Is there formaldehyde in the wall panel

Whether the wall panel contains formaldehyde depends on its material, production process, and the type of adhesive used. Formaldehyde mainly comes from adhesives, coatings, paints, etc. in decoration materials, and the formaldehyde content varies greatly among different wall panels. The following is an analysis of formaldehyde levels in common wall panel types:

1、 Formaldehyde risk of common wall panel materials

1. Wooden wall panels

Solid wood wall panel:

Formaldehyde content: Natural solid wood itself does not contain formaldehyde, but adhesives may be used during processing (such as splicing, pasting) or surface painting. If the quality of the adhesive or paint is poor, formaldehyde may be released.

Suggestion: Choose adhesive free splicing (such as mortise and tenon structures) or use environmentally friendly adhesives (such as soy glue) or water-based paints for products with lower formaldehyde emissions.

Artificial board wall panels (such as plywood, density board, particleboard):

Formaldehyde source: This type of board is made by bonding wood fibers or particles with adhesives (such as urea formaldehyde resin, phenolic resin), and urea formaldehyde resin is the main source of formaldehyde release.

Formaldehyde content: depends on the environmental protection level of the board (such as E0, E1, E2 level). For example:

E0 level (formaldehyde emission ≤ 0.05mg/m ³): high-quality board with low formaldehyde content.

E1 level (≤ 0.124mg/m ³): meets national standards and can be used indoors.

E2 level (>0.124mg/m ³): High formaldehyde content, use with caution.

Attention: Poor quality artificial boards may use cheap adhesives and have excessive formaldehyde emissions. Please check the test report when purchasing.

2. Bamboo wood fiber wall panels (common types of integrated wall panels)

Material composition: mainly made of bamboo powder, wood powder, PVC resin, and a small amount of adhesive.

Formaldehyde risk:

If environmentally friendly adhesive (such as hot melt adhesive) is used in the production process, and the purity of PVC resin is high, the formaldehyde emission is low.

Some low-priced products may contain recycled materials or inferior adhesives, resulting in excessive formaldehyde emissions. Attention should be paid to the “formaldehyde release” indicator in the testing report.

3. Stone wall panels (marble, ceramic tiles, rock slabs)

Formaldehyde content: Natural stone or ceramic tiles themselves do not contain formaldehyde and are inorganic materials, with almost zero formaldehyde emissions.

Attention: If the cement and tile adhesive used for pasting stone are of poor quality, they may contain a small amount of formaldehyde (but usually much lower than wooden materials).

4. Metal wall panels (aluminum alloy, stainless steel)

Formaldehyde situation: The metal itself does not contain formaldehyde, and if environmentally friendly processes are used for surface treatment (such as painting and electroplating), the risk of formaldehyde is low; If inferior paint is used, it may release a small amount of formaldehyde.

5. Gypsum wall panels (gypsum board, GRG board)

Formaldehyde content: Gypsum is an inorganic material that does not contain formaldehyde itself. However, if the surface coating or sticker contains formaldehyde, attention should be paid to the environmental friendliness of the coating (such as choosing water-based coatings).

2、 Factors affecting formaldehyde release from wall panels

Adhesive type:

Urea formaldehyde resin adhesive (low cost, wide application): Long formaldehyde release cycle (up to 3-15 years).

Environmentally friendly glue (such as MDI glue, soy glue): The formaldehyde emission is extremely low, even without formaldehyde.

Production process:

High temperature pressing (such as sheet hot pressing process) can reduce free formaldehyde in adhesives; Poor quality processes may lead to excessive formaldehyde residue.

Installation method:

Prefabricated installation (such as snap on and glue free splicing) can reduce the use of glue and lower the source of formaldehyde; If a large amount of glue is used for pasting, attention should be paid to the environmental friendliness of the glue.

3、 How to reduce the formaldehyde risk of wall panels?

When making a purchase:

Merchants are required to provide formaldehyde testing reports for the boards (such as the national standard GB 18580-2017 test results), and priority should be given to selecting E0/E1 level boards or formaldehyde free certified products (such as CARB certification in the United States and F ★★★ level in Japan).

Smell: If there is a pungent odor after opening the packaging, it may indicate excessive formaldehyde.

After installation:

Maintain ventilation: Open windows for 3-6 months after decoration to accelerate formaldehyde volatilization.

Use formaldehyde removal methods: place activated carbon, air purifier (with formaldehyde decomposition function), or hire a professional organization for formaldehyde treatment.

Prioritize choosing low formaldehyde materials:

If pursuing environmental protection, you can choose stone, ceramic tiles, metal wall panels or high-quality solid wood (non adhesive process); Bamboo and wood fiber wall panels should be selected from reputable brands.

4、 Formaldehyde safety standards and testing

Chinese standard: The safe limit for formaldehyde concentration in indoor air is 0.08mg/m ³ (GB/T 18883-2022).

Testing suggestion: After decoration, entrust a third-party organization to test the indoor formaldehyde concentration. If it exceeds the standard, it needs to be treated before moving in.

Summary

Wood based panel wall panels: There is a risk of formaldehyde release, and attention should be paid to environmental protection levels and adhesive types.

Stone, metal, and gypsum wall panels: They have low formaldehyde content and are more environmentally friendly.

Bamboo and wood fiber wall panels: There are significant differences in quality, and it is necessary to choose legitimate products.

Core principle: Regardless of which type of wall panel is chosen, the amount of formaldehyde released must be confirmed through a testing report, and ventilation and formaldehyde treatment must be carried out after decoration to ensure residential safety.