Formadehyde Emission review
WHAT ARE FORMALDEHYDE EMISSIONS?
Formaldehyde emission is the amount of formaldehyde released from wood-based panels to a certain volume of air or a certain amount of water within a specified period of time, which is always tested by using chamber or desiccator method.
Health effects
Formaldehyde is water soluble and rapidly metabolised in the body when you breathe, drink or eat it. Very small amounts may also be absorbed through your skin. Health effects caused by exposure primarily involve the body organs that first come into contact with formaldehyde for instance eyes, lungs, mouth, and skin.
Workers exposed to formaldehyde (for example clothing or furniture manufacturers and laboratory workers) will be exposed to higher levels of formaldehyde than the general population.
DETERMINING FORMALDEHYDE EMISSIONS
There are different standardized methods used for formaldehyde evaluation like:
- Chamber method
- Gas Analysis method
- Perforator method
- Desiccator method
- Flask method
| Emission class / Board type | Limit value for formaldehyde release | European standard / Test method |
| E1/PB, MDF, OSB, PLY* (coated and uncoated) | ≤0.124 mg/m3 air (0.099 ppm**) ≤8.0 mg/100g oven dry board ≤3.5 mg/m2h | EN 13986 EN 717-1- Chamber EN 120 - Perforator EN 717-2- Gas analysis |
| E2/PB, MDF, OSB, PLY | >0.124 mg/m3 air (0.099 ppm**) >8.0 mg/100g ≤ 30 mg/100 o. d. board >3.5 mg/m2h≤ 8 mg/m2h | EN 13986 EN 717-1- Chamber EN 120 - Perforator EN 717-2- Gas analysis |
Table 2. Relationship between Japan standard and others concerning formaldehyde limits values
| Emission class | Limit value (Desiccator - Japan method) | Perforator value (European method formaldehyde content) | Chamber method EN 717-1 | Emission ASTM E1333 |
| F** | ≤1.5 mg/L | 6.5 mg/100 g o. d. board | ∼0.143ppm | |
| F*** ∼E0 | ≤0.5 mg/L | 2.5 mg/100 g o. d. board | ≤0.054mg/m3aira | ≤0.055ppma |
| F****∼Super E0 | ≤0.3 mg/L | 1.5 mg/100 g o. d. board | ≤0.034mg/m3aira | ≤0.035ppma |
Table 3. The CARB regulation* for formaldehyde emission, Phase 1 and Phase 2
Effective date | Emission values, Phase 1 (P1) and Phase 2 (P2), in ppm | ||||
HWPW-VC | HWPW-CC | PB | MDF | Thin MDF | |
1-1-2009 | P1: 0,08 |
| P1: 0,18 | P1: 0,21 | P1: 0,21 |
1-7-2009 |
| P1: 0,08 |
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1-1-2010 | P2: 0,05 |
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1-1-2011 |
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| P2: 0,09 | P2: 0,11 |
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1-1-2012 |
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| P2: 0,13 |
1-7-2012 |
| P2: 0,05 |
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Based on the primary test method ASTM E 1333-96, in parts per million (ppm) HWPW-VC- hardwood plywood- veneer core HWPW-CC- hardwood plywood composite core | |||||