[Greenbuilding] Bamboo flooring -- no magic bullet

[Irina Golfman]

I was told by one manufacturer of a bamboo product that the 
urea-formaldehyde content in their product is at the same level as 
the naturally occurring urea-formaldehyde. I decided to stay away 
from the product, but would love to hear people's opinion about this.

Irina

At 05:36 PM 6/19/2007, William Updike wrote:
>If you look at their (Plyboo's) MSDS sheet:
>
>http://www.plyboo.com/MSDS-Plyboo%20Bamboo%20Flooring.pdf
>
>you'll see that there is urea-formaldehyde in their
>products.  Even some companies that claim to have
>formaldehyde-free flooring (like some that were
>mentioned in an earlier e-mail on this listserv)
>aren't truly because they aren't required to declare
>it if the product's formaldehyde content is under a
>certain number.
>
>Just like many MSDS's (in particular with paint) if
>it's under a certain number, say of VOCs, the
>manufacturer does not have to list it.
>
>The other interesting thing that folks on this list
>may or may not know is that in the U.S., the EPA only
>regulates VOCs based on how they produce smog, not for
>direct contact human health factors.  In fact, there's
>a list of more than 50 "exempt compounds" that you
>don't have to declare.  Things like acetone, which is
>a nasty, are on that list.  It's my understanding that
>you could actually have a low- or no-VOC paint that
>has some of the exempt compounds (as well as
>formaldehyde).
>
>In addition to that, all VOCs are not created equal.
>  Natural oils for example have high VOC content, but
>they're not the human-made nasties.
>
>I think it's important for builders to understand all
>this so that they can explain it to their clients.
>
>Hopefully I explained this accurately.  If not please
>correct me!
>
>Cheers,
>Bill Updike
>
>
>
>--- David Bergman <bergman at cyberg.com> wrote:
>
> > At 09:07 AM 6/15/2007, William Updike wrote:
> > >As an FYI, EcoTimber sells bamboo flooring with no
> > >added urea formaldehyde.  It's one of the few if
> > not
> > >the only one (though Teragren is moving in that
> > >direction I'm told).
> >
> >
> > I'd understood that Smith & Fong Plyboo was the
> > leader in this??
> >
> > 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
>
>
>
>
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