Transmitted by the expert of the Republic of Korea
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport
Public Notification No. 2103-549
I hereby issue a Public Notification with regard to the Management Standards of the Interior Air Quality of Newly
Manufactured Vehicles.
The Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport
September 24, 2013
The Management Standards of the Interior Air Quality of Newly Manufactured Vehicles
Article 1 (Purpose)
The purpose of these standards is to define the matters required to ensure proper management of substances
harmful to the human body that are emitted from the interior materials of newly manufactured vehicles under
Article 33-3, Paragraph 1 of the Motor Vehicle Management Act.
Article 2 (Definitions)
The definitions of terms used in this standard shall be as follows:
2.1 The term "motor vehicle manufacturers and sellers" means a person who manufactures, assembles or
imports vehicles under Article 31 of the Enforcement Regulations of the Motor Vehicle Management Act
(hereinafter, "The Regulations"). However, any motor vehicle manufacturer not satisfying the standards for
self-certification of motor vehicles ability prescribed in the Article 34 of the Regulations shall not be included
within this definition.
2.2 The term "newly manufactured vehicle" means a vehicle with an initial or changed vehicle dimension
number that is assigned to vehicles under Annex 4 Standards for Assignment of Vehicle Dimension Number
related to Article 5 of the Regulation on Self-Certification of Motor Vehicles issued by the Minister for Land,
Infrastructure and Transport under Article 6 and 7 of the Regulations.
2.3 Deleted
2.4 The term "Recommendation Standards for the interior air quality of newly manufactured vehicles"
(hereinafter, "Recommendation Standards") defines the recommended safe upper limit for the concentration
of contaminants found within the interior air quality of newly manufactured vehicles.
2.5 The term "motor vehicle user" means the owner of a motor vehicle or a person who has been entrusted
with matters concerning the operation, etc. of a motor vehicle by the motor vehicle owner.
Article 3 (Scope of Application)
Vehicles subject to these Standards are those subject to the provisions of Article 3 Paragraph 1 Items 1 to 3 of
the Motor Vehicle Management Act, which are specified in any of the Items, except models whose annual
domestic sales are no greater than 500 vehicles.
3.1 Passenger cars
3.2 Light duty motor vehicles for passengers; van and bus etc. (except special-type vehicles)
3.3 Light duty freight motor vehicles (except special-purpose vehicles)
Article 4 (Recommendation Standard)
4.1 The contaminants which are to be tested for the management of the interior air quality of newly
manufactured vehicles are: formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, styrene, and acrolein.4.2
Annex 1 shows the Recommendation Standards for the interior air quality of newly manufactured vehicles.
Article 5 (Considerations for Motor Vehicle Manufacturers and Sellers)
5.1 Motor vehicle manufacturers and sellers are recommended to use materials with minimal contents of, or
emissions of, volatile organic compounds, such as formaldehyde and benzene, as interior materials when
manufacturing, assembling, or selling vehicles.
5.2 Motor vehicle manufacturers and sellers should measure the interior air quality of newly manufactured
vehicles and record the results in the test report form in Annex 'Method for Measuring the Interior Air Quality
of Newly Manufactured Vehicles' and retain it for 5 years, and take proper action to ensure that the interior air
quality of vehicles for mass-production or sale continues to meet the Recommendation Standards.
Transmitted by the expert of the Republic of Korea
5.3 Motor vehicle manufacturers and sellers should provide information designed to encourage vehicle users
to take action to maintain the appropriate level of interior air quality, such as ventilation. This can be done by
means of, for example, a vehicle user manual.
Article 6 (Inspection of Conformity to Recommendation Standards)
6.1 The Minister for Land, Infrastructure and Transport can assess vehicle air quality and check whether the
vehicle conforms to the recommended standards once a year to ensure the interior air quality of newly
manufactured vehicles is properly maintained and, where necessary, request motor vehicle manufacturers and
sellers to submit necessary materials. For imported vehicles, however, this inspection may be replaced by
documents from the initial manufacturer that attest that the vehicle conforms to the Recommendation
Standards.
6.2 The Minister for Land, Infrastructure and Transport may announce the results of the inspection of the
conformity to the Recommendation Standards and, in the event that the recommendation standards are not
met, recommend that the motor vehicle manufacturer take remedial action to improve interior air quality.
Article 7 (Method of Measurement for the Interior Air Quality of Newly Manufactured Vehicles)
The method of measurement for the interior air quality of newly manufactured vehicles should follow the one
defined in Annex 2 hereof.
Article 8 (Enforcement of this Standards)
These Standards apply to new vehicles manufactured on and after July 1, 2010. However, the
recommendation standards for benzene and xylene are effective from July 1, 2011.
Article 9 (Due Date for Reconsideration of this Notification)
Under the Regulation on Issue and Management of Instructions and Rules (Presidential Instruction No. 248),
the due date for considering changes in fact or in law after the issuance of this Notification and taking action,
such as abolishing or amending this Notification, is August 21, 2015.
ADDENDA
1. Enforcement Date
This Notification is effective from the date of notification. However, the amended provisions in Article 4
hereof are effective from July 1, 2014, and the amended provisions in Article 3, Item 2 and 3 are effective
from July 1, 2015.
2. Scope of Application
The amended provisions in Article 3.2 and 3.3 hereof apply to new vehicles manufactured on and after July 1,
2015.
3. Transitional Measures
Despite the amended provisions in Article 4 hereof, the previous recommendation provisions are applied to
new vehicles manufactured before July 1, 2014.
[Annex 1] The Recommendation Standards for the Interior Air Quality of Newly Manufactured Vehicles
Unit: ㎍/㎥
Formaldehyde
Benzene
Toluene
Xylene
Ethyl benzene
Styrene
Acrolein
210
30
1,000
870
1,000
220
50
[Annex 2] Method for Measuring the Interior Air Quality of Newly Manufactured Vehicles
1. Purpose
The purpose of this measuring method is to define the conditions and methods for detailed measurement
required to maintain the accuracy of measurement and the procedural consistency of measurements to verify
whether the interior air quality of newly manufactured vehicles complies with the Recommendation
Standards.
Transmitted by the expert of the Republic of Korea
2. General Matters
(A) The following standards cited in this method for measurement comprise part of the provisions of this
method. These standards must be the latest version.
KS A 3251-1 Statistical interpretation of data - Part 1: Statistical presentation of data
KS M ISO 16000-3 Indoor Air ― Part 3: Determination of formaldehyde and other carbonyl compounds in
indoor air and test chamber air ― Active sampling method
KS M ISO 16000-6 Indoor air - Part 6: Determination of volatile organic compounds in indoor and chamber
air by active sampling on TENAX TA sorbent, thermal desorption and gas chromatography using MSD/FID
(B) The measurement result must be presented in the unit defined in the recommended standards for the
interior air quality of newly manufactured vehicles, and the number must be calculated to the stage next to the
last valid number and rounded according to the number rounding method specified in KS A3251-1.
(C) Matters not defined in this measurement method must be treated according to applicable ISO or KS
standards and generally-accepted chemistry knowledge.
3. Scope of Application
Measurement of the interior air quality of newly manufactured vehicles under this measurement method
applies only to vehicles that have not elapsed more than 4 weeks (14-28 days) from the date of manufacture
specified in the certificate of manufacture of motor vehicle under Article 27 of the Rules of Motor Vehicle
Registration.
4. Substances to Be Measured
The substances to be measured are: formaldehyde, acrolein, 5 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of benzene,
toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene and styrene, as specified in the recommended standards for the interior air
quality of newly manufactured vehicles.
5. Measuring Instruments
(A) The test room must have a structure that can maintain the vehicle stabilization temperature and the
measurement temperature specified in the conditions of measurement.
(B) Sampling instruments
(1) The suction pump for sampling must be able to collect the exact flow rate to be measured.
a. In principle, the suction pump should have a suitable capacity for its use, and the stability of the flow rate
must be within 5 percent during sampling.
b. The suction pump for sampling must undergo the calibration of the flow rate before measurement to ensure
the exact amount of quantity can be collected.
c. The suction pump for sampling must be installed outside the vehicle.
(2) The tube for sampling
a. The tube for sampling must be as short as possible.
b. The tube for sampling must be made of inert, non-emitting, non-adsorptive and non-absorbing material.
c. Each sample must be collected by a different tube for sampling.
(3) The sampling of formaldehyde and acrolein must be conducted using the DNPH cartridge, while sampling
for the VOCs must be conducted with the absorption tube filled with TENAX TA.
(4) Where necessary, an ozone scrubber filled with high purity KI can be connected in series to the front side
of the DNPH cartridge to minimize interference by ozone.
(C) As for the sample analysis device, formaldehyde and acrolein must be analyzed using the HPLC, and the
VOCs with the GC/MS.
6. Measurement
6.1 Conditions for Measurement
The conditions for measurement are as follows:
(A) Vehicles to be measured
(1) Vehicles to be measured must be a newly manufactured vehicle.
(2) Transportation and storing of vehicles to be measured
a. The air circulation lever of a vehicle must be set to the 'indoor circulation' setting.
b. The doors and windows of a vehicle must be closed with tape before shipment, the tape should be checked
after shipment to see if the tape is damaged.
c. After the vehicle is transported, the outer surface of the vehicle should be cleaned if it has been
contaminated.
d. The vehicle should be stored inside a building with the vehicle's doors and windows closed so that it can be
protected from direct light and contaminants.
(3) Arrangements before measurement
a. The air circulation lever of the vehicle must be set to the 'indoor circulation'.
Transmitted by the expert of the Republic of Korea
b. All the plastic packaging materials inside the vehicle should be removed.
c. All doors of the vehicle should be closed.
d. The vehicle to be measured must undergo temperature stabilization at room temperature (25℃) for at least
12 hours before measurement.
e. The vehicle should not contaminated by workers in the arrangement stage.
(B) Test room
(1) The temperature of the test room stabilization and measurement must be 25±2℃.
(2) The temperature and humidity should be recorded during vehicle stabilization and measurement.
6.2 Sampling Method
(A) Sampling position
(1) Conduct sampling at two positions : the test room and the driver's seat.
(2) For the test room (background concentration), conduct sampling 0.3 - 1.0 m off the vehicle and 1 m above
the floor.
(3) The driver's seat should be adjusted backward and downward, and the steering wheel should be adjusted
inward and upward.
(4) Conduct sampling approximately 50 cm away from the steering wheel on the straight line between the top
of the steering wheel and the bottom of the headrest of driver’s seat.
(B) Amount of Samples
(1) For the test room, collect one sample of formaldehyde and acrolein and one sample of VOCs per test.
(2) For the driver's seat, collect three samples of formaldehyde and acrolein and three samples of VOCs per
test.
(C) Sampling time and flow rate
Table 1 shows the time and quantity of sampling for formaldehyde, acrolein and VOCs.
Table 1. Time and Quantity of Sampling
Substances to be measured
Conditions of Sampling
Formaldehyde (HCHO)
Acrolein (CH2CHCHO)
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Amount
Sampling time
15 min.
Flow rate
0.4~1 ℓ/min.
Quantity of sampling
12 ℓ or above
Sampling time
10 min.
Flow rate
100~200 ㎖/min.
Quantity of sampling
1 ℓ or above
(D) Test procedures
(1) Leave all the doors of the vehicle open for 30 minutes.
(2) Install the required instruments such as sampling tubes and temperature sensors while the doors of the
vehicle are open.
(E) Measurement
(1) Close and seal all the doors of the vehicle.
(2) Leave the doors of the vehicle closed for 2 hours, and then collect samples from inside the vehicle and the
test room.
Transmitted by the expert of the Republic of Korea
Figure 1. Flow Chart of Measurement
6.3 Sample Analysis Method
(A) Formaldehyde (HCHO) and Acrolein (CH2CHCHO)
(1) When storing and transporting samples, wrap the cartridge with aluminum foil to block out light and store
It in a cold dark room at a temperature no higher than 4℃. Collected samples should be analyzed as soon as
possible.
(2) Analysis method
Samples must be analyzed according to the sample analysis method prescribed in KS M ISO 16000-3.
(3) Calculation of concentration
Calculate the concentration of the aldehyde in the collected sample by substituting the area of chromatogram
obtained from the result of analysis for the calibration curve.
CA = ( As - Ab) × V ÷ Q
CA : Concentration of aldehyde in the sample collected from the interior air of the vehicle (㎍/㎥)
As : Result of analysis of the interior air sample of the vehicle (㎍/ml)
Ab : Blank test value for the DNPH cartridge (㎍/ml)
V : Sampling volume of acetonitrile (ml)
Qi : Total absorbed sample volume (㎥)
(Resettable total after sampling (㎥) - Resettable total immediately before sampling (㎥))
(B) Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
(1) If it is impossible to analyze the sample collected from the absorption tube at a given flow rate within 1
hour from the sampling, the sample must be blocked with a sealing stopper and a PTFE ferrule. It must be
sealed with aluminum foil and stored at a room temperature. The sample must be analyzed as soon as possible
and at the latest within 4 weeks.
(2) Analysis method
Samples must be analyzed according to the sample analysis method prescribed in KS M ISO 16000-6.
(3) Calculation of concentration
Find the concentration of the substance for the area (As) and the concentration of the substance for
background sample (At) from the calibration equation of each standard sample, and find the concentration of
each compound according to the following equation.
CA = ( As - Ab) ÷ Q
CA : Concentration of the VOC in the air sample (㎍/㎥)
As : Weight of each VOC in sample (㎍)
As : Weight of each VOC in background sample(㎍)
V : Sampling volume of acetonitrile (ml)
Q : Total absorbed sample volume (㎥)
(Resettable total after sampling (㎥) - Resettable total immediately before sampling (㎥))
6.4 Standards for Background Concentration
The standards for background concentration must not be greater than the larger of a maximum of 20 ㎍/㎥ or
a maximum of 10 percent of the measured value of each contaminant.
6.5 Measurement of Field Blank
(A) A field blank must be additionally measured to check for any contamination during transportation, storing
or from other contaminants. Any value for a field blank within 10 percent of the normal analysis peak is
regarded as appropriate.
(B) A field blank refers to the state before sampling. For formaldehyde, a DNPH cartridge is a field blank, and
for VOCs, an absorption tube filled with Tenax TA is a field blank.
Transmitted by the expert of the Republic of Korea
7. Processing of Measurement Results
(A) In measuring the background concentration of the test room, if it is estimated that there is no significant
change in background concentration, collect 1 sample and use the result of its analysis as the background
concentration, conduct the test twice. Each test should sample background concentration once and vehicle
interior air three times. A total of two background samples and six vehicle interior air samples should be taken.
Use the mean value calculated after discarding the highest and lowest values as the final value. If the value
exceeds the standards for background concentration, conduct a re-measurement.
(B) Record of results must use the following form.
[Table 2] Report on the Test of the Interior Air Quality of Newly Manufactured Vehicles
Vehicle Model
Manufacturer
Date of Manufacture
Vehicle Dimension No.
Vehicle Type
Vehicle Identification Number
Date of Measurement
Date of Analysis
Test Room Temperature (℃)
Vehicle Interior Temperature (℃)
Test Room Humidity (%)
Vehicle Interior Humidity (%)
Measurement Result (㎍/㎥)
Substance
Background
Concentration
No. 1
First
No. 2
No. 3
Background
Concentration
No. 1
Second
No. 2
No. 3
Mean Value (n=4)
(with the highest and
lowest values discarded)
Formaldehyde
Acrolein
Benzene
Toluene
Xylene
Ethylbenzene
Styrene