Formaldehyde Emissions from Composite Wood Products Regulations (SOR/2021-148)

Marginal note:Quality control testing

• 8 (1) A manufacturer of composite wood panels or laminated products must, for each product type,

  • (a) select a specimen of its composite wood panels or laminated products, or have a specimen selected, in accordance with the requirements set out in subsections 12(1) and (2);

  • (b) test the specimen, or have the specimen tested, in accordance with a test method that yields results that have been correlated, under subsection (4), with the results obtained by using ASTM E1333 or, if equivalence is established under subsection 7(3), ASTM D6007; and

  • (c) have a third-party certifier verify the test.

• Marginal note:Frequency — selection and testing

  (2) The selection and testing referred to in paragraphs (1)(a) and (b) must be performed

  • (a) in the case of hardwood plywood or a laminated product, for each product type,

    • (i) if the weekly amount manufactured is less than or equal to 9 290 m², but more than 9 290 m² is manufactured each month, once for every 9 290 m² of the product type manufactured,

    • (ii) if the monthly amount manufactured is less than or equal to 9 290 m², once during every month in which the product type is manufactured,

    • (iii) if the weekly amount manufactured is greater than 9 290 m² but less than 18 581 m², once a week per product type manufactured that week,

    • (iv) if the weekly amount manufactured is greater than or equal to 18 581 m² but less than 37 161 m², twice a week per product type manufactured that week, or

    • (v) if the weekly amount manufactured is greater than or equal to 37 161 m², four times a week per product type manufactured that week;

  • (b) in the case of particleboard, medium-density fibreboard or thin medium-density fibreboard, for each production line or product type, once every eight or twelve hours, depending on shift length, plus or minus one hour; and

  • (c) in addition to the requirements specified in paragraphs (a) and (b), in the case of a composite wood panel or laminated product, once in any of the following circumstances:

    • (i) a change is made to the resin composition that increases the formaldehyde to urea ratio,

    • (ii) there is an increase of more than 10% in the amount of formaldehyde resin used per square metre or per composite wood panel or laminated product,

    • (iii) there is an increase of more than 20% in the adhesive application rate,

    • (iv) there is a decrease of more than 20% in the manufacturer’s established press time,

    • (v) the manufacturer believes that the emissions exceed the applicable limit set out in subsection 6(1) or the correlated limit referred to in subsection 6(2).

• Marginal note:Frequency of verification

  (3) The verification referred to in paragraph (1)(c) must be performed on a quarterly basis.

• Marginal note:Correlation of results

  (4) For the purpose of paragraph (1)(b), the manufacturer must

  • (a) have an accredited laboratory establish the correlation of results in the manner set out in Section 3 of the Directive and have a third-party certifier verify the correlation; and

  • (b) have an accredited laboratory re-establish the correlation and a third-party certifier verify the re-established correlation in any of the following cases:

    • (i) a change is made to equipment, procedure or testing personnel that might affect test results,

    • (ii) formaldehyde emissions, when measured in two consecutive tests performed in accordance with paragraph 7(1)(b) for the same product type, exceed the applicable limit set out in subsection 6(1),

    • (iii) the results of one test performed in accordance with paragraph 7(1)(b), when compared with one test performed in accordance with paragraph 8(1)(b), do not correspond to the correlation established in accordance with paragraph (a) or re-established in accordance with this paragraph, as the case may be.

• Marginal note:Exemption — laminated products

  (5) A manufacturer of laminated products is not required to perform the selection and testing referred to in subsection (1) — or have the selection and testing performed — and have the testing verified for a product type if

  • (a) in the case of a product type whose core or platform is a composite wood panel, formaldehyde emissions from the core or platform, prior to incorporation into the laminated product, do not exceed the applicable limit set out in subsection 6(1) or the correlated limit referred to in subsection 6(2); and

  • (b) the veneer is glued to the core or platform using a phenol-formaldehyde resin or a no-added-formaldehyde resin.

• Marginal note:Reduced-frequency testing — panels

  (6) Despite paragraph (2)(b), a manufacturer of particleboard, medium-density fibreboard or thin medium-density fibreboard may perform the selection and testing — or have the selection and testing performed — in accordance with paragraphs (1)(a) and (b)

  • (a) once for every 24 hours of manufacturing if the average result of the 30 most recently performed tests on specimens of its product type remains two standard deviations below the applicable limit set out in subsection 6(1) or the correlated limit referred to in subsection 6(2) for the previous 60 days or more; and

  • (b) once for every 48 hours of manufacturing if the average result of the 30 most recently performed tests on specimens of its product type remains three standard deviations below the applicable limit set out in subsection 6(1) or the correlated limit referred to in subsection 6(2) for the previous 60 days or more.

Marginal note:Test chamber conditions and operation

9 A manufacturer must ensure that the conditions and operation of the formaldehyde test chamber that is used to perform testing using ASTM E1333 or ASTM D6007 are, despite the requirements in those test methods, in accordance with the requirements set out in Table 1 of Section 4 of the Directive.

Composite Wood Panel Made with a No-added-formaldehyde Resin

Marginal note:General rule

• 10 (1) Despite subsections 7(2) and 8(2) and (3), if formaldehyde emissions from composite wood panels of a product type made with a no-added-formaldehyde resin that are measured during testing set out in subsection (2) do not exceed the limits set out in subsection (3), the manufacturer may have specimens of the product type selected and tested and the testing verified on the reduced-frequency basis set out in subsection (4).

• Marginal note:Selection, testing and verification

  (2) For the purpose of subsection (1), the manufacturer must, in accordance with subsection 7(1), have one specimen selected and one test performed and verified and, in accordance with subsection 8(1), it must select 13 specimens and perform 13 tests – or have the specimens selected and the tests performed – and have the tests verified over a period of three months during which the product type is manufactured.

• Marginal note:Emission limits

  (3) For the purpose of subsection (1), the formaldehyde emission limits are

  • (a) for hardwood plywood, 0.05 ppm;

  • (b) for particleboard, medium-density fibreboard or thin medium-density fibreboard, 0.06 ppm; and

  • (c) for all types of composite wood panels, 0.04 ppm for 90% of the results of the 13 tests referred to in subsection (2) and performed in accordance with subsection 8(1).

• Marginal note:Reduced-frequency testing

  (4) For the purpose of subsection (1), the manufacturer must have one specimen selected and one test performed and verified in accordance with subsection 7(1) every two years to ensure that the formaldehyde emissions do not exceed the applicable limit set out in paragraph (3)(a) or (b), as the case may be.

• Marginal note:Change in resin or process

  (5) Despite subsection (1), if there is a change in the manufacturing process or in either the amount or formulation of resin used in the manufacture of the product type referred to in subsection (1) that might affect formaldehyde emissions, the manufacturer must have at least one specimen selected and, for each specimen, have one test performed and verified in accordance with subsection 7(1), and it must select at least one specimen and, for each specimen, perform one test – or have the specimen selected and the test performed – and have the test verified in accordance with subsection 8(1) to ensure that formaldehyde emissions do not exceed the applicable limit set out in paragraph (3)(a) or (b), as the case may be.

• Marginal note:Change in resin type

  (6) Despite subsection (1), if there is a change in the type of resin used in the manufacture of composite wood panels of a product type, the manufacturer may no longer have a specimen selected and a test performed and verified on the reduced-frequency basis unless the product type again meets the conditions under this section for reduced-frequency selection, testing and verification.

Composite Wood Panel or Laminated Product Made with an Ultra-low-emitting-formaldehyde Resin

Marginal note:General rule

• 11 (1) Despite subsections 7(2) and 8(2) and (3), the manufacturer of a product type made with an ultra-low-emitting-formaldehyde resin may,

  • (a) if formaldehyde emissions that are measured during the testing set out in subsection (2) do not exceed the limits set out in subsection (3), have specimens of the product type selected and tested and the testing verified on the reduced-frequency basis as set out in subsection (4); or

  • (b) if formaldehyde emissions that are measured during the testing set out in subsection (2) do not exceed the limits set out in subsection (5), have specimens of the product type selected and tested and the testing verified on the reduced-frequency basis set out in subsection (6).

• Marginal note:Selection, testing and verification

  (2) For the purpose of subsection (1), the manufacturer must, in accordance with subsection 7(1), have two specimens selected and two tests performed and verified and, in accordance with subsection 8(1), it must select 26 specimens and perform 26 tests – or have the specimens selected and the tests performed – and have the tests verified over a period of six months during which the product type is manufactured.

• Marginal note:Emission limits

  (3) For the purpose of paragraph (1)(a), the formaldehyde emission limits are

  • (a) for hardwood plywood or a laminated product, 0.05 ppm;

  • (b) for particleboard, 0.08 ppm;

  • (c) for medium-density fibreboard, 0.09 ppm;

  • (d) for thin medium-density fibreboard, 0.11 ppm; and

  • (e) for the following types of composite wood panels and laminated products for 90% of the results of the 26 tests referred to in subsection (2) and performed in accordance with subsection 8(1):

    • (i) for particleboard, 0.05 ppm,

    • (ii) for medium-density fibreboard, 0.06 ppm, and

    • (iii) for thin medium-density fibreboard, 0.08 ppm.

• Marginal note:Reduced-frequency testing

  (4) For the purpose of paragraph (1)(a), to ensure that the formaldehyde emissions do not exceed the applicable limit set out in any of paragraphs (3)(a) to (d), as the case may be, the manufacturer must

  • (a) have one specimen selected and one test performed and verified in accordance with subsection 7(1) every six months during which the product type is manufactured;

  • (b) select one specimen and perform one test – or have the specimen selected and the test performed – in accordance with paragraphs 8(1)(a) and (b), respectively, once a week for each production line of each product type manufactured that week with the exception of hardwood plywood or a laminated product that is manufactured in a quantity described in subparagraph 8(2)(a)(i) or (ii), in which case the selection and testing must be performed at the frequency set out in the applicable subparagraph; and

  • (c) have a third-party certifier verify the tests referred to in paragraph (b) on a quarterly basis.

• Marginal note:Additional emission limits

  (5) For the purpose of paragraph (1)(b), the formaldehyde emission limits are

  • (a) for hardwood plywood or a laminated product, 0.05 ppm;

  • (b) for particleboard, medium-density fibreboard or thin medium-density fibreboard, 0.06 ppm; and

  • (c) for all types of composite wood panels and laminated products, 0.04 ppm for 90% of the results of the tests referred to in subsection (2) and performed in accordance with subsection 8(1).

• Marginal note:Further-reduced-frequency testing

  (6) For the purpose of paragraph (1)(b), the manufacturer must have two specimens selected and two tests performed and verified in accordance with subsection 7(1) every two years to ensure that the formaldehyde emissions do not exceed the applicable limit set out in paragraph (5)(a) or (b), as the case may be.

• Marginal note:Change in resin or process

  (7) Despite subsection (1), if there is a change in the manufacturing process or in either the amount or formulation of resin used in the manufacture of the product type referred to in subsection (1) that might affect formaldehyde emissions, the manufacturer must have at least one specimen selected and, for each specimen, have one test performed and verified in accordance with subsection 7(1), and it must select at least five specimens and, for each specimen, perform one test – or have the specimens selected and the tests performed – and have the tests verified in accordance with subsection 8(1) to ensure that formaldehyde emissions do not exceed the applicable limits set out in subsection (3) or (5), as the case may be.

• Marginal note:Change in resin type

  (8) Despite subsection (1), if there is a change in the type of resin used in the manufacture of a product type, the manufacturer may no longer select specimens and perform tests – or have them selected and performed – and have tests verified on the reduced-frequency basis in subsection (4) or (6), as the case may be, unless the product type again meets the conditions under this section for reduced-frequency selection, testing and verification.