[Greenbuilding] bamboo, formaldehyde

[David Bergman]

Interesting -- and disappointing. I though (mistakenly, apparently) 
that Plyboo had no added formaldehyde.

David
DAVID BERGMAN ARCHITECT / FIRE & WATER LIGHTING + FURNITURE
architecture . interiors . ecodesign . lighting . furniture
bergman at cyberg.com    www.cyberg.com
241 Eldridge Street #3R, New York, NY 10002
t 212 475 3106    f 212 677 7291

At 01:58 PM 2/7/2007, Amanda Tullos wrote:
>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
>
>DALLAS
>HOUSTON
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>
>
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