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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: 

  1. Chamber method 
  2. Gas Analysis method 
  3. Perforator method 
  4. Desiccator method 
  5. Flask method
LEVELS OF FORMALDEHYDE – EUROPEAN & CARB STANDARD
Table 1. Formaldehyde limits from wood based panels according to European standards Emission 
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

 

 

 

1-1-2010

P2: 0,05

 

 

 

 

1-1-2011

 

 

P2: 0,09

P2: 0,11

 

1-1-2012

 

 

 

 

P2: 0,13

1-7-2012

 

P2: 0,05

 

 

 

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