[Greenbuilding] Bamboo flooring -- no magic bullet

[David Bergman]

What they probably mean is that they are not adding any 
urea-formaldehyde in the processing of the product. Most materials 
have some natural inherent amount of U-F. What we really are looking 
for is material with "no added U-F."

If that is indeed what they mean, then they should be commended for 
provided a technically correct and more accurate answer.

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 10:48 AM 6/20/2007, Irina Golfman wrote:
>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
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >___________________________________________________________________ 
> _________________
> >Boardwalk for $500? In 2007? Ha! Play Monopoly Here and Now (it's
> >updated for today's economy) at Yahoo! Games.
> >http://get.games.yahoo.com/proddesc?gamekey=monopolyherenow
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >Greenbuilding email list
> >List info:
> >http://listserv.repp.org/mailman/listinfo/greenbuilding_listserv.repp.org
> >List email: Greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org
> >Managed by BuildingGreen, Inc. http://www.buildinggreen.com
> >       publisher of Environmental Building News and GreenSpec(r)
> >Hosted and archived by REPP / CREST http://www.crest.org
>
>-------------------------------------------------
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Greenbuilding email list
>List info: 
>http://listserv.repp.org/mailman/listinfo/greenbuilding_listserv.repp.org
>List email: Greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org
>Managed by BuildingGreen, Inc. http://www.buildinggreen.com
>       publisher of Environmental Building News and GreenSpec(r)
>Hosted and archived by REPP / CREST http://www.crest.org