printer enclosure
Unless ducted outdoors, the room's ACH is what matters.

Mechanical ventilation (LTO/FTX)
Common in Nordic homes, usually 0.5–1.0 ACH , higher in boost mode.

Guidelines for VOC Concentrations

Different VOCs have different health reference values. Most published limits are designed for workplaces—meaning short-term exposure in fully ventilated environments. Indoor Hobby rooms typically require lower concentrations because exposure can be continuous and ventilation is weaker. These values ​​are rated for working adults and don't take into consideration children, infants, sick people and the elderly

The calculator provides concentrations in µg/m³ , so guideline values ​​are shown in the same units for easier comparison:

Common Reference Levels (µg/m³)

Styrene:

• Residential limit 220 µg/m³ (Japan Styrene Industry Association, n.d.)
• TWA 8h ~436000-10000 µg/m³ (The European UP/VE Resin Association Safe Handling Guide No. 2)
• Caprolactam: ~1020 µg/m³ REL 8h (NJ Department of health 2010)
• Acetaldehyde: ~36000 µg/m³ TWA 8h (safe work australia)
• Formaldehyde: ~920 µg/m³ TWA 8h (osha standard 1910.1048)
• Lactide: No established guideline, considered low toxicity

These numbers are converted from ppm using:
µg/m³ = 1000 x ppm × (molecular weight ÷ 24.45)

This allows direct comparison between the calculator's estimated concentrations and known guideline ranges so you can judge whether improving ventilation is appropriate.

FAQs

Is this calculator accurate?
It uses established engineering formulas and peer-reviewed emission data. Real conditions vary, but the estimates follow indoor air quality modeling standards.

Does an enclosure reduce VOCs?
A sealed enclosure slows VOC release, but unless vented outdoors, emissions eventually enter the room. Use the room's ACH for calculations.

Do filters remove VOCs?
Carbon filters can reduce VOCs, but effectiveness varies by size, airflow, and replacement interval. The calculator assumes no filtration.

What if my room has multiple airflow sources?
Use the dominant source—typically a fan, ventilation system, or open window.

Should I aim for a specific VOC level?
Different chemicals have different guideline values. Use the calculator output to compare against the reference levels listed above.

Sources

Azimi, P., Zhao, D., Pouzet, C., Crain, N., & Stephens, B. (2016). Emissions of ultrafine particles and volatile organic compounds from commercially available desktop 3D printers. Environmental Science & Technology, 50(3), 1260–1268.

Davis, J., et al. (2019). Characterization of volatile organic compound emissions from consumer fused deposition modeling 3D printers. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene.

European Composites Industry Association, & The European UP/VE Resin Association. (2021). Safe handling guide No. 2: Occupational exposure to styrene.

Japan Styrene Industry Association. ( nd ) . https://jsia.jp/styrene-monomer/safety.html

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Acetaldehyde - Chemical Data Guide.

Salthammer, T. (2010). Formaldehyde in the Indoor Environment. National Center for Biotechnology Information.

Salthammer, T., Mentese, S., & Marutzky, R. (2010). Formaldehyde in the indoor environment. Indoor Air, 20(2), 122–134.

Stephens, B., Azimi, P., Orch, Z., & Ramos, T. (2013). Ultrafine particle emissions from desktop 3D printers. Atmospheric Environment, 79, 334–339.