Often referred to as “off-gassing,” formaldehyde emission occurs naturally in food and wood and is even present in human blood. Concerns are generally limited to urea formaldehyde adhesives used in the manufacture of wood panel products intended for interior use, where moisture resistance is not required.

IB EWP engineered wood products are urea formaldehyde-free.

The moisture-resistant adhesives (resins) used in the manufacture of our I-joists have such low levels of formaldehyde emission that they are exempt from even the most stringent international standards.

Data from a variety of sources can support this claim.

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You may qualify for:
• LEED Indoor Environmental Quality EQ credit 4.4: Low-Emitting Materials
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• NAHB National Green Building Program

Formaldehyde is a simple chemical made of hydrogen, oxygen and carbon. It occurs naturally and is the product of many natural processes:

• It is made by our bodies and is in the air. Plants and animals also produce it.
• It is in many fruits and vegetables and is a by-product of cooking certain vegetables, such as brussel sprouts and cabbage.
• The chemical breaks down quickly and is metabolized to simple carbon dioxide. Our bodies readily break down the low levels to which we are exposed every day.

Formaldehyde is also a product from combustion associated with the burning of kerosene and natural gas, automobile emissions, and cigarettes. It is an important industrial chemical used in the manufacture of numerous consumer products, including permanent press fabrics and even toothpaste.