For years the woodworking industry has dealt with a dilemma: to use domestic or imported composite woods better known as plywood, MDF, or particle board. There are several reasons for this problem and the level of formaldehyde is one of them.
Many of the composite woods available to the consumer the big chain home improvement stores is imported where standards for manufacturing are not as closely monitored as they are in the US. With the green movement throughout the world and people generally paying closer attention to those things that affect their health, the level of formaldehyde in products has become an increasing concern for woodworkers. The Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Act will make it so that all manufactures of composite wood and wood products, both foreign and domestic, will have to abide by the same minimum standards regarding this toxic and potentially harmful chemical.
This biggest advantage to domestic woodworkers is that this will even this up a bit in the market. By not having to abide by the same standards overseas as we do here, manufacturers in other countries have been able to produce a product at a cheaper rate making it hard for US companies to compete and still meet the necessary standards.
Currently the bill has passed the full senate and is being proposed in The House.
To read the full article go to http://woodworkingnetwork.com/Article.aspx?oid=1118608&hq_e=el&hq_m=748026&hq_l=9&hq_v=c1b63d294f.
Many of the composite woods available to the consumer the big chain home improvement stores is imported where standards for manufacturing are not as closely monitored as they are in the US. With the green movement throughout the world and people generally paying closer attention to those things that affect their health, the level of formaldehyde in products has become an increasing concern for woodworkers. The Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Act will make it so that all manufactures of composite wood and wood products, both foreign and domestic, will have to abide by the same minimum standards regarding this toxic and potentially harmful chemical.
This biggest advantage to domestic woodworkers is that this will even this up a bit in the market. By not having to abide by the same standards overseas as we do here, manufacturers in other countries have been able to produce a product at a cheaper rate making it hard for US companies to compete and still meet the necessary standards.
Currently the bill has passed the full senate and is being proposed in The House.
To read the full article go to http://woodworkingnetwork.com/Article.aspx?oid=1118608&hq_e=el&hq_m=748026&hq_l=9&hq_v=c1b63d294f.
