Formaldehyde Free OSB

In the home construction industry the want for formaldehyde free sheeting continues to be a big deal, but many are misinformed on what this really means. In the past many Oriented Strand Board (OSB) and plywood producers used formaldehyde based resins and glues, but that has changed dramatically. Very few major producers used formaldehyde based glues and resins today. But what many don’t understand that just because a product may state that it is formaldehyde free does not mean is does not have some formaldehyde in it. This statement in an article from Environmental Design and Construction explains this very well.

” Formaldehyde is a naturally occurring organic material that is omnipresent in nature: plants, trees and even outer space. Any organic material, when subjected to burning, may off-gas formaldehyde. The term Formaldehyde-Free is by an industrial definition: “No formaldehyde is added in making the binder or the product.” The U.S. National Toxicology Program lists formaldehyde as, “Reasonably anticipated to cause cancer.” The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies formaldehyde as a “probable human carcinogen” (Group 2A).”

So if plants and trees have natural occurring formaldehyde how can it really be completely free?

I write this article today, because in a green building training, I heard the instructor state that a particular supplier only stocks formaldehyde free OSB. Now I find this interesting because the most OSB producers do not use formaldehyde resins in their process. So from the statement above most suppliers would be carrying formaldehyde free OSB. I don’t think it is right that trainers select out particular suppliers when they don’t really know all the facts.

I have included a link to the MSDS sheet for OSB so you can see what is really in this product and hear is the main points. http://www.tecotested.com/techtips/pdf/tt_osbmsds

Chronic (Cancer) Information: For typical products tested, MDI off gassing is below the detection limit of 20ppt. See section Hazardous Ingredients.

(3)These products may release very small quantities of formaldehyde in gaseous form. Under
foreseeable conditions of use, these products release less than 0.050 ppm in standard large chamber
test conditions.

Again I want to suggest the need for studying the products and not always listening to the sales pitch on green products.