Release of formaldehyde from chipboard. Harmful substances in chipboard, chipboard, MDF. So, is furniture made from chipboard harmful?

Furniture forums are full of messages from indignant customers complaining about the smell of new laminated chipboard furniture that has not gone away “for weeks now”; “harmful formaldehyde is to blame for everything,” echo the most knowledgeable. Let's try to figure out what's going on.

Indeed, any New furniture retains production odors for some time after assembly. There is no escape from this. It is necessary to ventilate the room daily and do wet cleaning.

Now for help:

“Formaldehyde in its pure form is officially recognized as a carcinogen - that is, a toxic substance that can cause cancer. It is a colorless and strong-smelling gas. Formaldehyde has an irritating effect on the respiratory system (on the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, larynx), skin and central nervous system. Its high concentrations can cause asthma attacks.

Formaldehyde is used not only in the production of chipboards, but also in the production of paints and varnishes, plastics, adhesives, and is found in many natural materials, in vehicle exhaust, and even in some food products. In high concentrations, fumes are truly extremely dangerous to human health.”

Of course, furniture made from laminated chipboard (laminated chipboard) is budget-class furniture. Cost is the main advantage of this material. The advantages also include a wide range of sizes, a wealth of choice exterior finishing, ease of processing, shock and moisture resistance, high compressive and bending strength. The disadvantages are the impossibility of using various shaped processing techniques, including milling and complex parts; undesirable use by allergy sufferers and people with respiratory diseases; sharp impact hazard edges.

The basis of production is chipboard, which comes in different densities - single-layer, three-layer (the fraction on the outer layers is finer than the inside) and multi-layer (the size of the sawdust decreases layer by layer from the middle to the surfaces). The binding component of wood chips in it is glue, which contains urea-formaldehyde or phenol-formaldehyde resins. Next, the slab is covered with laminate, and the ends are coated with melamine or PVC edge, which prevent the evaporation of harmful substances.

Furniture made from high-quality laminated chipboard has virtually no smell. There may be a slight smell of natural wood.

In addition, the state and supervisory services impose high safety requirements on products widely used in everyday life and construction. Therefore, like any product, laminated chipboard is labeled in accordance with the selection and division into grades. The first category includes products that meet all requirements for the quality of raw materials, resistance to stress, etc. Chipboard with lower parameters and defects on the front part belongs to the second class and is most often sent to the construction industry.

Products from many leading Russian manufacturers Laminated chipboard complies with European standards, and these enterprises are constantly working to improve environmental performance.

The safest material is considered to be one belonging to class E-1 (up to 10 mg of formaldehyde per 100 g of absolutely dry wood board).

Data on the quality of the material used can be found in the hygiene certificate (quality certificate that is attached to any furniture product) - the seller will provide it upon your request.

A material with a minimum indicator and all-round cladding can be used to produce children's or hospital furnishings.

• It is necessary to distinguish between the concepts of chipboard and laminated chipboard. Laminated chipboard is a board hermetically sealed on all sides, the finishing of which prevents the release of harmful substances. It is from this that economy class furniture is made. Pay attention to the quality of the edges, the absence of chips and open areas of the chipboard. After the purchase, follow the recommendations to help preserve the protective layer of laminated chipboard: protect the furniture from frequent and excessive moisture, maintain a certain level in the room for such furniture temperature regime(within -1 to +30 degrees Celsius), in case mechanical damage restore properties with wax.
• Formaldehyde is harmful in its pure form, but in glue, which is used in furniture production, it is only integral part. Thus, everyone’s favorite plastic used in everyday life produces more formaldehyde fumes.
• Formaldehyde is a gas and is only harmful in high concentrations. Under the influence of high (over +45) temperatures, formaldehyde is activated, so you should not place furniture made of laminated chipboard close to heating appliances. Regular ventilation of the premises will save you from the problem of fumes accumulating.

It turns out that the devil is not as scary as he is painted!

In any case, you shouldn’t skimp on your health and it’s better to choose furniture made from higher-quality laminated chipboard from a trusted manufacturer. Spartak showrooms offer a huge amount of just such furniture – which has passed a tough competitive selection. Consultants will provide you with all necessary information about the properties and quality of furniture from our suppliers, and the prices, I’m sure, will pleasantly surprise you. Happy shopping!

Chipboard is the most popular material in the production of modern cabinet furniture. To determine how harmful chipboard furniture can be, you need to know physical properties components. In the production of boards, synthetic additives of non-mineral origin are used. General quality parameters and manufacturing technology for chipboard, plywood, and MDF have been established. During the production process, wood waste and binders, glue based on urea or phenolic resins are used.

Signs of high-quality chipboard

In the composition of particle boards, a resin content of 6 to 8% is allowed. During operation, resins release toxic compounds that pose a danger to human health. There are 2 resin emission classes: E1 and E2. It is not allowed to manufacture products for children using elements of class E2.

Qualitative characteristics that you need to pay attention to: the presence of a pungent odor, compaction density, color, internal structure at the attachment points.

Products using chipboards are subject to mandatory certification in accordance with GOST R. Imported chipboards must have a package of documents: specifications, passport, manufacturer's ISO 9001:2000 certificate, test reports, GOST R certificates. Domestic ones are certified according to technical conditions.

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Sanitary standards

The main harmful element in particle boards is resin. Sanitary standards allow the presence of formaldehyde of no more than 10 mg per 100 g of dry matter for class E1, 30 mg for class E2, 60 mg for E3. Accordingly, the lower the amount of resin, the higher the quality of the furniture. European standards are more stringent and allow formaldehyde content of no more than 8 mg for class E1, no more than 6 mg for class E2.

The lower the resin content in the board, the higher its cost. The content of harmful substances in an amount of 10 mg is considered safe if all surfaces of the parts are treated with film and edge material. When exposed to heat, harmful substances evaporate into environment. Products for the home must be made using materials of at least E1 class. When purchasing a product, ask the seller for documents confirming the quality class of the product.

The danger is that the resins emit harmful substances for 14 years, more intensely in the first 1.5 years. Therefore, it is recommended to install furniture away from radiators and heating devices. It is not recommended to insulate floors using particle boards. Furniture made from MDF is of higher quality and safer. Paraffin and lignin, which are harmless to humans, are used as a binding element in such boards. Furniture made from MDF includes more complex technological elements.

That's all today more people strives to surround himself with natural, environmentally friendly materials - wood, stone, glass and ceramics. For this reason, there is growing distrust among consumers towards materials produced using modern technologies and synthetic components.

One such building material is particle board or chipboard. There is a widespread belief that chipboard poses a danger to humans, as it releases toxic compounds into the atmosphere. This statement is supported by many buyers and some experts.

But is chipboard actually harmful to human health and can this material cause diseases? To find the answer to this question, you need to understand how chipboard is produced, where this material is used, and whether there are ways to reduce its toxicity to humans.

Properties of chipboard

Chipboard is a building material made by hot pressing wood shavings from different breeds tree. To impart strength to this material synthetic resins are added that reliably glue the chips and help maintain the required shape.

For the manufacture of chipboards, low-quality wood and waste from wood processing enterprises are used. To do this, they are crushed to the state of sawdust, then water-soluble urea-formaldehyde synthetic resins are added and slabs are formed.

High-quality particle boards are a fairly durable material, but do not tolerate moisture well. To increase moisture resistance, they are covered with plastic, veneer or polymer film. Such plates can be used in rooms with high level humidity, for example in the bath or kitchen.

For improvement appearance Chipboard is covered with paper that imitates various types of wood. These boards are widely used in the production of furniture, namely tables, beds, cabinets, shelves, office furniture and desks for educational institutions.

Chipboard is often used for interior decoration walls, which allows you to get absolutely flat surface, on which all types of wallpaper and paints fit perfectly. And thanks to the high heat and sound insulating properties of chipboard, it helps to significantly insulate the room and protect it from extraneous sounds.

Perhaps the most significant advantage of chipboard over natural wood is its low price. The slabs themselves and the furniture made from them have a significantly lower cost, which means they are available to people even with low incomes.

Unlike wood or plywood, particle boards do not dry out, delaminate, and do not tend to curl. They retain their original shape well, have fairly high impact resistance and, with good density, can last for decades.

Positive properties of chipboard:

1. Low price;
2. Completely flat surface;
3. Durability, no tendency to dry out;
4. Wide variety of colors;
5. With a protective layer, high moisture resistance;
6. Good sound and heat insulation;
7. Widest sector of application.

Damage to chipboard

So why is chipboard dangerous for humans? The harmful properties of chipboard are associated with the peculiarities of its production, namely the use of urea-formaldehyde resin as a binding component. It contains a highly toxic substance, formaldehyde, which is extremely harmful to humans.

Based on the results of numerous studies, formaldehyde was officially recognized as a dangerous carcinogen. This substance can cause allergies, irritation of the skin and mucous membranes of the eyes, inflammation of the respiratory tract, and with prolonged exposure, cancer.

But the main harm from phenol-formaldehyde resin is experienced by workers of chipboard production enterprises who are forced to use special means protection. In the finished chipboard, the formaldehyde content is low and is not capable of affecting humans.

According to the standards adopted in Russia, the concentration of formaldehyde in chipboard should not exceed 10 mg. per 100 gr. dry mass. This amount of this substance is considered safe for people and, according to doctors, is not capable of causing deterioration in health.

In addition, uncoated chipboard is used only for finishing and repair work, during which this material will be covered with a layer of paint or wallpaper. In all other cases, particle boards always have a protective layer, including one that protects people from formaldehyde fumes.

Thus, chipboard furniture is most often made from laminated chipboards (LDSP). This significantly increases its service life and prevents formaldehyde from entering the atmosphere. At the same time, the ends of the boards are always covered with a special edge material, which prevents wood shavings impregnated with synthetic resin from coming into contact with air.

Such furniture can be used in any room, including children's rooms. It is sometimes even safer than furniture made from certain types of wood, which can also emit harmful emissions.

Talk about danger modern chipboard- this is the same as discussing the question: is plywood harmful to humans? But it was recognized as completely safe for people.

How to choose furniture from chipboard

Many people today prefer to buy furniture made from chipboard, since it costs much less than wood. But in order not to painfully regret your purchase, you should know how to choose a quality bed, table or wardrobe from a huge variety of products.

It is important to remember that chipboard can cause health hazards only when low-quality material is used. Therefore, when purchasing furniture, you should make sure that it fully complies with GOST and is produced without violations in technology.

You can ask a sales consultant about the quality of chipboard, or even better, ask him to provide all the necessary certificates for furniture. If they are not available, then you should refuse to purchase such products, as they can pose a real danger to humans.

Modern classification of chipboard:

• E1 - this marking means that the chipboard is of the highest quality and contains no more than 10 mg. formaldehyde per 100 g. composite. On the territory of Russia and in foreign countries It is allowed to produce furniture from such material for residential premises, including those where children will live;
• E2 - this marking indicates low chipboard quality, therefore products made from it are prohibited from being placed in residential buildings and educational institutions for children.

To minimize possible damage from chipboard, furniture made from this material should not be placed close to the radiator or other heat sources. The fact is that when the stove heats up, the release of formaldehyde increases significantly, which means the health hazard increases.

Sometimes, immediately after purchase, furniture may have a sharp bad smell, which usually disappears completely after a few days. To do this, you need to wipe it with a damp cloth and ventilate the room more often. If the smell does not decrease, you must return the product to the manufacturer or exchange it for other furniture without the smell.

I can assume that you are like most. Then you are more careless with your health than diligent. And in this case, you won’t live long. The quality of the air you breathe matters important role in long term health. Just like the food you eat. This is the ecology of life. If you still want to live long and want the quality of your life to be joyful, then this is a good reason to study my article.

Your health is greatly influenced by the environmental friendliness of furniture, as well as all materials inside your home. Because you spend at least 10 hours a day there. This is significant!

Therefore, it is important that your home is environmentally friendly and friendly to your health. But how can we understand this?

It’s easy to understand the environmental friendliness of what surrounds you. This is facilitated modern technologies. Use them.

Use the Atmotube device, which measures the air quality around you and warns you when the quality drops below a safe standard.

You take up to 20,000 breaths a day. The device controls your every breath.

Modern design features Atmotube is a unique multi-gas analyzer sensor with ultra-low energy consumption, high sensitivity, allowing you to measure the air around you in real time. Gives you statistics of the air you breathe wherever you are. Indoors or outdoors.

Essentially, this device turns you into an environmental expert with a mini laboratory. Isn't it amazing? No more thinking and arguing about environmental friendliness. Everything can be simply measured!

The Atmotube personal air pollution monitor fits in the palm of your hand, bag, purse, and even pocket. Equipped with a half ring for hanging.

It sees and measures carbon monoxide, organic vapors and other impurities.

Records air temperature and humidity. Distinguishes between indoor and outdoor air quality.

Very suitable for people with hypersensitivity, allergic reactions and respiratory diseases.

All the data it collects is sent directly to your smartphone, giving you an accurate picture of the air you breathe.

Tell a friend about this. It's like a wish for long health.

The ecology of your home is protected with a personal air pollution monitor. And you are not a victim of intoxication!

Replacement natural materials a man-made analogue has become a common practice for humans. The high cost of natural wood and its obvious shortage during construction booms led engineers, chemists and technologists to create a similar material - particle board.

Where and when did chipboard appear?

Few people know that the “birth” of chipboard might not have happened, since any sawdust in the first quarter of the 20th century in Europe they were used exclusively for the manufacture of briquettes for heating. Thus, it was waste suitable only for heating the home.

But already in the 30s the situation changed: work began on the production of composite building material from sawdust and adhesive. At the same time, the first practical experiments appeared.

The new direction developed quickly. During World War II, plywood was already in use, but due to a shortage of building materials, its price increased sharply. The German Max Himmelheber has been actively experimenting with wood-shaving composites since the early thirties, and the experiments brought results. Inexpensive material was created, the technology was perfected, and in the 40s mass production of chipboard began in Germany.

There were no interruptions in raw materials: non-commercial wood and any waste from sawmills were suitable for production. Phenolic resins became the binder, and Himmelheber concluded that they were ideal for forming a strong composite board. Inexpensive and with excellent technical characteristics the material has become popular all over the world. It is used to build temporary housing, use it to decorate residential buildings and offices, and produce high-quality furniture.

The opportunity to improve individual qualities of particle boards has further expanded the scope of their application: moisture-resistant material is suitable for kitchens and bathrooms; fire-resistant boards are also in demand.

Phenol-formaldehyde resin and health hazards

The first reaction of our ancestors to the achievements of chemist scientists was the joy of the opportunity to use advanced technologies, the desire to quickly bring them to life. Subsequently, it turned out that some of the technologies not only made life easier, but also significantly shortened it. Therefore, today every product made by people is tested for toxicity and environmental safety.

• One of the substances that is controversial is phenol-formaldehyde resin. Of great importance for industry (high strength, corrosion resistance), it has toxic components - phenol and formaldehyde. The greatest damage from their exposure can be suffered by workers of enterprises where they produce products containing phenols and formaldehydes, provided that they do not use personal protective equipment. During curing in adhesive resins, oligomeric fragments are cross-linked with the participation of free phenol. As a result, the phenol content is reduced to trace amounts that allow sanitary standards RF.

As particle boards began to be used everywhere, filling niches traditionally occupied by others building materials (wooden board, more expensive plywood, etc.), manufacturers losing the market, attracting environmentalists, began to publish materials that harm the reputation of chipboard manufacturers.

Over time, standards change and technologies improve.

At a time when the dangers of phenols were not thought about, the percentage of their content in the adhesive mixture was higher than today. As awareness has increased, standards have also changed.

Today there is hardly a home or office where chipboard is not used. This is explained by its advantages:

• acceptable price;
• flat, smooth surfaces;
• strength, uniformity, the material does not delaminate, does not curl, does not dry out;
• widest possible application possibilities.

So, is furniture made from chipboard harmful?

The human body is exposed to many harmful factors every day: emissions industrial enterprises, tar and nicotine from cigarettes, car exhaust gases, background created by electronics, components household chemicals and cosmetics, others. The least damage to humans comes from the release of volatile resin components from furniture. Moreover, some types of wood evaporate harmful substances in the same quantities as E1 class chipboard.

Rumors about the dangers of using high-quality chipboard are nothing more than speculation on consumer anxiety and the conviction that everything created with the help of chemistry is harmful.

How to choose high-quality and safe material?

The key to maintaining health is the use of certified materials. Regardless of what type of chipboard is used, it is marked with which emission class for the release of free formaldehyde it belongs to:

• E1 – 100 grams of composite releases no more than 10 mg of volatile matter (formaldehyde content in chipboard is within permissible norm). In Russia and abroad, it is allowed to make furniture from this material for children's rooms and rooms where people are constantly present;
• E2 is a marking that indicates the inadmissibility of using slabs in children's and residential premises.