Third Party Certification of Composite Wood Products by Manufacturers in California
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1. Background
On 26 April 26, 2007, California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved a regulation, California Code of Regulations, Title 17, Section 93120 – 93120.12, to reduce formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products that are sold, supplied, used, or manufactured for sale in California. The regulation focuses on hardwood plywood (HWPW), particleboard (PB), and medium density fiberboard (MDF). It requires that HWPW, PB, and MDF and new finished goods that contain these composite wood products meet stringent formaldehyde emission standards and be labeled as such.
2. Definition
Hardwood plywood (HWPW) – a panel composed of an assembly of (A) hardwood layers or plies of veneer or (B) veneers in combination with a platform consisting of lumber core, composite core, a special core material, or special back material, joined with an adhesive. The face veneer may be composed of a hardwood or decorative softwood species. It includes wall paneling, industrial panels, and HWPW panels used in making flooring. It does not include laminated products, military specified plywood, or curved plywood.
Particleboard (PB) – a panel composed of cellulosic material (usually wood) in the form of discrete particles (as distinguished from fibers, flakes, or strands) that are pressed together with resin
Medium density fiberboard (MDF) – a panel composed of cellulosic fibers (usually wood) made by dry forming and pressing of a resinated fiber mat
Composite core – a platform for making hardwood plywood or laminated products that consists of particleboard and/or medium density fiberboard, or combination core
Veneer core – a core material for making plywood that consists of veneer
Thin MDF – medium density fiberboard that has a maximum thickness of eight millimeters
3. Formaldehyde Emission Limits
| Formaldehyde emission limit (ppm) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
HWPW-VC |
HWPW-CC |
PB |
MDF |
Thin MDF |
|
0.05 |
0.05 |
0.09 |
0.11 |
0.13 |
HWPW-VC: veneer core; HWPW-CC: composite core
4. Requirements for manufacturers
All manufacturers of HWPW, PB, and MDF must comply with the emission limits as shown in the table of Section 3. For manufacturers of HWPW, PB, and MDF using resins that contain formaldehyde, they must demonstrate the compliance with the emission limits by way of third party certification.
5. Third Party Certification and Quality Assurance Requirements for products using resins that contain formaldehyde
6. Product Labeling Requirement
Each panel or bundle of composite wood products must be clearly labeled to indicate compliance with the emission limits specified in the table of Section 3. The label shall include all of the following information:
- Manufacturer name
- Product lot number or batch produced
- A marking to denote that the composite wood product complies wit the emission limits specified in table of Section 3
- The ARB assigned number of the approved third party certifier
