CARB I & II
On April 26, 2007, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved regulations that will dramatically reduce the levels of formaldehyde that can be emitted from engineered hardwood flooring products. Interior panel products such as hardwood plywood, medium-density fiberboard (MDF), and particle board will also be affected. CARB II standards were devised to substantially reduce formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products.
Formaldehyde was reclassified by the International Agency for Cancer Research in 2004 from “probable human carcinogen” to “known human carcinogen.” In 1985, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development set a maximum allowable concentration of 0.3 parts per million, when tested according to ASTM E-1333-96, for products used in manufactured homes. CARB estimates that, at that level, cancer risks from formaldehyde remain unacceptably high.
The new CARB rule sets thresholds for emissions of formaldehyde from various panel products that take effect in two phases between 2009 and 2012. The goal of CARB II is to set indoor standards more in line with the more stringent standards found in Japan and Europe. The phase one targets are designed to establish a reasonable baseline based on current OSHA standards while discouraging low-cost, high-emitting products. Phase two is intended to shift industry to using advanced and emerging technologies. CARB officials claim that, once fully implemented, its formaldehyde emission limits will be the most stringent in the world.
Hallmark Hardwoods “certified” indoor air quality enables you to breathe easy. Independent third- party testing has been conducted (CARB Certificate # 725-8R127-1) to ensure our products are in full compliance with the very strict California Air Resources Board standards for harmful chemical emissions for both CARB I & CARB II.