I am an architect by profession and of course I am well versed in the environmental friendliness of materials. Unfortunately, many of us rarely think about what this or that is made of, well, except for probably clothes and shoes. Here everyone is trying to buy cotton, natural leather, and so on. And the fact that we spend much more time in an apartment than on the street, and things around us are sometimes much more dangerous than even exhaust gases ... In general, I downloaded an article for those who are interested. Ask if you are interested in what else is not recommended to be laid on the floor, glued to the walls, etc. Chipboard furniture Chipboard (chipboard), which is used to make furniture, is pressed under conditions high temperature and strong pressure. At the same time, artificial (urea-formaldehyde or phenol-formaldehyde) resins are added to small wood chips as a binder. After pressing, chipboards are coated with films made from thermosetting polymers. Highly active substances such as formaldehydes, phenols, phthalates and polymers released from chipboard are very harmful to human health. Their presence is easily determined by bad smell. Nowadays, most of the furniture is made from chipboard. Meanwhile, the formaldehyde contained in them is a highly toxic allergenic substance, which, when it enters the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract with air, causes bronchitis, laryngitis, pneumonia, as well as eye irritation, runny nose and cough. The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially designated formaldehyde as a carcinogen because it has been found to cause cancer. Under the influence of formaldehyde, degenerative changes in the liver, kidneys, heart and brain develop. Phenol and formaldehyde produce effects on the body with long-term effects that appear after a long time and can be passed on to the next generation. In this regard, it is not recommended to use chipboard to mask batteries in an apartment (which is very often done for decorative purposes), since under the influence of heat, the release of harmful substances into the air increases. Chipboard should not be used for floor insulation either, especially if the boards are bare and not covered with anything on top. Chipboards according to the content of free (that is, having the ability to stand out from furniture) formaldehyde are divided into 3 classes: class E1 (up to 10 mg per 100 g of dry board); class E2 (10–20 mg); class E3 (30–60 mg). To protect yourself from the harmful effects of formaldehyde and other highly active substances, when buying furniture, you need to require documents evidencing the safety of the product (hygienic certificate), as well as pay attention to the quality of the finish - whether the end surfaces of the panels and hidden cavities. Laminate is a special film that covers wood or chipboard. The tape itself is harmless. The danger is the glue and mastic on which the laminate is held. MDF is progressive - high quality (and more expensive) furniture material, obtained by hot pressing wood dust without the use of toxic binders. Poorly finished edges and Chipboard chips. These areas must be isolated. Harmful substances can be released from furniture for a year or more. In addition, according to some experts, over time, furniture begins to highlight harmful substances even stronger as the resins begin to decompose. It should also be noted that during a fire, burning chipboard (like fiberboard, plywood, etc.) releases large amounts of formaldehyde into the air, which can lead to immediate poisoning. It is recommended to purchase only certified furniture that has been tested for the release of chemicals into the air that are dangerous to life, human health and environment. Particle boards used in the manufacture of furniture must be veneered, laminated and protected with a PVC layer. Furniture for children should be made only from chipboard with formaldehyde emission class E1, the volatile substances of which are 3 times lower than the maximum allowable standards.

Today, more and more people seek to surround themselves with natural environmentally friendly materials - wood, stone, glass and ceramics. For this reason, there is a growing distrust among consumers in materials produced using modern technologies and synthetic components.

One such building material is chipboard or chipboard. There is a widespread belief that chipboard is dangerous to humans, as it releases toxic compounds into the atmosphere. This statement is supported by many buyers and some experts.

But is chipboard really harmful to human health and can this material cause diseases? To find the answer to this question, it is necessary to understand how chipboard is produced, where this material is used, and whether there are ways to reduce its toxicity to humans.

Chipboard properties

Chipboard is a building material made by hot pressing wood chips from different breeds tree. To give strength to this material, synthetic resins are added, which reliably glue the chips and help maintain the desired shape.

For chipboard manufacturing use low-quality wood and waste from woodworking enterprises. To do this, they are crushed to the state of sawdust, then water-soluble urea-formaldehyde synthetic resins are added and slabs are formed.

High-quality chipboards are quite durable material but do not tolerate moisture well. To increase moisture resistance, they are covered with plastic, veneer or polymer film. Such plates can be used in rooms with a high level of humidity, for example, in a bathroom or in a kitchen.

To improve the appearance of chipboard, it is covered with paper that imitates various types of wood. These boards are widely used in the production of furniture, such as tables, beds, cabinets, shelves, office furniture and school desks.

Chipboard is often used for interior decoration walls, which allows you to get an absolutely flat surface, on which all types of wallpaper and paints perfectly fit. And due to the high heat and sound insulating properties of chipboard, it helps to noticeably warm the room and protect it from extraneous sounds.

Perhaps the most significant advantage of chipboard over natural wood is its low price. The plates themselves and the furniture made from them have a much lower cost, which means they are available to people even with low incomes.

Unlike wood or plywood, chipboard does not dry out, does not delaminate and does not tend to curl. They retain their original shape well, have a fairly high impact resistance and, with good density, can last for decades.

Positive properties of chipboard:

1. Low price;
2. Completely flat surface
3. Durability, no tendency to dry out;
4. A wide variety of colors;
5. In the presence of a protective layer, high moisture resistance;
6. Good sound and heat insulation;
7. The widest area of ​​application.

Damage to chipboard

So why is chipboard dangerous for humans? The harmful properties of chipboard are associated with the peculiarities of its production, namely the use of urea-formaldehyde resin as a binder. It contains the highly toxic substance formaldehyde, which is extremely harmful to humans.

According to the results of numerous studies, formaldehyde has been officially recognized as the most dangerous carcinogen. This substance can cause allergies, irritation of the skin and mucous membranes of the eyes, inflammation of the respiratory tract, and with prolonged exposure, cancer.

But the main harm of phenol-formaldehyde resin is experienced by employees of enterprises for the production of chipboards, who are forced to use special protective equipment. In the finished chipboard, the formaldehyde content of the faucet is low and is not able to affect a person.

According to the norms adopted in Russia, the concentration of formaldehyde in chipboard should not exceed 10 mg. per 100 gr. dry mass. Such an amount of this substance is considered safe for people and, according to doctors, is not capable of provoking a deterioration in health.

In addition, uncoated chipboard is used only for finishing and repair work, during which this material will be covered with a layer of paint or wallpapered. In all other cases, particle boards always have a protective layer, including one that protects a person from formaldehyde fumes.

So furniture from chipboard is most often made from laminated particle boards (LDSP). This significantly increases its service life and does not allow formaldehyde to enter the atmosphere. At the same time, the ends of the boards are always closed with special edging material, which prevents wood chips impregnated with synthetic resin from coming into contact with air.

Such furniture can be used in any premises, including children's rooms. It is sometimes even safer than furniture made from certain types of wood, which can also emit harmful emissions.

Talking about the dangers of modern chipboard is the same as discussing the question: is plywood harmful to humans? But it was recognized as completely safe for people.

How to choose furniture from chipboard

Many today prefer to buy furniture made of chipboard, since it is much cheaper than wood. But in order not to have to painfully regret the purchase made, you should know how to choose a quality bed, table or wardrobe from a huge variety of products.

It is important to remember that from chipboard, harm to health can only occur when using low-quality material. Therefore, when buying furniture, you should make sure that it fully complies with GOST and is produced without violations in technology.

You can ask the sales assistant about the quality of chipboard, or even better, ask him to provide all the necessary certificates for furniture. If they are not there, then you should refuse to purchase such products, since they can pose a real danger to humans.

Modern classification of chipboard:

• E1 - this marking means that the chipboard is of the highest quality and contains no more than 10 mg. formaldehyde per 100 gr. composite. On the territory of Russia and foreign countries from such material it is allowed to produce furniture for residential premises, including those where children will live;
• E2 - this marking indicates the low quality of chipboard, so products from it must not be placed in residential buildings and educational institutions for kids.

To minimize possible harm from chipboard, do not place furniture made of this material close to the battery and other heat sources. The fact is that when the stove is heated, the release of formaldehyde increases significantly, which means that the danger to health also increases.

Sometimes immediately after purchase, furniture may have a sharp bad smell, which usually disappears completely after a few days. To do this, wipe it with a damp cloth and ventilate the room more often. If the smell does not decrease, you must return the product to the manufacturer or exchange it for other odorless furniture.

Children's LDSP furniture- You can hear a lot of conflicting opinions about it. Someone considers such interior items absolutely harmless, but for someone it is a synonym for the strongest poison.

Children's furniture chipboard: harmful or not?

Children's furniture LDSP- You can hear a lot of conflicting opinions about it. Someone considers such interior items absolutely harmless, but for someone it is a synonym for the strongest poison. Modern manufacturing factories offer customers the widest range of furniture made from this material. In addition, the price for it is very attractive due to its availability. Therefore, the issue of harm to children's furniture chipboard is worth attention.

Children's furniture laminated chipboard: what is the emission class

LDSP (laminated chipboard) - a material that is highly durable, beautiful shades and low cost. This combination of properties has made it incredibly popular. However, not all parents are aware of such a concept as an emission class. This is the percentage of formaldehyde resins that are released from the plate into the air. Why is this harmful substance there? The fact is that in the process of manufacturing plates, glue is used, which necessarily contains this substance. Formaldehyde itself is a carcinogen that can cause serious damage to health. In high doses, it causes cancer and severe allergic reactions. Formaldehyde resins are contained in chipboard. But in quantities that can not harm health. Chipboard children's furniture has advantages over chipboard, since the laminate layer (provided that it is of high quality) does not allow harmful toxins to escape into the atmosphere of the room.

Determining the emission class can help the buyer with the purchase of a truly safe furniture for your beloved baby. Chipboard and chipboard marked "E0" are the most desirable material options. The percentage of formaldehyde is extremely low. Such material can still be called medical chipboard, since it is used in medical institutions. In medical institutions they use made and environmentally friendly safe materials. The material is produced mainly by foreign manufacturers. Domestic factories offer their customers E1 class materials. Here the content of harmful substances is quite small. Classes "E2" and "E3" are highly undesirable as raw materials for residential use. Unfortunately, not all manufacturers are honest with their customers. Therefore, if when buying in a store or factory they cannot provide you with quality certificates and documents confirming the environmental standards of materials, refuse such a purchase.

No matter how small the price is and no matter how attractive the laminated chipboard children's furniture looks, without documents confirming the quality, you get slow-acting poison for your beloved child. When buying inexpensive pieces of furniture for a child's bedroom, you should pay attention to the factories involved.

Children's furniture laminated chipboard: correct cutting and edge gluing

But what to do with the materials of class "E1"? After all, they contain formaldehyde resins, albeit in small quantities. Here conscientious manufacturers also found a way out. This is an edge banding. It should be well glued, because it has not only an aesthetic role. How to determine the quality of the edge and cuts? Take a close look ready product. All ends of the parts must be neatly cut, without chips or cracks. Such a marriage not only gives way to formaldehyde, but also worsens appearance furniture, shortening its lifespan. The edge must be processed all the details, even in places not visible to the eye. For example, removable shelves should be glued on all sides, including the one that is located end to the back wall of a cabinet or cabinet. The edge is a reliable barrier that does not allow harmful substances to penetrate into the air that the child breathes.

Hello, in the past we talked about such an excellent material for furniture as chipboard, for those who missed it, the article was called,. Today we are faced with the question again "Is chipboard harmful?" Or is it just a myth harmful properties Chipboard as building material. And so, let's figure it out.

The abbreviation itself, the abbreviation of the word chipboard, stands for chipboard. She gained her popularity in furniture production due to its low price, that is, availability and, of course, a variety of types. So today, it is a good competitor to natural wood, but many people are increasingly wondering if chipboard is harmful.

To date, such furniture as desks in any school, most often laminated, sliding wardrobes, which are becoming increasingly popular due to their simplicity, as well as kitchen sets for hostesses are made only from chipboard. This is due to the fact that chipboard is very practical to assemble, but this does not go to the minus of the aesthetic appearance. But as usual, everything that becomes popular sooner or later begins to find fault, so there are rumors about chipboard about its harmful properties for humans, but if we look, we will find the truth, somewhere between rumors and not true.

Is chipboard harmful? – Harmful features of the manufacturing process.

Most often, the myth about whether chipboard is harmful to people arises after people recognize the so-called technology for the production of these chipboards. For those who do not know, chipboard is made from chips from other products, more often they are called “waste”, chips and sawdust are simply glued together and pressed, formaldehyde glue usually acts as glue.

This is where the answer to the question of whether chipboard is harmful, its harmfulness depends on how much formaldehyde is contained in the glue, but remember that there are many types of glue used when gluing chipboard. In the scientific language that manufacturers use, this level is called E1, E2 markings, which will determine the level of emissions, that is, harmfulness.

Many domestic, that is Russian manufacturers they listen to European standards, which say that if the emission of this chipboard does not exceed the E1 level, then everything is fine, that is, such boards can be used even when assembling furniture for children and teenagers. The level of evaporation of formaldehyde vapors during operation will be so minimal that it will not bring harm to the human body.

Is chipboard harmful? – We check the safety of chipboard when buying.

Once upon a time, when chipboard, aka chipboard, was just conquering the market, it was bought in bulk, according to low prices for the manufacture of various furniture. The quality of chipboard of that time was very terrible, as furniture manufacturers used the most cheap materials, even though it is already waste. They chose the cheapest adhesive formulations, which, as we understand, contained more formaldehyde substances, which are dangerous in large quantities.

On the this moment, the whole situation of this market has changed radically, fortunately for the better side for the consumer. Buyers have become much smarter, they began to be interested in the environmental friendliness of materials in chipboard, about its harmful qualities, and so on. Especially the manufacturer is baffled by the request for a quality certificate for particle board. In general, consumers themselves forced manufacturers to treat the production of chipboard more conscientiously. And indeed, if domestic production will not comply with the high quality standards that have appeared in Europe, they will not be able to compete in the world market.

In general, ladies and gentlemen, in the modern age, the answer to the question “Is chipboard harmful?” negative. But with rare furniture, be vigilant. Sincerely, the administration of the construction and repair portal

Shooting the production of furniture chipboard:

1. Why is the air in our apartments sometimes as polluted as the air on a busy highway?
2. Which furniture is better for health and which is worse?!
3. What is important to consider when buying furniture.

- WHAT SMELLS?!

A strong smell from new furniture usually reminds you of a purchase for more than one week, or even a month. But we don’t always think about what we actually breathe while sitting at a recently purchased table or near a new headset.

The result of research on this topic is not too happy. In many cases, the “fumes” coming from new furniture made of chipboard, fiberboard, etc. are a real poison. The composition of the air in a newly furnished room can be so polluted that breathing it is like breathing car fumes on a busy highway at rush hour!

Most of the chipboard, fiberboard, MDF, polymers, paints and varnishes that are used in the manufacture of mass furniture generously endow us with all kinds of poisons: here and phenol, and formaldehyde, and ammonia, and benzene, and a dozen more toxic substances. It should be noted that fiberboard is often less toxic than chipboard, but still they can “succumb” in excess of the norm, in excess of the MPC.

But we have, in addition to furniture, in the premises there are already enough toxic materials such as linoleum, plastic panels or ceilings, etc.

As a result, for our own money, along with a new interior, we get new problems: with sleep, immunity, headaches, in the worst cases - acute respiratory infections, bronchitis, asthma, conjunctivitis, allergies, dermatitis ...

By the way, children suffer from this more than adults. For example, a link has been established between formaldehyde released from furniture and childhood myopia, which has become increasingly common in recent years.

How to buy furniture without harming yourself

1. Prefer natural wood

The most environmentally friendly is, of course, furniture from natural wood . Especially when it comes to beds or bedroom furniture. Although there may be reservations: it is important if the tree did not grow somewhere in the Chernobyl region, it is important what they glued it with, what kind of varnish they covered it with, etc. But these are, in general, trifles compared with a wardrobe or a bed made of cheap chipboard, in which the concentration of phenol-formaldehydes emitted is often higher than the maximum allowable.

In general, a natural tree is a topic for a separate big conversation. Indeed, in our time, furniture is made and bought not for centuries, as before. On the contrary, for many it has already become the norm to constantly update the interior, just like updating clothes or hair. And in the case of furniture from natural wood such a “renewal race” will very quickly lead to to the final cutting down of those forests that are still on the planet.

Therefore, we are not going to agitate only for furniture made of natural wood.

2. And if you still prefer a wardrobe or a bed made of chipboard, fiberboard, MDF?

If you still decide to buy furniture made of chipboard, fiberboard or MDF, then ask the seller for a quality certificate (or a certificate of conformity) and a hygienic conclusion. Make sure that the formaldehyde emissions comply with GOST or European standard E1 (E2 is worse, because it allows for a stronger release of toxic substances).

Manufacturers who think about the health of their customers are sure to veneer all surfaces and edges Chipboard protective film or veneer, and all drilled holes glued. This at least partially protects against harmful fumes. When choosing furniture made of chipboard, fiberboard or MDF, pay attention to this.

3 more things to consider when updating the interior

In any case, it is advisable not to update all the furniture at once, but to do it slowly, in parts. This is quite reasonable: it will hit your pocket less, and you will not test your health “for strength” once again.

If you still decide to replace all the furniture in a room or apartment at once, then it makes sense at first ventilate more often this room and be less in it.

And if you have a good old wooden furniture, and it is not damaged by fungus and other pests, then maybe the best option- is it not to buy anything at all, but just leave the old one? Moreover, it can be restored.

One way or another, everyone chooses for himself what is more important to him - to update the interior at any cost or to maintain health.