Thursday, November 22, 2018
Final clarity for the EPA Formaldehyde Regulation
Woodworking Network: This month the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a series of proposed technical amendments to the TSCA Title VI Formaldehyde Emissions Standards for Composite Wood Products rule. These proposed amendments, when finalized, will ensure greater alignment with the existing California Air Resources Board formaldehyde regulation’s (CARB 2) certification and testing procedures and, in some instances, provide greater clarity on the application of requirements. This is good news for composite wood panel manufacturers and companies that use the panels to make components and finished goods, as it means one, more seamless regulatory system nationwide.
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2 comments:
As with all regulations that will effect the purchasing or fabrication of various materials always gives me a level of tension. While I am extremely aware that the entertainment industry is by far one of the smaller fabricators in the industry, it would be nice if every now than we saw some more consideration though. That said this seems like it will open back up the door for the usage of MDF in much of the fabrication of scenery. I am also interested to see how these futher clarifications will also effect the price of composite wood materials is the future. I am also curious to note that there seems to be a need for more paperwork in that if you purchase and composite wood with Formaldehyde than you will need to keep the invoices and receipts for three years. It will be interesting to see how all of this effect entertainment fabrication.
I think the inherent danger of using products such as MDF and other composite woods is something that goes rather unnoticed in a lot of amateur shops. Growing up in the south, bonfires were a weekly event and eventually you run out of sticks and fallen branches to burn so a lot of people turn to their scrap pile in the garage of pressure treated wood and other bits leftover from home improvement projects. This was something that I learned at a very young age was not a smart move because of the chemicals added to the lumber. It was not until I started receiving more advanced training that I learned these chemicals could be released from fine woodworking jobs, sanding especially. I think it is a great plan for the EPA to start regulating the formaldehyde usage on wood and making the label system more clear on this lumber.
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