Chamber assessment of formaldehyde and VOC emissions from wood-based panels

Volatile organic emissions from particleboard, medium density fibreboard (M DF) and office furniture have been measured in dynamic environmental chambe rs, both small and room-sized. Characterisation of product emission propert ies in small chambers was possible when inter- and intra-sheet variations w ere considered. Formaldehyde emission factors for all products were approxi mately double European low-emission specifications and did not decay to the latter for several months. Long term emission behaviour could not be predi cted from short-term measurements. Volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissio ns were low for the MDF product, higher for particleboard, and highest for laminated office furniture. The compounds emitted differed from those repor ted in other countries. VOC emissions from the sheet products decreased mor e quickly than formaldehyde, reaching low levels within two weeks, except f or MDF which was found to become a low-level source of hexanal after severa l months.