Formaldehyde is a highly volatile colorless gas which is taken by inhalation from the body and therefore carcinogenic to humans (as declared by the “International Agency for Research on Cancer”) and it is present in the glues used for the production of furniture.
In order to protect the health of the consumer, the use of formaldehyde with regards to the wood-furniture sector is regulated by the Ministerial Decree of 10 October 2008, which prohibits to commercialize wood-based panels with emission values of formaldehyde higher than 0.1 ppm (0.124 mg/m3).
In order to provide updates for the regulatory framework regarding formaldehyde, COSMOB reports that the test methods used to check compliance with the 10/10/2008 decree have recently been replaced as indicated below:
- UNI EN ISO 12460-3: 2015 (replacing the UNI EN 717-2 standard) “Gas analysis method”.
The standard specifies a procedure for determining the accelerated release of formaldehyde from coated and uncoated wood-based panels, using the gas analysis method. The field of application has also been extended to other products such as: edges, floor coverings, foams, films, laminated wood products, veneered wood products, coated wood products. - UNI EN ISO 12460-5: 2016 (replacing the UNI EN 120 standard) “Extraction method“.
The standard specifies the method known as “drilling” which is used to determine the formaldehyde content of non-laminated and uncoated wood-based panels; from a technical point of view there are no major changes.
We advise all companies to check compliance with current regulatory requirements.
CHECK “Solutions_COSMOB_formaldehyde”
Per maggiori informazioni l’Ufficio Commerciale ed il Laboratorio sono sempre a disposizione.
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Dott.ssa Alessandra Cecchini / Chemical Area Manager a.cecchini@cosmob.it Office: (+39) 0721 481269 / Mobile: +39 345 475 0081 |
