§ 3280.406 - Air chamber test methods for certification and continuing qualification of formaldehyde emission levels.

§ 3280.406 Air chamber test method methods for certification and continuing qualification of formaldehyde emission levels.

Cross Reference

Link to an amendment published at 85 FR 5566, Jan. 31, 2020.

(a) PreconditioningDefinitions. Preconditioning of plywood or particleboard panels for air chamber tests shall be initiated as soon as practicable but not in excess of 30 days after the plywood or particleboard is produced or surface-finished, whichever is later, using randomly selected panels.

(1) If preconditioning is to be initiated more than two days after the plywood or particleboard is produced or surface-finished, whichever is later, the panels must be dead-stacked or air-tight wrapped until preconditioning is initiated.

(2) Panels selected for testing in the air chamber shall not be taken from the top or bottom of the stack.

(b) Testing. Testing must be conducted in accordance with the Standard Test Method for Determining Formaldehyde Levels from Wood Products Under Defined Test Conditions Using a Large Chamber, ASTM E 1333-96, with the following exceptions:

(1) The chamber shall be operated indoors.

(2) Plywood and particleboard panels shall be individually tested in accordance with the following loading ratios:

(i) Plywood - 0.29 Ft2/Ft3, and

(ii) Particleboard - 0.13 Ft2/Ft3.

(3) Temperature to be maintained inside the chamber shall be 77° plus or minus 2 °F.

(4) The test concentration (C) shall be standardized to a level (C_O) at a temperature (t_O) of 77 °F and 50% relative humidity (H_O) by the following formula:

C = C_O × [1 + Ax (H − H_O)] × e^{−R(1 / t − 1 / t O)}

where:

C = Test formaldehyde concentration

C_O = Standardized formaldehyde concentration

e = Natural log base

R = Coefficient of temperature (9799)

t = Actual test condition temperature (^O K)

t_O = Standardized temperature (^O K)

A = Coefficient of humidity (0.0175)

H = Actual relative humidity (%)

H_O = Standardized relative humidity (%)

The standardized level (C_O) is the concentration used to determine compliance with § 3280.308(a).

(5) The air chamber shall be inspected and recalibrated at least annually to insure its proper operation under test conditions.

[49 FR 32012, Aug. 9, 1984, as amended at 58 FR 55009, Oct. 25, 1993; 70 FR 72046, Nov. 30, 2005

For purposes of this section, the definitions found in 40 CFR 770.3 apply.

(b) Testing requirements. Testing of composite wood products must be performed pursuant to the general requirements of 40 CFR 770.20(a) and (b). Certification testing must be performed pursuant to one of the air chamber test methods specified in 40 CFR 770.15 (ASTM E1333-14, or ASTM D6007-14, both incorporated by reference, see § 3280.4). Quarterly testing must be performed pursuant to one of the air chamber test methods specified in 40 CFR 770.20(c) (ASTM E1333-14 or ASTM D6007-14).

(c) Samples for testing. Samples for testing shall comply with 40 CFR 770.24.

[85 FR 5566, Jan. 31, 2020]