A NEW CARB MEASURES FOR FORMALDEHYDE EMISSIONS FROM COMPOSITE WOOD PRODUCTS

California Air Resource Board (CARB) has decided to impose the new air toxic control measures (ATCM) for formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products including particle board, MDF, and hardwood plywood sold or used to make finished goods for sale in the California State. These rules are covered for the businesses such as manufacturer, importer, distributor, fabricator and retailer which are associated with the composite wood products.

This rule will be in place from 1st January, 2009 and all products containing composite wood products must comply with the new regulations.

Formaldehyde is a naturally occurring substance and it is also a by-product of natural organic processes. Composite wood contains different types of resins / adhesives which has formaldehyde emission properties.

The formaldehyde emission traces can be tested in a Large Formaldehyde Test Chamber ( ASTM E1333 ) and / or a Small Formaldehyde Test Chamber (ASTM D 6007)

Biotec Solutions Ltd, a New Zealand based machinery and technical services provider, supply custom build both Large and Small Test Chambers with their conditioning facilities as per ASTM regulations. These chambers can be installed in any countries. These chambers are ready for Wood Panel conditioning and Formaldehyde emission testing.

SALIENT FEATURES

• A Double walled insulated PUF modular panel, which can be easily assembled at site.
• The chamber is made up of the stainless steel and construction materials which are non absorptive, adsorptive and reactive to formaldehyde, to get the accurate results.
• The entire chamber and conditioning area are equipped with formaldehyde scrubbers within air handling and circulating systems to control formaldehyde traces in the internal environment within the specifications.
• The uniform temperature and relative humidity as per ASTM specifications is maintained by intelligent heating and steam injection system.
• The PLC base and PC communication system with remote monitoring facility.
• The unit is provided with safety Devices for temperature, and humidity overshoot in case of malfunction.
• Audio and visual alarms are equipped in case of temperature and humidity variation and utility failure.
• The maximum size wood panel (1.2 mt * 2.4 mt) conditioning and storage racking is available in the chambers.
• The chamber has automatic air sampling devices to control and measure the air sample volume during testing.
• Qualifications Documents such as (IQ/OQ/PQ) will be provided.