Your window frame, shower stall or even bedroom door are all examples of household products that are created with composite wood. Composite wood products contain hardwood plywood, fiberboard or particleboard. These materials often contain formaldehyde, which can cause several adverse health effects, if exposure reaches a dangerous level.
The government has created regulations to restrict the limit of formaldehyde emissions from wood products produced domestically or imported. When working with such materials, it is important to understand these regulations as an effort to avoid any potential violations. On March 22, 2019, all composite wood products must be Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Title VI compliant.
Regulations & Standards Over the Years
Emission standards for formaldehyde from composite wood products were first established with The Formaldehyde Emission Standards for Composite Wood Products Act of 2010. This act required the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to finalize a national regulation.
As of June 1, 2018, all composite wood products sold, supplied, offered for sale, manufactured or imported in the U.S. are required to contain either a California Air Resources Board (CARB) airborne toxic control measure (ATCM) Phase II or TSCA Title VI compliant label. The CARB ATCM Phase II regulation established emission standards for panels of composite wood products. The EPA’s TSCA Title VI serves as national regulation which aligns with the CARB ATCM Phase II emission standards, however, it also requires records to be kept for three years and disclosure upon request for formaldehyde testing results.
March 22,2019 Updates
Beginning March 22, 2019 additional requirements will be enforced under TSCA Title VI and all composite wood products will need to be in compliance of TSCA Title VI. Importers will now need to provide an import certification under TSCA and laminated products will need to be tested and certified as meeting the hardwood plywood formaldehyde emission standards.
If you have questions about these new requirements or need help providing an import certification, please reach out to your Mohawk customer service representative.