Safe, Clean, and Certified Air Quality

At NorthUp Saunas, we design saunas to connect you to nature without compromising your health. To back that up, we commissioned a third-party indoor air quality test to prove that our saunas — and the materials we use — remain safe at and above real-world operating temperatures and conditions.

How the Test Was Done

A Certified Industrial Hygienist conducted air quality sampling in our saunas inside a fully operational NorthUp sauna heated with a wood-fired stove. The focus was on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon monoxide (CO) — two key indicators of whether heated materials might release harmful emissions. The testing was done using highly sensitive monitoring equipment following EPA standards.

What They Found

We benchmarked against the strictest and most conservative standards in the industry, meant to protect sensitive populations including children and older adults, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Health Risk Values (HRVs) and California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) Reference Exposure Levels (RELs). 

 Here's what the results showed:

  • All 74 VOCs measured were negligible or non-detectable across all scenarios.

  • Carbon monoxide levels averaged 0 ppm while operating the wood-fired stove.

Why This Matters

Saunas get hot, and people understandably want assurance that the materials won’t off-gas harmful chemicals. The results are clear:

  • Our transparent wall panels remain stable even at peak sauna temperatures (measured at 246°F!).

  • There is no evidence of off-gassing or harmful air quality impacts.

  • Sauna users can breathe easy knowing the air inside a NorthUp sauna is as clean and safe as the air outside.

Curious to read the full report? Check it out here.

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