[Greenbuilding] formaldehyde-free ply wood

[Tim Keating]

Plus, the added benefit of Homasote is that it's made from 100% recycled paper.

While the concerns about the glues are certainly justified, there's 
also the destruction of forests that goes on to make plywood as well. 
About 30% of US softwood plywood is coming from British Columbia 
where logging of old growth temperate rainforests makes up about 95% 
of production.

tim keating

At 10:03 AM -0400 8/29/06, Keith Winston wrote:
>One formaldehyde-free subfloor (and siding, and roof sheathing) option
>is homasote, homasote.com. I have mixed feelings about it, but it also
>has some great properties. It's not real cheap, but not totally over the
>top.
>
>Keith
>
>
>Mike O'Brien wrote:
>>  Hi, Irina--
>>
>>  Columbia Forest Products makes interior plywood with "mussel glue" 
>>  which doesn't emit formaldehyde. We are using a veneered version in 
>>  some cabinets.
>>
>>  Exterior grade plywood is made with phenolic resin, or phenol-
>>  formaldehyde adhesive. It does emit formaldehyde, but the emission 
>>  rate is very low compared to interior urea-formaldehyde plywood (on 
>>  the order of 1-2% of the urea-formaldehyde products).
>>
>>  If the exterior grade plywood is on the exterior of the house as 
>>  sheathing on walls or roof, then there probably would not be pathways 
>>  for it to get into the occupied spaces.
>>
>>  If the exterior grade plywood is used as subflooring or cabinet 
>>  frames, then the formaldehyde could offgas into the house.
>>
>>  You can use formaldehyde-free medium density fiberboard for cabinets, 
>>  look for Medite II and Medex.
>>
>>  For subflooring, I don't really know of a substitute. Here in 
>>  Portland we need the plywood to be part of creating a strong 
>>  diaphragm in the floor to resist an earthquake, so no one uses solid 
>>  wood subflooring like in the old days (my youth). Perhaps if you can 
>>  afford it and live someplace seismically quiet the solid wood is an 
>>  option.
>>
>>  Best,
>>
>>  Mike O'Brien
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>  On Aug 28, 2006, at 4:02 PM, Irina Golfman wrote:
>>
>>  
>>>  Hello everyone,
>>>
>>>  I hope that someone can clarify my confusion and help me locate
>>>  formaldehyde-free plywood.
>>>
>>>  I now understand that there are two types of formaldehyde. The
>>>  urea-formaldehyde (really toxic) and phenol-formaldehyde (less 
>>>  toxic). I am
>>>  told that while certified urea-formaldehyde plywood is available, 
>>>  plywood
>>>  that is free of both types of formaldehyde does not exist.
>>>
>>>  I was told previously that CDX plywood (also knows as outdoor 
>>>  grade) is
>>>  free of formaldehyde (both kinds?). However, someone just told me 
>>>  that this
>>>  is not always the case.
>>>
>>>  I am working with my contractor to locate the plywood that would 
>>>  work for
>>>  my healthy house and would very much appreciate any help that the 
>>>  folks on
>>>  this list can give me.
>>>
>>>  Many thanks,
>>>  -------------------------------------------------
>>>  Irina
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
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>>
>>
>>
>>
>>  
>
>--
>Keith Winston
>Earth Sun Energy Systems
>3927 Madison St.
>Hyattsville, MD 20781
>301-980-6325
>keith at earthsunenergy.com
>www.EarthSunEnergy.com
>
>
>
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-- 


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