[Greenbuilding] Greenbuilding Digest, Vol 8, Issue 9

[Amanda Tullos]

My understanding of bamboo is that all of it contains Urea-formaldehyde
if it comes from Asia. Both Teragren and Plyboo will confirm that their
in stock bamboo panels contain some amount of added Urea formaldehyde.
The ironic thing is that it is in levels below naturally occurring
levels in some cases. The thing about it that causes problems, so far as
LEED goes, is that the wording for the IEQ point is that no ADDED
Urea-formaldehyde be present, regardless of the amount. Both companies
have special order processes that can supply without the UF, and one is
working toward an off-the-shelf UF-free board to come out as soon as
they can get things rolling (next 2 years?).

The good news is that the levels were not very high, but I cannot
confirm brands at Home Depot. One sales associate at Home Depot that I
asked about formaldehyde in the flooring said that most manufacturers
have removed it; but, I was very skeptical about this, since they didn't
offer any form of proof. 


Amanda Tullos, AIA,  LEED AP
Associate

HEIGHTS VENTURE ARCHITECTS, LLP 
1111 North Loop West, Suite 800
Houston, Texas 77008
P 713.869.1103 x6111
F 713.869.5573
www.hva.cc

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