The Environmental Protection Agency has established a new rule when it comes to formaldehyde standards for composite woods and plywood.

It’s designed to reduce exposure from formaldehyde vapors in composite wood products produced within the United States or imported from another country.

Formaldehyde is a naturally occurring organic compound and is an important precursor to many other chemical compounds. It doesn’t accumulate in the environment because our sunlight naturally breaks it down. Formaldehyde is also highly toxic and is considered to be a known human carcinogen. This means that exposure to formaldehyde can lead to a variety of adverse health effects, including irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat; respiratory issues; and cancer.

The Formaldehyde Emission Standards for Composite Wood Products Act of 2010 was created to establish standards for formaldehyde emissions in composite wood products. The bill limits the allowable amount of formaldehyde emissions for wood products sold, manufactured, or imported into the United States.

This includes hardwood plywood, medium-density fiberboard, particleboard, and any household product that contains these materials. It also sets testing requirements to ensure compliance and establishes a third-party testing certification program for composite wood panel producers.

The reason this bill was created is because formaldehyde is used as an adhesive material in a wide range of wood products, including flooring, furniture, cabinets, and in building materials that use plywood, fiberboard, or particleboard. Due to its volatile nature, the government has intervened to protect workers and consumers from the dangerous vapors formaldehyde lets off.

Starting in December of 2017, composite wood products that are manufacturers, supplied, or sold in the United States will need to be labeled as TSCA Title VI Compliant to certify that they are in line with the new law.

At USPly, we maintain the highest standard for all hardwood and plywood products we supply.

You can trust that our products are properly certified to current industry standards and that we’ll go above and beyond to ensure the safety of our customers.

For more information on the new regulations affecting hardwood plywood, medium-density fiberboard, particleboard, and other products, go to: https://www.epa.gov/formaldehyde/formaldehyde-emission-standards-composite-wood-products