Healthcare VOC Compliance Calculator

An open-source calculator and dataset collection for evaluating VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) exposure from cleaning products used in healthcare facilities. Covers 26 jurisdictions across the United States and Canada.

Overview

This tool calculates VOC exposure concentration per cleaning cycle and checks regulatory compliance across 26 jurisdictions. It is designed for healthcare facility managers who need to verify that their cleaning products meet applicable VOC limits.

Datasets included:

  • VOC Regulatory Limits — 650 records covering 25 product categories across 26 jurisdictions

  • Healthcare Cleaning Products — 5,000 products with VOC content, certifications, and compliance flags

Calculation engines are implemented in Python, Rust, Java, Ruby, Elixir, PHP, and Go.

Installation

Python

pip install healthcare-voc-compliance

From source:

git clone https://github.com/DaveCookVectorLabs/healthcare-voc-compliance.git
cd healthcare-voc-compliance/engines/python
pip install -r requirements.txt
python engine.py          # CLI mode
python engine.py --serve  # HTTP server on port 8001

Rust

cargo install healthcare-voc-engine

# Or build from source:
cd engines/rust
cargo build --release
./target/release/healthcare-voc-engine --port 8001

API Reference

POST /calculate

Calculate VOC exposure for a single cleaning cycle.

Request body (JSON):

{
  "room_sqft": 200,
  "ceiling_height_ft": 9,
  "product_voc_g_per_L": 8.0,
  "dilution_ratio": 0.015625,
  "coverage_sqft_per_L": 400,
  "air_changes_per_hour": 6,
  "cleaning_frequency_per_year": 365,
  "product_category": "General Purpose Cleaner",
  "space_type": "patient_room"
}

Response:

{
  "room_volume_m3": 50.97,
  "steady_state_concentration_mg_per_m3": 0.40,
  "osha_pel_percent": 0.13,
  "time_to_safe_reentry_minutes": 0.0,
  "annual_voc_load_kg": 0.0225,
  "compliant_jurisdictions": ["US-FED", "US-CA", "..."],
  "warnings": []
}

GET /health

Returns engine status and version information.

Calculation Model

The steady-state VOC concentration during a cleaning cycle is calculated using a single-zone mass balance model:

effective_VOC     = product_VOC × dilution_ratio
product_applied   = room_sqft ÷ coverage_rate
total_VOC_mg      = effective_VOC × product_applied × 1000
emission_rate     = total_VOC_mg ÷ cleaning_duration_hr
steady_state      = emission_rate ÷ (ACH × room_volume_m³)
osha_pel_percent  = (steady_state ÷ 300) × 100

The OSHA Total VOC PEL of 300 mg/m³ is used as the reference threshold (29 CFR 1910.1000, Table Z-1).

ASHRAE 62.1-2022 minimum ventilation rates are built in for healthcare space types.

Regulatory Sources

  • EPA 40 CFR Part 59, Subpart C

  • CARB Consumer Products Regulations (Title 17 CCR §94507-94517)

  • Canada SOR/2021-268 (VOC Concentration Limits)

  • OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1000, Table Z-1

  • ASHRAE 62.1-2022

  • Green Seal GS-37, UL GREENGUARD Gold, EPA Safer Choice

License

MIT License. See LICENSE.

Maintained by Dave Cook — Binx Professional Cleaning, North Bay and Sudbury, Ontario.