This part of ISO 16017 gives general guidance for the sampling and analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in air. It is applicable to indoor, ambient and workplace air. This part of ISO 16017 is applicable to a wide range of VOCs, including hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons, ester, glycol ethers, ketones and alcohols. A number of sorbents1) are recommended for the sampling of these VOCs, each sorbent having a different range of applicability. Very polar compounds generally require derivatisation; very low boiling compounds are only partially retained by the sorbents and can only be estimated qualitatively. Semi-volatile compounds are fully retained by the sorbents, but may only be partially recovered.