Formaldehyde Off-Gassing Testing from Composite Wood Products
Recently, there has been an increased national awareness and growing concern for formaldehyde gas being released from manufactured laminated flooring and other composite wood products. The adhesives and sealants used in many of these products may contain formaldehyde and this formaldehyde vapor can off-gas from the finished product even after it has been installed in a home. Many of these products are safety-rated to European and/or California standards for formaldehyde off-gassing levels. However, recent investigations have shown that formaldehyde off-gassing can still be of a concern from some of these products. They can even be elevated above acceptable levels that they are listed as meeting. Formaldehyde gas is highly toxic and a confirmed human carcinogen. Even at lower exposure levels, formaldehyde gas can cause eye and nasal irritation, headaches and aggravate asthma conditions. NAL East Environmental Services, Inc. can assist you with formaldehyde testing and analyses to help you better evaluate the potential formaldehyde hazards from your composite wood products.
TESTING FOR FORMALDEHYDE In Bulk Building Materials (Wood, Floors, Etc.)
Installed Composite Wood Products – (Free Formaldehyde Impinger Method)
Carpet Off-Gassed In A Chamber (Dry-Bulk) via (HPLC for Formaldehyde)
NAL East will come to the site and take sample or client can provide a 2 inch by 2 inch square piece of the composite wood product and place in a sealed plastic bag. The laboratory will take each sample and place it into a glass vial and an air sample is collected from air passing over the flooring product. The air sample collected is evaluated to determine the parts per million (PPM) amount of formaldehyde off-gassing concentration in the air from the composite wood product.
Note: This testing cannot be used for CARB ATCM Phase II or European product compliance. This testing can show what formaldehyde levels occur from your composite wood product and/or carpet and can be reviewed against current formaldehyde guidelines for air concentrations and off-gassing amounts.
Intact Laminate Flooring – (ASTM D6007 -14 Small Chamber Study –NAL East)*
We can come to the site and take the sample or client can provide NAL East with an intact 2 foot by 2 foot square piece (no larger sizes please) of the composite wood product and wrap in plastic. Once the laboratory receives the sample, each sample is then placed into small sample chamber by the Laboratory. After a 24-hour equilibration period, an air sample is collected from the chamber. This air sample is evaluated to determine concentration in PPM from formaldehyde off-gassing from the composite wood product as well as the formaldehyde emissions rate from the surface of the flooring (µg/m2-hr).
Note: This testing cannot be used for CARB ATCM Phase II or European product compliance. This testing can show if detectable formaldehyde levels occur from your composite wood product and can be reviewed against current formaldehyde guidelines for air concentrations and off-gassing amounts.
VOC sampling can be conducted in the small chamber to see exactly what is off-gassed from the material, scrapings, substance or paint.
Testing for Formaldehyde (In Air)
Air Monitoring Badge or Air Sampling to Determine Formaldehyde Levels (NIOSH Method 2016 – Laboratory Modified) (EPA Method TO-11A
NAL East will come to site with a passive room sampler (air monitoring badge) to measure the formaldehyde level in your home. Ideally, we can place the badges in different areas and let it sit for at least a 1-hour period. Normally, in a small property, a minimum of at least four (4) samples are recommended. After completion, NAL East will pick-up the badges set-up, we deliver the samples to the laboratory and we can then provide you with the formaldehyde concentration levels in parts-per-million (PPM) in your home. The Badges are good if you have many areas that need to be sampled at the same time.
The air sampling is conducted using a low volume air pump and a sorbent tube. The air sample is conducted for approximately 35 to 50 minutes. Once we receive the results from the laboratory, a results report will be composed based on your results, with a Raised Seal Certified Certificate confirming that either no or low Formaldehyde levels were present in the property, which is acceptable, below the 0.75 ppm.
These test results can be used to establish if elevated formaldehyde levels exist in the room(s) sampled.
******Air Sampling with Sorbent Tube and Low Volume Air Pump and/or Badge Sampling are the most reliable method inside a property (Sampling takes roughly 35 to 50 minutes)******
******Air Sampling with Sorbent Tube and Low Volume Air Pump is the most reliable method inside a property (Sampling for state or federal guidelines takes roughly 420 minutes) ******
