Concern about possible health effects from formalde hyde emitted from wood-based panel products manu factured with urea-formaldehyde and melamine-formal dehyde binding resins has led to the development and increasing use of low emission products. To control the emissions a range of tests has been developed which the wood-based panel industry can use to determine the potential of products to release formaldehyde. This pa per reviews laboratory test methods which are based on the extraction of formaldehyde and also the current requirements in European product standards. It further describes the use of chamber tests to measure formalde hyde emission under normal conditions of temperature and humidity. These tests are included in the labelling schemes of some countries and are the subject of a new European standard test method.
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