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FURNITURE AND FORMALDEHYDE

Furniture is getting closer to being 100% environmentally friendly every year. The only obstacle to this is the residual formaldehyde contained in wood and board materials. This primarily concerns upholstered furniture, where there is no decorative layer covering the board surface and edges. However, is there really that much formaldehyde in Ukrainian furniture, and what standards apply to it – we explain further.

  • There is no such thing as “formaldehyde-free” furniture these days

It is a misconception to think that furniture that does not “smell” is completely formaldehyde-free. Formaldehyde is present to a greater or lesser extent in all modern wood-derived materials. The task of manufacturers of such materials is to minimize the presence of formaldehyde in them as much as possible, and for furniture makers – to accordingly use such raw materials. In turn, consumers of wood products must learn to operate them properly.

  • Ukrainian standards regarding formaldehyde emissions are the same as European ones, and some are even stricter!

Currently, the State Standards of Ukraine relating to the formaldehyde content in particleboard (PB) are harmonized with European ones. In other words, PB manufacturers in Ukraine and Europe follow the same standard: in Europe EN 312:2010 “Particleboards – Specification”, in Ukraine – DSTU EN 312:2018 (EN 312:2010, IDT) “Particleboards. Technical requirements”. According to the requirements of this standard, the formaldehyde content in class E1 PB should not exceed 8mg/100g of absolutely dry board.

The methodology for determining formaldehyde content is outlined in DSTU EN ISO 12460-5-2018 “Wood-based panels. Determination of formaldehyde content”. This standard is also harmonized with the European standard EN ISO 12460-5:2015 “Wood-based panels. Determination of formaldehyde release”.

As of 01.01.2020, the “Ban on Chemical Substances for Wood Materials” decree came into force in Germany. According to its requirements, the limit for formaldehyde emissions from wood panels should not exceed 0.1 ppm (parts per million) when tested by the EN 16516 chamber method (primary method) or 0.05 ppm if tested by the EN 717-1 method (secondary, additional method). To date, none of these standards are in force in Ukraine. To confirm the permissible level of formaldehyde release, Ukrainian wood panel manufacturers send samples of their products to European research institutes and laboratories that have the relevant accreditation.

Special attention should be paid to IKEA’s standards and requirements. In May 2023, a new version of IOS-MAT-0003 v 16 “Formaldehyde requirements of wood, wood-based and wood-like natural materials and products” came into force, according to which formaldehyde emissions from particleboard should be determined by American methods – ASTM E1333 or ASTM D6007, where the limit should not exceed 0.09 ppm. The mentioned IOS-MAT-0003 specification has no requirements for laminated particleboard, i.e. the 0.09 ppm limit applies only to base particleboard that will be further laminated.

In addition, the State Sanitary Norms and Rules 8.2.1-181-2012 “Polymer and polymer-containing materials, products and structures used in construction and furniture manufacturing. Hygienic requirements” are currently in force in Ukraine, which regulate requirements for formaldehyde emission levels: for particleboard – 0.01 mg/m³, for laminated particleboard – 0.003 mg/m³. The methodology for testing was developed in the 1980s and is outdated compared to modern European and American chamber methods.

The Ukrainian Furniture Manufacturers Association actively promotes the FURNITURE OF UKRAINE brand in domestic and foreign markets. It is extremely important for Ukrainian furniture makers to have standards identical to those used in European countries, which facilitates exports and contractual relations with potential customers.

 

  • More about formaldehyde:

It’s also worth knowing that formaldehyde in small proportions is necessary for human cells for their normal vital activity. So, although it has an unpleasant odor, it does not pose a threat in household conditions. Moreover, our body is adapted to “cope” with its excessive amount. Excess formaldehyde is quickly destroyed by normal metabolic processes and excreted from the body. There is a concept of “half-life time”, during which the concentration of this substance in the body is halved. So, the half-life of formaldehyde in our blood is just one minute. This means that after twenty-two minutes, the formaldehyde concentration will decrease a million times.

Nevertheless, it is worth avoiding its excess in the air we breathe. Even because of its caustic unpleasant smell. Furniture makers have long known well: a reliable way to significantly reduce formaldehyde emissions is to properly edge the panels. Therefore, responsible furniture manufacturers edge (wrap with edgebanding) all sides of particleboard furniture parts. In addition, formaldehyde is present in other products that surround us and are made of synthetic polymer materials – these are building structural and finishing materials, lighting fixtures and even dishes.

The main sources of formaldehyde emissions in an apartment are:

First, vapors of free formaldehyde are part of the combustion products of organic substances: smog, vehicle exhaust, tobacco smoke, and even vapor from electronic cigarettes, evaporation from a fireplace and gas stove;

Second, evaporation of formaldehyde occurs from household materials:
Particleboard (from which a large amount of furniture is made), plywood, MDF, HDF, OSB, laminate and other floor coverings, baseboards, doors made of MDF or HDF, etc.

According to scientific data, an ordinary apartment can contain more than 150 types of various toxic chemical compounds.

There is another interesting fact that few people know about. In the solid wood of many tree species (we are talking about living growing trees in nature), the natural formaldehyde content sometimes reaches 12 mg/100g. On a sunny hot day in a pine forest, the formaldehyde content in the air can exceed the maximum permissible amount twice. So it is simply impossible to make a laminated particleboard completely without formaldehyde.

Therefore, it is recommended to THOROUGHLY VENTILATE rooms in which new composite and polymer materials (particleboard, fiberboard, MDF, plywood, laminate, vinyl wallpaper, linoleum) or products made from them occupy a significant area: complete air renewal in the room is needed for an hour and for several weeks. In cold weather, it is necessary to use household air purifiers with an “ozonation / ionization” function.

 

    All composite boards with the E1 emission class, and products made from them, are completely safe for use in any residential premises according to sanitary norms. In cases where there are increased requirements for air quality – for example, in children’s rooms – it is advisable to order or choose to purchase furniture made from boards with minimized formaldehyde content (E 0.5 or E-LE) or from fk-grade plywood. According to manufacturers, such boards include Egger F**** laminated particleboard, Kronospan E-LE, and CARB2 class MDF.

 

  • Rules for using particleboard and laminated particleboard furniture

To maintain quality and long service life of laminated particleboard (LDSP) furniture, certain conditions must be met:

1. Ensure a dry and warm room.

2. A room with new furniture should be ventilated for at least one hour per day during the first month.

3. Choose a location for the furniture away from direct sunlight. Remember, open sunlight provokes color change of the product.

4. Install particleboard furniture at maximum distance from any heating appliances (radiators, heating ovens, electric heaters, open ovens, turned on hotplates, lighting fixtures, hot steam, etc.). Harmful temperature for furniture facades is above +70°C, under its influence deformation, delamination and peeling of the film occurs.

5. Protect furniture from moisture getting onto the edge parts covered with film (mechanically treated bevels of parts) – this leads to swelling of the particleboard. In addition, moisture can cause the surface coating to change color.

6. Please use particleboard furniture for its intended purpose.

7. Install furniture only on a level surface.

8. Calculate the load to prevent damage to the furniture components.

9. When changing the location of particleboard furniture in a living room, first clear it of items. It is also recommended to remove the doors and inner shelves, pull out the drawers.

10. Furniture should be carried firmly holding the side walls and bottom, lifting it off the floor.

11. Attention! Pushing along the floor, lifting by the top cover for carrying has destructive consequences for the product.

12. If furniture repair and restoration is required, you should contact specialists.

13. For dust removal, use a dry soft cloth or special furniture wipe.

14. Do not use chemical cleaners containing acetone, paint thinners, detergents and various abrasive materials, as they can destroy the coating.

By following these conditions, you will maintain the quality appearance and extend the safe service life of particleboard and laminated particleboard furniture for many years.

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