Is laminate flooring safe?
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Most of the laminate flooring on market today is safe! They are thoroughly tested before they get on the market. The main standard follow when testing in the USA is the California Air Resource Board certification standard that rigorously test all flooring types for formaldehyde emission.
A few years ago concerns about some flooring types hit the news, and we are sure you heard about the report that said that Lumber Liquidators laminate flooring produced in China and sold in their store in the US had been find to emit a high level of formaldehyde, several times higher than California regulations allow. (you can read more here). |
But most laminate floorings have very low emission making them safe.
Laminate flooring is chosen over carpet or other type of flooring solutions because of its beauty and cost.
It is cheaper, to natural tile or wood floors, and is hailed as low maintenance and stain resistant. If you suffer from allergies, laminate flooring can ease your symptoms as dust, pet dander or pollen cannot live in the laminate floor if its maintained properly and cleaned regularly.
Its a solution prefered over the carpet and tiles also because its smooth texture makes it safe from the risk of falling.
The truth is that entirely safe laminate floorings just don’t exist yet. If you read about the composition of laminated flooring you know that a strong adhesive is used to keep fibers together in the fiberboard that constitute the core board. Obviously this is a glue that has to resist high temperatures and moisture, but sadly the industry did not invented a non-toxic glue yet.
Most of this glues contain formaldehyde that it’s a ever-present colorless gas that commonly used in the manufacturing of other wood type furnishing: cabinets, desks, tables, wood flooring, plywood, medium density fiberboard, particleboard, caulk, pesticides, detergents, paint, fabric, wallpaper and some car parts made from formaldehyde resins. But also smoke from tobacco, gas stove and the fireplace also release formaldehyde, so you might already have it in your home in small levels.
Its a solution prefered over the carpet and tiles also because its smooth texture makes it safe from the risk of falling.
The truth is that entirely safe laminate floorings just don’t exist yet. If you read about the composition of laminated flooring you know that a strong adhesive is used to keep fibers together in the fiberboard that constitute the core board. Obviously this is a glue that has to resist high temperatures and moisture, but sadly the industry did not invented a non-toxic glue yet.
Most of this glues contain formaldehyde that it’s a ever-present colorless gas that commonly used in the manufacturing of other wood type furnishing: cabinets, desks, tables, wood flooring, plywood, medium density fiberboard, particleboard, caulk, pesticides, detergents, paint, fabric, wallpaper and some car parts made from formaldehyde resins. But also smoke from tobacco, gas stove and the fireplace also release formaldehyde, so you might already have it in your home in small levels.
How safe is laminate flooring?
We are sure you are now wondering “how can I be sure you are getting a safe laminate flooring?”. First you should buy only from a reputable flooring company. When purchasing don’t just believe what they say, ask them to prove the safety which they can by showing you a third party date about the product or just simply showing you the box that needs to show the compliance with:
California Air Resources Board Air Toxics Control Measure (CARB ATCM)
American National Standards Institute (ANSI):
Particleboard should conform to A208.1-2009 or CARB ATCM
MDF should conform to A208.2-2009 or CARB ATCM
Hardwood Plywood should conform to ANSI/HPVA HP-1-2009 or CARB ATCM
EPA recommends that consumers look for products that are labeled TSCA Title VI compliant as all composite wood products are required to be labeled.
Formaldehyde is normally present at low levels, usually less than 0.03 parts per million (ppm), in both outdoor and indoor air, and the levels depend on temperature, humidity, season and air exchange rate.
If you want to make sure you reduce the formaldehyde in your home you can:
- Open the windows in your home for a few minutes every day
- Install and use exhaust fans
- Make your home smoke free
- Keep temperature and humidity in the home at lower settings as possible.
Do you want totally safe flooring solution in your home you should check the other types of flooring we have in our showroom in Lilburn, GA:
- Real wood flooring
- Tiles
- Natural carpet
Formaldehyde is normally present at low levels, usually less than 0.03 parts per million (ppm), in both outdoor and indoor air, and the levels depend on temperature, humidity, season and air exchange rate.
If you want to make sure you reduce the formaldehyde in your home you can:
- Open the windows in your home for a few minutes every day
- Install and use exhaust fans
- Make your home smoke free
- Keep temperature and humidity in the home at lower settings as possible.
Do you want totally safe flooring solution in your home you should check the other types of flooring we have in our showroom in Lilburn, GA:
- Real wood flooring
- Tiles
- Natural carpet
Hardwood Floors Plus only sells compliant laminate flooring and we can back this statement up with documentations available for viewing in our store in Lilburn, GA. Please visit us for more information.