Formaldehyde Exposure — Still a Focus

Formaldehyde is contained in and emitted into air by many different products used in buildings. Despite changes in the manufacturing of composite wood and other products over the last 25 years, formaldehyde is still a primary indoor air quality (IAQ) concern. Berkeley Analytical (BkA) has a long history with the testing of products for their formaldehyde emissions and content. We have the capability to measure formaldehyde emissions using protocols such as CDPH/EHLB/Standard Method Version 1.1, ANSI/BIFMA M7.1, ASTM D 6007, and ASTM E 1333. We operate several Field and Laboratory Emission Cells (FLECs), which allow the rapid determination of emissions from planar materials following ASTM D 7143. We use ASTM D 5197 for the sampling and analysis of formaldehyde and other low molecular weight carbonyl compounds. This method provides excellent sensitivity (about 1 µg/m3 in a typical chamber test) and high precision.

The same chemistry used for the sampling and analysis of formaldehyde in chamber air samples is adaptable to other applications, such as the determination of total formaldehyde content in liquid products and the determination of leachable and extractable amounts of formaldehyde in solid products. As examples, these studies have been applied to the testing of cosmetic products and to the evaluation of clean room gloves and garments.

Contact us to discuss your formaldehyde testing and analytical needs and to request a quotation.

CARB ATCM

BkA offers chamber testing services for manufacturers impacted by the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) ATCM to control formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products. This regulation applies to composite wood cores used in furniture and other products, not finished goods. The Phase 2 emission requirements are being implemented between January 2010 and July 2012. For particleboard and MDF, the Phase 2 emission limits are about half of Phase 1 limits. Significantly, these requirements are “caps," meaning they are hard numbers that cannot be exceeded in a production run.

BkA’s CARB ATCM formaldehyde services for manufacturers include:

  • Production quality control testing for manufacturers of regulated composite woods
  • Quality control testing of supplier's composite wood cores for finished goods
  • Diagnostic and deconstruction studies

BkA’s chamber methods for formaldehyde emissions from composite woods have been validated by our participation and performance in a CARB inter-laboratory study involving 32 international laboratories. Our services have provided furniture industry manufacturers with the confidence they needed to transition to new composite wood cores while balancing a number of competing requirements. Additionally, we have performed several finished board deconstruction studies for the furniture industry to investigate the effects of veneers, finishes, and adhesives on the emissions of the core material.