WHAT IS FORMALDEHYDE?

WHAT IS FORMALDEHYDE?

 

“VOC” Volatile Organic Compound – is a widely used chemical in glues and adhesives and is a preservative used in paints and finishes. Formaldehyde reacts with phenol, urea or melamine to produce phenol-formaldehyde resin (PF), urea- formaldehyde resins (UF) and melamine resin. Unfortunately, if it off-gases, formaldehyde is a “probable human carcinogen,” according to the EPA.

PF “phenolic” resin generally emits much less formaldehyde than UF “urea” resin, so you are seeing products tha are labeled as “urea-formaldehyde-free” products, which are environmentally preferred.

Indoor air quality regularly scores among the highest concerns for people who are remodeling green.

You can now find formaldehyde-free or low-emitting MDF, particleboard, plywood, melamine, OSB and flooring. MDF products that contain formaldehyde can be some of the highest off-gassing building materials, square inch for square inch designated by E1 rating.

Some insulation batts use formaldehyde in their binders. Formaldehyde in building products is not an indoor air pollutant if the formaldehyde doesn’t get into the air, or it if off gasses as such low levels that it is not hazardous.

Refer to that California CARB standards or the California High Performance Schools (CHPS) program, another very strict standard.

Other formaldehyde derivatives include diisocyanate products used in polyurethane paints and foams.

By sourcing these products, you will be choosing green selections across multiply categories.

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