CARB 2 Formaldehyde Testing and Compliance

Recently, the CBS program 60 Minutes aired a piece on Chinese-made laminated flooring that was tested for formaldehyde emissions. Benchmark International was one of the labs hired to test products purchased and supplied by 60 Minutes. Benchmark International tested all products provided using California EPA’s Air Resource Board (CARB) testing methodology and standard operating procedures.

CARB has released a “Standard Operating Procedure for Finished Good Test Specimen Preparation Prior to Analysis of Formaldehyde Emissions from Composite Wood Products.” According to CARB, sample preparation/deconstructive testing is the process of separating or cutting the finished good into component parts so that pieces of the underlying panel may be accessed in order to remove the coating or laminate to achieve a composite wood product specimen for formaldehyde emissions testing. CARB enforcement staff use sample preparation procedures to prepare finished goods so composite wood products contained in those goods may be tested in CARB laboratories for compliance with applicable emission standards.

CARB has released a “Standard Operating Procedure for Finished Good Test Specimen Preparation Prior to Analysis of Formaldehyde Emissions from Composite Wood Products.” CARB has also announced in its online “Frequently Asked Questions” that it uses the procedure as an enforcement screening tool.