Formaldehyde Testing, Evaluation and Certification
Formaldehyde testing is important in the building product and construction industries. At room temperature, formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable gas that has a distinct, pungent smell. Small amounts of formaldehyde are naturally produced by plants, animals, and humans. It’s a volatile organic compound (VOC). NTA is an industry expert in formaldehyde and formaldehyde testing, using ASTM E1333, ASTM D5582, and ASTM D6007.
The building product industry uses formaldehyde to manufacture a range of building materials. It’s in resins used to manufacture some composite wood products (e.g. hardwood plywood, particleboard, and medium-density fiberboard).
According to the California Department of Public Health, formaldehyde can cause irritation of the skin, eyes, nose, and throat. High levels of exposure have been linked to a number of health problems, including cancer and asthma. In 2008, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) set stringent new standards for complying with the code for formaldehyde emissions. NTA is a CARB approved test lab for evaluating the code compliance of composite wood products.
Manufacturers of composite wood products destined for the California market are required to prove code compliance for low formaldehyde emissions under CARB Composite Wood Products ACTM. Fabricators using these materials to create finished items (e.g. furniture) need traceability; they must be able to provide records that they have purchased CARB-certified composite wood. NTA can help.
Formaldehyde Emission Standards
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently working on new regulations, which mirror the standards already established under CARB ATCM. These rules will establish one set of national standards for all companies that manufacture or import these products, ensuring the same protections for all U.S. citizens.
One of the new rules would implement formaldehyde emission standards under the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) Title VI program and would apply to hardwood plywood, medium-density fiberboard, particleboard, and finished goods containing these products that are sold, supplied, offered for sale, or manufactured (including imported) in the U.S.
What NTA can do
NTA offers a single-source solution for all testing, inspection, certification, evaluation, and follow-up services. Having all the required services performed by a single vendor saves you a significant amount of time and money.
NTA is accredited by A2LA under ISO/IEC 17025 to test, ISO/IEC 17020 to inspect, and ISO/IEC 17065 to certify
The code compliance of formaldehyde emissions for composite wood products under CARB Composite Wood Products ATCM using standards developed by ASTM, American National Standard Institute (ANSI), and American National Standards for Engineered Wood Flooring (ANSI/HPVA). NTA is approved by CARB and is on the CARB list of the approved third-party certifier and testing agencies. NTA offers testing to meet ASTM E1333 standard test method for determining formaldehyde concentrations in air and emission rates from wood products using a large chamber, which is often completed in as little as eight days.
For smaller samples, NTA performs testing to meet ASTM D6007 standard test method for determining formaldehyde concentration in the air from wood products using a small scale chamber, with a turnaround time of two or three days. This quick turnaround can be extremely useful. Every manufacturer in the CARB program is required to conduct frequent, individual batch testing and obtain results before products are shipped out. NTA also performs testing to meet ASTM D5582 standard test method for determining formaldehyde levels from wood products using a desiccator.
NTA also conducts tests to certify formaldehyde emissions for manufactured housing under 24 CFR 3280:
ASTM E1333 Video Demonstration
ASTM D6007 Video Demonstration
For more information about formaldehyde testing services, contact NTA.
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