The TPC Perspective

Erwin Schutfort

Professional Service Industries Inc.

2710 West 5th Avenue

Eugene, OR 97402

Erwin.Schutfort@psiusa.com
Content

• Global Scope – Regio• Inside the Certificatio

Process

• Statistical Analysis• Due Diligence Progra• Perspectives

• North America

• South America• Asia

CARB – PSI’s Global Sc
PSI Field Laboratories (A

• Eugene, OR• Nanjing PR• Dongguan • Kota Kinaba• Sibu, MY• Thailand (June • Vietnam (May 2

2 large chambers (ASTM E 1333)12 small chambers (ASTM D 6007)
Manufacturers (Asia)

• China: 144 mills• Thailand: 13• Indonesia: 16• Malaysia: 19• Taiwan: 1• Vietnam: 1

http://www.arb.ca.gov/toxics/compwood/tpc/listofmills.
Manufacturers in South Am

ChileEcuadorArgentinaParaguayBrazil
TPCs

• Inspections

Qualification TestsQuarterly AuditsRecord Keeping

• Assist furniture fabricato

retailers in their Due Dili

• Level the playing field

22 TPC’s globally accredited b

PSI = TPC-2

Third Party Certifi
CARB Manufacturer Certific

Inside View of the Certification Pr
Initial Audit

• Overview of Facility• QA Manual Review• Sample Collection
Log Yards – Raw Materi

Veneer thickness and moisture content of raw material.
Sample Collection

A 3 Samp

Size is 20 cm x 10 cm distance 

Total of 15 to 45 samples for a full CARB Manufacturer Certifica
Plant & Press Technolog

MDF Contipress Production Line in Thailand

Particleboard Plantin China
HWPW Manufacturing Proc
Adhesive Technology
Mill Laboratories (USA)

• Most PB & MDF mills have a DMC o

small chamber (ASTM D 6007)

• Many HWPW mill outsource or use 

desiccator method (ASTM D 5582)
QA Laboratories
Training
Correlations

Dongwha DMM Correlation (9/23/08)

JIS Desiccator [mg/L]

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

ASTM D 6007 chamber [ppm]

-0.2

0.00.20.40.60.81.01.21.4

Dongwha Merbok Correlation (preliminary)

Dongwha - Nilai - JIS Desiccator [mg/L]

0 1 2 3 4 5

PSI - ASTM D 6007 Small Chamber [ppm]

0.00.10.20.30.40.50.6

Accuracy of Correlation depends on accuracy of both methods

It is necessary to determine the standard deviation in QCL calc

Samling Correlat

JIS Desiccat

0 2 4 6 

ASTM D 6007 Desiccator [ppm]

-0.5

0.00.51.01.52.02.5
Certificate of Complianc

• Each lot / shipment 

receives a certificate of compliance

• Verify online at:

www.carbcert.com

• Assures chain of 

custody to fabricators, retailers, importers, and distributors
Registratio

441840207

•Issued by TInitiate the Chain of Cu•Lot specific •Passed to I•Passed to D•Passed to F
CARB Premium Panel

• Panel manufacturers 

achieve a premium price for certified products.

• Certified producers fill 

their order books prior to non-certified manufacturers.

• Early adopters were the 

winners.
STATISTICS
All Composite Wood Samples

0

20406080

100120140160

00.010.0250.05 0.10.15 0.20.25 0.30.35 0.40.45 0.50.55 0.60.65 0.70.75 0.80.85 0.90.95 1 2 3 4

Formaldehyde [ppm]

Frequency MDF HWPW PB

n = 778 average: 0.10 ppm median: 0.06 ppmmaximum: 2.93 ppm
Particleboard

05

10152025303540

0 0.01 0.03 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45 0.5 0.55 0.6 0.65 0.7 0.75 0.8 0.85 0.9 0.95 1 2 3 4

Formaldehyde [ppm]

F re q u e n c y 

n = 193 average: 0.19 ppm median: 0.12 ppmmaximum: 1.22 ppm
Medium Density Fiberboard

0

10203040506070

0 0.01 0.03 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45 0.5 0.55 0.6 0.65 0.7 0.75 0.8 0.85 0.9 0.95 1 2 3 4

Formaldehyde [ppm]

F r e q u e n c y 

n = 198 average: 0.11 ppm median: 0.06 ppmmaximum: 1.19 ppm
HWPW - Veneer Core and Composite Core

0

20406080

100120

0

0.01

0.025

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

0.45

0.5

0.55

0.6

0.65

0.7

0.75

0.8

0.85

0.9

0.95

1

2

3

4

Formaldehyde [ppm]

F r e q u e n c y 

'Composite Core""Veneer Core"
Due Diligence

reasonable prudent precaut
ATCM Requirements for Furn

Manufacturers

• §93120.7

– (a) Emission limits for HWPW, PB, and MDF– (b) Exemptions– (c) Additional Requirements– (d) Product Labeling; Statement of Complian– (e) Facility Inspections

• §93120.12 -- Appendix 1 (d) • Sell-through provisions
Due Diligence

• Show in all transactions that 

material is CARB compliant.

• Verify the mill is TPC 

certified

• Verify the TPC is listed by 

CARB

• ASK the TPC for assistance

http://www.arb.ca.gov/toxics/compwood/tpc/listofmills.h

Miranda.Wilcox@psiusa.com
PSI CARB Fabricator Prog

# 9408

#

9408 D6007 Chamber

6. Certificate of Analysisonline report – PDF format

2. get sample number + box 3. Prepare sample

#

9408

4. SubEnvelo

5. PSI Analysis

1. Subscribe toService

Due

Diligence

# 9

8” x 

D

2

#

9408
PSI CARB Fabricator (2

• Subscription based analytical servic

3, 5, or 10 samples / month

• Not a substitute for certification• Eligible for Marine Cargo Insurance 

Regulation Violation endorsement

• Double check the manufacturer’s pr

endorsement
Exemptions
Examples of Exemption

• Molded Particleboard• Curved Plywood• Pallets and 

packaging

0.84 ppm
Laminated MDF

MDF or hardwood plywood with 

composite core?

MD

Venon p
Perspective
Business Environment

Regulation Unr

MarFor

CARBLacey ActEPA formaldehydeCPSA (Pb in toys) REACH (EU) ....

FSC, SFI, IOSMAT-0ISO9001, .E-1...
Commodity

Service

Exp

Value

Cost and 

Goods

3 ¢ / cup

6 ¢ / cup

$1.25 / cup

$5.0
Commodity

Service

Exp

Value

Cost and 

Goods
Carbon Tax Credits ?

• CO

2 sequestration

• 5,000,000 m

3

panels/yr.

• 3.5 Mt CO

2 / year

CARB Certified MDF/PB Panels

CARB Certificate of Complreports the volume and becBasis for Carbon Offset Ca
PSI CARB Fabricator Prog

# 9408

#

9408 D6007 Chamber

6. Certificate of Analysisonline report – PDF format

2. get sample number + box 3. Prepare sample

#

9408

4. SubEnvelo

5. PSI Analysis

1. Subscribe toService

Due

Diligence

# 9

8” x 

D

2

#

9408
Finished Products Testin

Finished products with complex geometries can be tested in a large cNo-Loading ratio, but a PPM/SKU value is reported (Appendix X – ASProduct can be declared as formaldehyde emission free if it meets 

0.01 pp
PSI CARB Contact

Miranda.Wilcox@psiusa.com

Ms. Miranda Wilcox

CARB Project Manager

Professional Service Industries Inc.

2710 West 5th Avenue

Eugene, OR 97402

541-484-9212