Formaldehyde in chipboard

[Johnsson 56]

We have had our basement renovated after a fire. They have, among other things, installed 36 shelves each with 5 chipboard shelves measuring 10 mm, 45x90 cm. The total area, counting both the top and bottom sides, is 0.45 x 0.9 x 2 x 5 x 36 = 145 sqm. There is a Swedish requirement that boards imported into Sweden must not emit more than 0.124 milligrams of formaldehyde per cubic meter of air. But what happens when you have such a large area completely untreated?

 

[Marlen Eskilsson]

The formaldehyde is mainly released when you process it or if it comes into contact with moisture. Is your basement heated?

 

[Johnsson 56]

The formaldehyde is primarily released when you process it or if it comes into contact with moisture. Is your basement heated?

Yes, it's heated, but sometimes the relative humidity in the air rises to maybe a maximum of 75%, so I have a dehumidifier that I turn on a few times a year

 

[Marlen Eskilsson]

I realized I am sensitive to formaldehyde when we built a bookshelf in MDF. The carpenter cut the boards inside the house. It took a long time and countless vacuuming and damp mopping before I stopped noticing it. After we painted the bookshelves, it felt fine again. So if you're going to be in the basement and the humidity sometimes increases, I would have painted them.

 

[Johnsson 56]

I realized that I am sensitive to formaldehyde when we built a bookshelf in MDF. The carpenter sawed the boards inside the house. It took a long time and countless vacuuming and wet wiping before I stopped noticing it. After we painted the bookshelves, it felt good again. So if you're going to spend time in the basement and sometimes the humidity levels increase, I would definitely have painted them.

145 sqm ?

 

[Marlen Eskilsson]

You can do exactly as you like

Switching to metal shelves maybe? That's what we have in the basement. Free-standing Ikea shelves.

 

[Johnsson 56]

I realized that I am sensitive to formaldehyde when we built a bookshelf from MDF. The carpenter sawed the boards inside the house. It took a long time and countless vacuumings and wet wipes before I stopped feeling it. After we painted the bookshelves, it felt good again. So if you're going to be in the basement and sometimes the humidity level increases, I would have painted them.

You can do whatever you want

Switch to metal shelves maybe? That's what we now have in the basement. Free-standing Ikea shelves.

It's great that I can switch to metal shelves, it costs at most 50,000 SEK. But now my question was: "There is a Swedish requirement that boards brought into Sweden must not emit more than 0.124 milligrams of formaldehyde per cubic meter of air. But what happens when you have such a large surface completely untreated?"

 

[Plupp 284245]

We have had our basement renovated after a fire. Among other things, they have installed 36 shelves, each with 5 shelves made of chipboard, 10 mm 45x90 cm. The total area, if you count both the top and bottom, is 0.45 x 0.9 x 2 x 5 x 36 = 145 sqm. There is a Swedish requirement that boards imported into Sweden must not emit more than 0.124 milligrams of formaldehyde/cubic meter of air. But what happens when you have such a large untreated area?

Do they have any information on which board they used? If you're concerned, they should be able to provide you with that information. A carb 2 or swan-labeled chipboard is probably nowhere near the limit value.

 

[Keld]

How great that I can switch to metal shelves, it will probably cost at most 50000 kr. But now my question is: "There is a Swedish requirement that boards imported into Sweden must not emit more than 0.124 milligrams of formaldehyde per cubic meter of air. But what happens when you have such a large area completely untreated?"

There will be more in the air, of course. If you want to know how much, you'll need to buy a measuring device or measuring sticks, Google is your friend.

 

[Johnsson 56]

Don't they have any information on which board they used? If you're worried, they should be able to give you that information. A carb 2 or eco-labeled particleboard is probably not anywhere near the limit value.

I've received a response from Witre that they don't know. But what concerns me is that there is such a large exposure area.

 

[Johnsson 56]

There will be more in the air, of course. If you want to know how much, you'll have to buy a measuring device or test strips, Google is your friend.

I know I can buy a meter for 1250 kr, but I thought I'd discuss it here. Was that wrong? I mean, there MIGHT be someone in the group who has knowledge about this.

 

[Plupp 284245]

I have received a response from Witre that they don't know. But what worries me is that the exposure area is so large

I understand.

 

[Johnsson 56]

I may have misunderstood something, but to me, saying they can't "emit more than 0.124 milligrams of formaldehyde per cubic meter of air" sounds very vague. Surely it must matter how MUCH particle board there is in the room?

 

[Karl.s]

The limit presumably applies per board. The importer could not possibly know how much each customer plans to assemble.

I agree that the unit is a bit oddly specified, but 0.124mg/m3 is presumably in a small confined space. Your basement is larger.

The only way to know what applies to your boards in your basement is, as Keld wrote, to measure.

If you're high, you got tips from Marlen on how to address it.
As far as I know, there are no guidelines from, for example, the Public Health Agency regarding formaldehyde in living environments.

https://www.kemi.se/download/18.f1b904217860f8d6f02669/1633432815090/KIFS-2017-7-konsoliderad.pdf:

Wood-based boards manufactured or imported into Sweden may not emit more formaldehyde than 0.124 mg/m³ of air when tested according to the standard SS-EN 717-1:2004

 

[Johnsson 56]

The limit value presumably applies per board. The importer can hardly know how much each customer intends to assemble.

I agree that the unit is a bit oddly specified, but 0.124mg/m3 is presumably in a small confined space. Your cellar is larger.

The only way to know what applies to your boards in your cellar is, as Keld wrote, to measure.

If you're high, Marlen gave you tips on how to remedy it.
As far as I know, there are no guidelines from, e.g., the Public Health Agency regarding formaldehyde in residential environments

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Still think the limit value is vague. If it's per board, it should state what size and thickness they refer to. One reason why I am pondering this is whether it is reasonable for the insurance company to replace my shelves, none of which were chipboard, with chipboard shelves.