New standards and regulations on formaldehyde emission from wood-based composite panels

Abstract

The urea-formaldehyde (UF) adhesive is still most important adhesive system in the production of interior grade particleboards and medium density fibreboards (MDF). However, the furniture and interior fitments, incorporating these products, present one of the sources of formaldehyde emission into the indoor air. The recognition of formaldehyde as a substance that presents the risk for a human health had a strong impact on wood-based panels industry, as it came under constrains by the number of national and international regulations. Hence, this paper presents the overview of standards and regulations that define formaldehyde emission limits for wood-based panels today, and of a special interest for a wood-based panels market in the Republic of Serbia. The paper also gives an overview on a possible methods and procedures for the production of wood-based panels with low or no formaldehyde emission.