# Frequently Asked Questions

This page last reviewed August 17, 2012

I. Frequently Asked Ques tions (FAQ’s) Categories

(Version #6– August, 2012)

A. Applicable Products B. Emission Testing

C. Enforcement D. Exemptions E. Imports F. Labeling G. No-added formaldehyde (NAF) and Ultra-low emitting formaldehyde (ULEF) products

H. Public Health I. Resin Chemistry J. Third Party Certification (TPC) K. Sell-through Provision

L. Miscellaneous

(HWPW = hardwood plywood; HWPW-VC = hardwood plywood veneer core; HWPW-CC = hardwood plywood composite core; PB = particleboa rd; MDF = medium density fiberboard)

II. Questions and Responses

A. Applicable Products

1. What composite wood products are subject to the Composite Wood Products Airborne Toxic Control Measure (ATCM)? The ATCM establishes formaldehyde emission standards for panels of HWPW-VC, HWPW-CC, PB, MDF, and thin MDF ( ≤ 8 mm). The ATCM requires that finished goods and laminated products made with the materials subject to the formaldehyde emission standards, that are sold, offered for sale, supplied, used, or manufactured for sale in California, be made with materials that comply with appl icable emission standards (e.g., Phase 2).

2. What specific products are not covered by the ATCM? Materials that are not covered by the ATCM include, but are not limited to hardboard, na tural wood, and certified structural plywood, certified structural panels, structural composite lumber, oriented strand board, glue laminated timber, prefabricated wood I-joist, finger jointed lumber, ce llulosic fiber insulating board or “composite wood products” used inside of new vehicles, rail cars, boats, aerospace craft or aircraft (please also refer to question #23).

3. What are examples of finished goods? Finished goods mean any good or product other than a panel, containing HWPW-VC, HWPW-CC, PB, MDF, or thin MDF. Finished goods include, but are not About ARB | Calendars | A-Z Index | Contact Us

Search ARB

Google Advanced A | A | 

### A Pa g e 1 of 17 Composite Wood Products ATCM

3/11/2013 htt p ://www.arb.ca. g ov/toxics/com p wood/im p lementation/fa q .htmlimited to furniture, cabinets, shelving, countertops, flooring, moldings, caskets, base boards, rosettes, corbels, etc.

4. Who is subject to the ATCM? The ATCM applies to manufact urers, distributors, importers, fabricators, and retailers of the products identified in question 1, as well as third party certifiers of panel manufacturers.

5. Does the ATCM apply to blockboard? No. While blockboard is considered a type of HWPW, emission standards were only established for HWPW-VC and HWPW-CC. Blockboard is made with a core made of solid wood strips, not veneer core or composite core.

6. Are molded products, such as toilet seats, subject to the regulation? If the products (toilet seats) are compression molded, meaning that flat panel products (such as MDF, PB, or HWPW) are not used in manufacturing of these products, then the product is exempt from the regulation.

6A. If a company that produces molded toilet seats wants to have their product tested by a CARB-approved third part y certifier (TPC) for formaldehyde emissions, should these products

be labeled to let consumers know that the product is compliant? There are no prohibitions on a company voluntarily having a CARB approved TPC test a product for formaldehyde emissions. However, these products should not be labeled as CARB compliant and they should not include a statement of CARB compliance on their label because they are not subject to the regulation. Nevertheless, they could use labels that indicate the product is “l ow formaldehyde” or some other terminology that does not refer to the CARB regulatory requirements.

7. Are chair backs and seats made by moldin g wood flour and resin into the desired shape considered particleboa rd and do they requi re emission testing? No, such products would not be considered to be a composite wood product under the ATCM.

8. Does the ATCM apply to low-density fiber board (LDF) or high dens ity fiberboard (HDF)? Yes, depending on how they are marketed and used and if they meet the ANSI standard for MDF. The ATCM applies to MDF that meets the ANSI st andard for MDF, A208.2-2002. Because the ANSI standard for MDF is based on performance and is in dependent of density, some products marketed as LDF and HDF are also subject to the ATCM. Products that are labeled as LDF or HDF, meet the

ANSI A208.2-2002 standard and are marketed for use in typical MDF applications such as furniture manufacturing, shelving, mold ing, and kitchen cabinets, w ould be subject to the ATCM.

9. Does the ATCM apply to insulating fiberboa rd or cellulosic fiber insulating board? No. Cellulosic fiber insulating board or insulating fiberboard made to the specifications in ASTM C208-08a include sound deadening board, roof insulation boar d, ceiling tiles and panels, wall sheathing, backer board and roof deck. These products are not made with synthetic (such as formaldehyde-based)

resins and do not meet the defi nition of HWPW-VC, HWPW-CC, MD F or particle board which are subject to the emission standards in the ATCM.

10. The regulation is applicable to hardwood plywood. However, what if the plywood is made with a softwood like spru ce? Is it then exempt? The ANSI/HPVA HP-1-2004 standards that apply to HWPW allow for the use of hardwood or decorative softwood face veneers. Hence, if softwood is used as the face veneer, the HWPW would be subjec t to the ATCM (please also refer to question #11).

11. A plywood product is made with phenol formaldehyde (PF) resin and softwood face veneers. It meets the sp ecifications for PS 1-07 structural plywood and is labeled as such. The product is used as paneling and wa inscoting in both interior a nd exterior applications. Is it exempt from the ATCM? Yes. Softwood plywood meeting the PS 1-07 specifications is exempt from 

### Pa g e 2 of 17 Composite Wood Products ATCM

3/11/2013 htt p ://www.arb.ca. g ov/toxics/com p wood/im p lementation/fa q .htmthe definition of "composite wood products" in section 93120.1(8). In this case, the paneling or wainscoting would need to be made with low formaldehyde resins such as PF resins in order to meet the PS 1-07 specifications.

12. Are decorative wood pieces (such as corbels, moldings, rosettes, transition blocks, etc.) subject to the regulation? Decorative wood pieces made out of solid wood are not subject to the regulation. However, if these decora tive wood pieces (such as corbels, moldings, rosettes, transition blocks, etc.) are made out of products that cont ain HWPW-VC, HWPW-CC, PB, or MDF, then these goods would be subject to the regulation as a finished good.

13. Is wood packaging (e.g., pallets, crates) subject to the ATCM? No. While wood packaging may contain composite wood products (i.e., HWPW, MDF, or PB), and be considered “finished goods” subject to the ATCM; it was not CARB’s intent to regulate wood packaging as “finished goods.” By “wood packaging” we mean pallets, skids, boxes, crates, reels, spools and containers used for handling, sorting, storing, sh ipping, and transporting goods.

14. Does the ATCM apply to molded pallet blocks? No. Molded pallet blocks that are made in individual molds (i.e., not cut from a flat panel) and made specifically as molded pallet components are not subject to the emission standards for HWPW, MDF, or PB in the ATCM. (also see question #13 regarding pallets).

15. Is packing material or “ dunnage” subject to the ATCM? No. Packing material , also referred to as “dunnage” is essentially loose, waste material such as composite wood products that are used for packaging or covering shipments in order to protec t cargo from damage during transport. Dunnage is not considered to be a finished good and is not subject to the ATCM.

16. Does the ATCM apply to rental items such as rental furniture? Furniture that is rented prior to

the effective dates of th e emission standards is exempt, because such furniture is considered to be “used goods,” which are exempt from the definition of finished goods. At the en d of the rental period, the furniture may be sold as used furniture. Howe ver, if a furniture rental company purchases new

furniture after the effective dates of the emission standards, for purpose of renting that furniture in California, the new furniture must be made with materials that comply with applicable emission

standards.

17. My company supplies just a few products th at contain a very small amount of composite wood products to California retail stores. Would CARB take size, volume or quantity of composite wood products used for finished goods into account? The regulation does not allow exemptions for de minimus use of the regulated products in finished goods. The regulation applies to all products, (e.g., picture frames, plaques, toys, et c.) containing HWPW, PB, or MDF, and there is no minimum amount that is exempt. However, the AT CM does include de minimus use exemptions for windows and doors only, see Section 93120.7 (b)(1).

18. Does the ATCM apply to curved or bent plywood? Curved plywood is excluded from the definition of HWPW and is not subject to the ATCM . While CARB staff recognizes that the process of making curved plywood may be similar to industrial grade HWPW , there are important differences, such as the use of a radio frequency curing during the pressing process. Also, CARB does not have emissions data to accurately quantify curved plyw ood formaldehyde emissions. CARB intends to further evaluate curved plywood in the future to determine whether regulatory amendments are necessary to include curved plywood into the definition of HWPW and thereby require third party

certification. We understand that some indust ry groups use the terms curved plywood and bent plywood interchangeably. However, we also unders tand that in some sit uations, flat panels are treated with steam and then bent by a fabricator to the desired shape, making what some refer to as bent plywood. In this case, the fabricator would nee d to use flat panels that comply with the ATCM. 

### Pa g e 3 of 17 Composite Wood Products ATCM

3/11/2013 htt p ://www.arb.ca. g ov/toxics/com p wood/im p lementation/fa q .htm19. Does the ATCM apply to bamboo flooring? Flooring consisting solely of bamboo veneers is not subject to the ATCM. The definition of HWPW in the ATCM specifies the use of hardwood or decorative softwood face veneers. Since bamboo is a grass, plywood made using bamboo face veneers is exempt from the regulation at this time. Flooring that consists of a veneer of bamboo lami nated to a platform would be considered to be a laminated product under the ATCM. In this case, if the platform is a composite wood product subject to emission standards for HWPW, PB, or MDF, the platform must comply with the ATCM. Flooring that consists of a bamboo veneer laminated to a lumber-core platform is not subject to the regulation as the platform it does not meet the de finition for either HWPW-VC or HWPW-CC (please also see question #21).

19A. What if bamboo is used in a flooring pr oduct, as bamboo fibers for PB or MDF panels? Bamboo particles or fibers used to make PB or MD F falls into the definitio n of cellulosic materials used to make these products. Therefore, bamboo PB and bamboo MDF are required to be third party

certified.

20. If I am a retail store owner and I acquire displays to be used by me and not sold to the public, do the displays need to be made from CARB certified co mposite wood products? Yes. Displays containing composite wood products are finished goods and must meet the requirements forfinished goods. All displays (finished goods) sold/supplied into California after the specified sellthrough dates must meet the ATCM requirements (for the sell-through periods please refer to the following document: http://www. arb.ca.gov/toxics/com pwood/outreach/regg uidance0212.pdf). Note: Fabricators that are selling and/or supplying finished goods for display purposes to a downstream client, (even though these items are not intended for resale by that downstream client) are required to made with materials that are co mpliant with applicable emission standards and a statement of compliance must be provided on the bill of lading or invoice for products intended for sale or supply to California. Fabricators fall under the applicability provision in the ATCM § 93120 (c) (4) available at: http://www.arb.ca.gov/regact/ 2007/compwood07/ fro-final.pdf

.

21. Are lumber core products subject to the regulation? No. HWPW with a lumber-core is exempt from the regulation. The ATCM has two HWPW standa rds, neither of which includes lumber-core: one for HWPW-VC and one for HWPW-CC. HWPW-VC does not have a lumber-core (made of wood strips), and HWPW-CC is de fined in the regulation as being made with a PB, MDF, or PB or MDF in combination with veneer (combination core).

22. How are warranty stocks (also known as replacement parts) considered under the regulation? Existing stocks* of replacement parts may be so ld indefinitely. No labeling is required on such parts. After the applicable sell-through per iods have ended, then any new replacement parts must be made of complying materials.

Replacement parts, as well as components parts th at are sold and/or supplied as individual items (e.g., in a situation where a consumer is buying a replacement part such as a cabinet door), are subject to labeling requirements.

If component parts and/or warranty stocks that are s upplied to a fabricator (e.g., from a fabricator of component parts) and will be used in a finished good, component part s do not need to be labeled, but the invoices or bills of lading must include the statem ent of compliance to indicate that the shipment of components parts or replacement parts are ma de of complying composite wood products. *Existing stocks include pre-Phase 1 and Phase 1 products; however, the sell-through provision for replacement parts/warranty stocks will be subject to change and further clarified via the amendment process of the ATCM. 

### Pa g e 4 of 17 Composite Wood Products ATCM

3/11/2013 htt p ://www.arb.ca. g ov/toxics/com p wood/im p lementation/fa q .htm23. Is MDF made by a “wet-formi ng” process subject to the ATCM? No. MDF mats can be manufactured by either wet or dry forming processe s. In “wet-forming,” the fibers are carried in a water suspension and the product is often made without an adhesive. In “dry forming,” the fibers are transported by air and a resin is added to form the fiber mat. The ATCM defines MDF as “... panels composed of cellulosic fibers made by dry formin g and pressing of a resinated fiber mat (ANSI A 208.2-2002).” As MDF panels made by “wet-forming” are not specified in the ATCM, they are not subject to the requirements of the ATCM.

24. The ATCM excludes certain types of structur al plywood from the definition of composite wood products, namely those meeting the Voluntary Product Standards for Structural Plywood (PS 1) and Wood-based St ructural-use Panels (PS 2). Ar e other types of structural plywood, such as those made to comply with standards other th an PS 1 or PS 2, also excluded from the definition of composite wood products? CARB excluded structural plywood products that

conform to the PS 1 or PS 2 standards that are used for a variety of structural applications in North America. PS 1 and PS 2 structural plywood were excluded from the defin ition of composite wood products in the ATCM for reasons of public safety and also because they are made to be exterior grade products. To provide the water resistance necessary for exterior app lications, structural plywood is made with low formaldehyde resins, su ch as phenol formaldehyde (PF) resin, as opposed to interior-grade industrial pan els typically made with urea-forma ldehyde resins. We recognize that “structural plywood” is made in other parts of the wo rld to meet standards other than PS 1 or PS 2. In cases where we are able to identify products with stru ctural and resin properties equivalent to certified PS 1 or PS 2 structural plywood, they will also be exempt from the requirements of the ATCM.

Product standards for composite wood panels in coun tries outside of the U.S. in some cases do not clearly differentiate between panels made for structural vs. nonstructural applications. For example, structural plywood standards vary around the world, owing to differences in region-specific building codes, market needs, and manufacturing methods. In North America, structural plywood is commonly used for building structures, while in other countrie s clear distinctions are no t made with respect to structural plywood for interior vs. exterior applications. Typically, exte rior grade products that meet the PS 1 or PS 2 standards are made using PF or poly methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (pMDI) adhesives to comply with prescribed bond durability requirements that products made for interior applications cannot meet. While standards in other countries are not directly comparable with the requirements specified for PS 1 and PS 2 structural plywood, we believe that products that are equivalent to PS 1 or PS 2 structural plywood, and certified as such, should also be exempt from the requirements of the ATCM. At this time, staff has determined that structural plywood that complies

with either the Australian “AS/NZS 2269” or Eu ropean “EN 636 3S” standards are both examples of structural plywood under the ATCM and are not subj ect to the formaldehyde emission standards. The exemption applies only to products that are marked as compliant with those standards so as to clearly distinguish them as exempt products for purposes of the ATCM. (For the list of structural panels exempt from the ATCM, please refer to question #2).

25. Would structural plywood that is a “downfall” (products th at do not meet all the required properties of PS1 or PS2 structural plywood) be exempt from the ATCM? No, structural plywood “downfall” is not exempt from the requiremen ts of the ATCM. From a formaldehyde emissions standpoint, it is likely that downfall is also a low-emitting product, but from an enforcement perspective, the sale and supply of uncertified a nd unmarked structural plywood products to California

creates an unenforceable situation since downfall products are not la beled and unverifiable. As a side note, downfall products may be used for packaging applications (e.g., for use in making pallets, crates, boxes, etc.) which are not subject to the r equirements of the ATCM (please see question #13).

26. Does the ATCM apply to LVL (Laminated Veneer Lumber)? No. The Structural Composite Lumber products (ANSI A. 190.1 Structural Glued Laminated Timber), standard includes LVL products which are exempt from the composite wood products ATCM. 

### Pa g e 5 of 17 Composite Wood Products ATCM

3/11/2013 htt p ://www.arb.ca. g ov/toxics/com p wood/im p lementation/fa q .htm27. Does a veneer core platform affixed to a laminate that is co mposed of a thin MDF fall under the regulation? If a product has HWPW-VC as a platform with thin MDF affixed to the face and back, then this product is considered to be a lamina ted product under the regulation. This laminated product, made with third party certified composite wood products (the HWPW-VC platform and thin MDF laminates) does not need to be tested by a CARB-approved third party certifier to be compliant. Hence, the company that affixes the thin MDF to th e HWPW-VC platform is a fabricator of a laminated product, and not a panel manufacturer.

B. Emission Testing

28. Who is required to emission test their products? Manufacturers of HWPW-VC, HWPW-CC, PB, MDF, and thin MDF are required to conduct emis sion testing of their products. The objective of the emission testing is to verify that the composite wood products produced comply with the emission standards on an on-going basis, to ensure the a ccuracy of production control and to ensure that lowemitting products are sold in California. Fabricator s of finished goods are not subject to third party certification requirem ents and do not have to emission test th eir finished goods or laminated products to comply with the ATCM.

29. What defines a reasonable correlation between a manufacturer’s quality control data and a third party certifier’s compliance testing data? Third party certifiers are required to establish a correlation (i.e., linear regression equation) between a manufacturers ’ routine quality control testing data and their third party certifier’s primary or seco ndary test method data. All correlations must be based on a minimum of five data pairs. CARB relies on third party certifiers to establish reliable correlations to ensure on-going compliance of compos ite wood products offered for sale and supply to

California.

30. Will CARB supply correlations fo r small-chamber-to-large-cha mber and desiccator-to-large

-chamber? No. The correlations will be calculated fo r manufacturers of composite wood products based on the primary or secondary test method data received from their third party certifier (see FAQ section J), under the requirements established by CARB. 31. The Dynamic Microchamber (DMC) is used extensively in the composite wood industry. Will it be CARB approved using the InterScan sensor? The dynamic Microchamber (DMC) and the new GPTM DMC are both approved for use as

alternate small scale test method s for conducting formaldehyde emission testing for composite wood products. For further information, pl ease refer to the following link at: http://www.arb.ca.gov /toxics/compwood /outreach/testmethods.htm

.

32. What would constitute an a cceptable demonstration of compliance for a manufacturer of a very low emitting product? The ATCM contains special provisions for CARB-certified manufacturers that produce composite wood products with very lo w formaldehyde emissions. The special provisions are provided for composite wood products made with no-added formaldehyde (NAF) or ultra-low emitting formaldehyde (ULEF) resins. To receiv e CARB approval as a NAF or ULEF product manufacturer, applicants are required to submit th ree months of quality control test data for NAF products and six months for ULEF products, alon g with primary or secondary method test data provided by their third party certifier. Upon CA RB approval, NAF and some ULEF products are exempt from on-going testing for two years; ot her ULEF products may be granted a reduction in frequency for on-going quality control testing for two years.

33. Can testing of finished furniture products conducted for non-CARB formaldehyde

emission standards be considered reasona ble prudent precauti ons under the rule? No. Testing of furniture products for compliance with non-CARB emission standards (e.g., European formaldehyde standards) would not constitute reas onable prudent precautions. A finished good could be made with non-complying composite wood, but due to the application of a laminate or a coating, 

### Pa g e 6 of 17 Composite Wood Products ATCM

3/11/2013 htt p ://www.arb.ca. g ov/toxics/com p wood/im p lementation/fa q .htmmay be able to pass the non-CARB emission standard. Under the rule, only actions taken to ensure that compliant composite wood products were used to make the furniture being offered for sale or supply to California would be considered to be reasonable prudent precaution.

34. Can a manufacturer use a small emissions ch amber as a routine quality control test

method? Yes, but a small chamber test data needs to be correlated to paired primary or secondary test method collected by their third party certif ier. Manufacturers may deem a small emissions chamber as equivalent to a primary method (secti on 93120.9), but their data cannot be used as a demonstration of product compliance in their quarterly tests for certification purposes. Quarterly tests for purposes of certification must be co nducted by their third party certifier.

35. Will CARB accept E1 boards as meeting the Phase 1 standard? No. While CARB’s Phase 1 standards are comparable to E1 emission levels for PB and MDF , differences in the test methods and the amount of in-plant quality assurance testi ng done in Europe varies considerably from CARB’s requirements. Even if boards meet the E1 standard, the mills producing those boards would need to be certified by an independent, CARB-approved third party certifier and have test data to show that it also meets the CARB Phase 1 standard using the pr imary or secondary test method, if they are offered for sale in California as panels or in fini shed goods. During the implementation of the Phase 2 standards, composite wood products are required to have emission levels well below E1 to be acceptable for sale in California.

36. What is the differen ce between primary test ing, secondary testing, and the quality control testing conducted by a manufacturer? Manufacturers of composite wood products are required to conduct small scale quality control testing of their pr oducts at the manufacturing plant to ensure that their panels do not exceed appli cable emission standards. Appendix 2 of the ATCM states that manufacturers have three options for conducting qua lity control testing: a desiccator (ASTM D 5582- 00), a small chamber (D 6007-02), or an alternative sm all scale test that can be shown to correlate to the primary or secondary test methods. The prim ary and secondary test methods are used by third party certifiers to verify compliance of manufacture rs with applicable emission standards. Certifiers

work with manufacturers to establish correlatio ns between the manufacture r’s small scale quality control tests and the primary or secondary method te sts. Certifiers have the opt ion of using either the primary or the secondary method. The primary method is defined as the large chamber test method (ASTM E-1333-96(2002)). The secondary test meth od consists of operat ing a small emissions chamber (ASTM D 6007-02) that has been deemed equivalent to a large chamber following the procedures specified in the ATCM.

37. For hardwood plywood with a composite core (H WPW-CC), does the core need to be tested and certified as comply ing with the applicab le emission standard? Unless the core is being offered for sale separately, it does not need to be tested. Only the HWPW-CC needs to be tested and certified as complying. However, if the HWPW-CC is being sold as having been made with no-added formaldehyde (NAF) resins, the NAF designation applies to the entire composite wood product (the core and the resins used to affix the veneers) and in that case the core would need to be tested as part of the NAF product demonstration.

C. Enforcement

38. When enforcing the regulations, will CARB requi re the retailer to pr oduce chain-of-custody documents even if product emissions are compli ant? Would this be a punishable violation of regulations? Yes. Recordkeeping is an important part of the ATCM. In the course of inspecting a retailer, we can ask to see the chain-of-custody docu ments that verify the emission characteristics of the products being offered for sale.

39. In what form and how long ar e records required to be kept? Records must be kept in 

### Pa g e 7 of 17 Composite Wood Products ATCM

3/11/2013 htt p ://www.arb.ca. g ov/toxics/com p wood/im p lementation/fa q .htmelectronic or hard copy form for a minimum of two years and provided to CARB or local air district personnel upon request.

40. How will CARB police wood products sold into California via the Internet? CARB's enforcement staff will purchase products from Internet retailers and if throu gh enforcement testing the product is found to be noncompliant, CARB will tr ack the paper trail for the noncompliant product back through the distribution chain (e.g., manufacturers, di stributors, importers, or f abricators) to determine

who is in violation of the ATCM.

41. How will CARB enforce composite wood products that are produced overseas? In the case of noncompliant products being imported from overseas , it is likely that in most cases the importer will ultimately be held responsible as they are bringing the goods into California. However, importers, as well as distributors, retailers, fabricators, or manufa cturers can all be held responsible for the products that they sell or supply in Cali fornia. Parties bringing composite wood products into California are responsible for knowing and followin g the law. In the event of a viol ation of the emi ssion standards, everyone from the board manufacturer to the retailer and all parties in between are potentially liable until the enforcement investigation determines otherwise. There is no product certificat ion or chain of custody that insulates anyone from an enforceme nt action. CARB enforceme nt staff will evaluate each situation on a case by case basis.

41A. Will an importer who happens to be a good faith purc haser, obtaining all the required

documentation be at more fault than a di stributor who purchases from a domestic mill? No. Any party bringing noncompliant goods into Califor nia is subject to enforcement action by CARB. Importers of noncompliant foreign goods are equally liable as distributors of noncompliant domestic products.

41B. Does it matter if the impor ter is importing raw board or a finished product (furniture)? All composite wood products, including raw boards and finished goods cont aining composite wood products, are required to comply with the ATCM and will be equally enforced.

42. In order to be best prepared for a potential inspection, what type of information should

fabricators and retailers have av ailable for CARB enforcement staff ? With regard to potential inspections, fabricators and retailers need to keep records to show they’ve taken “reasonable prudent precautions” to ensure compliance. These records need to be kept in hard copy or electronic form and

must show that the fabricators and retailers inst ructed their suppliers of the need for complying products. The fabricators and retailers must also keep records to show that their suppliers have stated that the products being provided comp ly with the formaldehyde emission standards.

43. How will CARB test pre-assembled case goods made of composite wood products (e.g., a small table) that are painted, with no edges unsealed? CARB will purchase case goods, deconstruct them, remove the paint, and test the exposed composite wood product surface using our enforcement test method. CARB staff has developed the sample preparation protocol to be followed to remove the layer of paint or laminate, and then will determine if the composite wood product in the case good complies with applicable standards or not.

44. We make furniture using struct ural plywood, which is not visibl e in the finished furniture. What records do we need to keep to demonstrate that we are not using regulated composite wood products (PB, MDF, HWPW)? Structural plywood that meets either the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) PS 1-07 or PS 2-04 standard is excluded from the definition of composite wood products in the ATCM, and no records are required to be kept by the ATCM. However, fabricators would be advised to keep invoic es to show that the composite wood they use is structural plywood and not HWPW. 

### Pa g e 8 of 17 Composite Wood Products ATCM

3/11/2013 htt p ://www.arb.ca. g ov/toxics/com p wood/im p lementation/fa q .htmD. Exemptions

45. Are manufactured homes or m obile homes subject to the ATCM? The ATCM does not apply to HWPW or PB manufactured, sold, supplied for installation, or installed in manufactured homes subject to the United States Depa rtment of Housing and Urban Deve lopment regulations. However, the ATCM does apply to any MDF or thin MDF pr oducts installed in manufactured homes designated

for sale in California.

46. Military is exempt. What about federal government institutions such as UNICOR that manufactures furniture for government offices and the military? Military specified plywood is exempt from the ATCM. If UNICOR is manufacturing furniture for government offices, they would be considered a fabricator under the ATCM for products sold to California and must comply with the regulation.

47. The ATCM includes an exemption for window s. Does the exemption include bay windows? Yes. Requirements for fabricators include an exemption for windows if the window product contains less than five percent by volume of HWPW, PB, or MDF combined, in relation to the total volume of the finished window product. The definition of a window specifies that a frame includes jambs, stiles, sashes, and rails, and excludes sills, window headers and window seats. Because sills, window headers, and window seats are excluded from the de finition of a frame, they cannot be factored into the exemption. Therefore, if si lls, window headers, and window s eats contain composite wood, the composite wood must comply with the ATCM and the finished window product must be labeled appropriately.

48. Other than windows, what other exemptions does th e ATCM contain? Exemptions have also been provided for exterior doors and garage doors if these products contain less then three percent by volume of HWPW, PB, or MDF combined, in rela tion to the total volume of the finished door product made from composite wood products. The ATCM does not apply to finished goods sold outside of California or to products subject to federal requirements governing the construction of manufactured homes. (Please refer to question #2)

E. Imports

49. Will European producers and furniture makers be able to meet CARB limitations? We believe that they will. Many European compan ies are well positioned for compliance because composite wood products that meet E1 (European) standards will likely meet the Phase 1 ATCM emission standard. However, composite wood panels produced by European manufacturers that meet the applicable Phase 1 and Phase 2 standards must be certified by a CARB-approved third party certifier in order to be so ld into the California market.

50. Testing of imported products needs to be done on a scale that is stat istically significant. How is CARB planning to address imports? Please see the responses to the enforcement-related questions above (Please see question #43).

F. Labeling

51. In some upholstered products, the frame is cut from plywood, but the products are covered in material. Where should such produc t be labeled as compliant finished goods? It is up to the fabricator to decide how to label the upholstered product - the labe l (e.g., tag and statement on the invoice) could be affixed with a staple and must clearly state that the product is legal for sale in

California.

52. Is labeling th e packaging on bulk products permitted? For example, can a single label be 

### Pa g e 9 of 17 Composite Wood Products ATCM

3/11/2013 htt p ://www.arb.ca. g ov/toxics/com p wood/im p lementation/fa q .htmattached to the outer packaging material of a skid of work surfaces? The ATCM requires that a label shall be applied on “every finished good produced, or on every box containing finished goods.” One label on the box will comply with the ATCM; howeve r, we strongly recommend that both the box and finished good be labeled.

53. Can the label identifying the manufacturer’s name and th e date of manufacture be a separate label from the label that states that the product was made with Phase 1 or Phase 2 compliant hardwood plywood, particleboard , and/or medium de nsity fiberboard? Separate labels can be used to identify fabricator name, pr oduction date, and that th e finished good was made with complying composite wood products, as long as the labels are all visible (e.g., inside a cabinet door or on the back of a credenza).

54. If an unboxed or blanket-w rapped chair, desk, and shelvi ng unit were packe d on a single skid, would a single label still apply? (Each product might contain diff erent compliant materials.) If three different finished goods we re all packed on a single skid, each would need a separate label.

55. What is the expectation for labeling if the finished product contains components from various board manufacturers? Hy pothetically, an order for 10 ,000 bookcases involves 3 mills

and 5 dates of board manufacture (i.e., production). Wh at level of traceability is acceptable? Is it sufficient to list the mills that provide boar d product for any of those 10,000 boo kcases? The label for finished goods only require the fabricator name, production date, and a marking or brief statement to denote that the product complies with the appli cable Phase 1 or Phase 2 emission standard in section 93120.2 (a) (or that the composite wood produ cts in the finished good were made with noadded formaldehyde (NAF) or ultra-low emitting formaldehyde (ULEF) resins. The fabricator label does not need to include the name of the panel manufacturer. The fabricator needs to keep records of panel purchases to demonstrate that all composite wood products used in the finished good comply with the ATCM. Records on the amount of composite wood used to make finished goods would need to reasonably match the amount of complying composite wood purchased from composite wood product mills.

56. When can a manufacturer of particleboard, hardwood plywood, and medium density fiberboard officially designate their composite wood products as CARB-compliant (or refer to their low-emitting products) on their boards? Manufacturers cannot officially label their products as CARB-compliant, or refer to their product as low- emitting, until they have been approved to do so by a CARB-approved third party certifier and, in the case of products made wi th NAF or ULEF resins, by the CARB Executive Officer.

57. If a fabricator (e.g., a furnit ure or cabinet maker) makes a finished good during the sellthrough period with non-complying composite w ood, how should such a fabricator comply with the labeling requirement in the ATCM? The labeling requirement applies to finished goods made with composite wood products that comply with one of the emissions standards. In this case,

the cabinet maker should not l abel the cabinets as complying. The cabinet maker should keep records to be able to demonstrate that the composite wood used in making cabinets was legal for use under the sell-through provisions of the ATCM. These records should include invoices for the composite wood purchased either prior to the applica ble effective dates or during a manufacturer’s, importer’s, or distributor’s sell-through period beyo nd the effective dates. In the latter case, there should be documentation from the manufacturer, impo rter, or distributor that the composite wood was produced before the applicable effective date.

58. Since the enforcement of the rule began January 1st, 2009, I would like to know if there is an official logo we could l ook for to show our customers that the products we are importing/distribut ing are compliant? The regulation requirements on labeling do not require the use of any logo. These provisions are contained in section 93120.7(d)(1), and require that the label 

### Pa g e 10 of 17 Composite Wood Products ATCM

3/11/2013 htt p ://www.arb.ca. g ov/toxics/com p wood/im p lementation/fa q .htminclude: the name of the fabricat or, the date of production and a s hort statement to indicate whether Phase 1 or Phase 2 emissions are being met in the finished good.

59. Is there a “set label” that should be applied? There is no set requirement or restriction on the label material in the regulation. For more information on labeling requirements, including example labels, please refer to our enforcement advisory, available at http://www.arb.ca.gov /toxics/compwood /outreach/advisories.htm.

60. We receive bundles of composite wood produc ts such as hardwood plywood, which are

broken down to several customers. What labeling requirements do we have? If a group of items

are labeled and then divided and di stributed separately, each separate item must be labeled with the same information as required on the original label. It would be acceptable if you take the label that

was affixed to the original bundle or shipping pallet, photocopy the label and af fix one to each subset

created.

61. A final finished product may be composed of numerous small pieces of wood, potentially

from various vendors. How much detail is required to document the chain of custody? That is, can chain-of-custody be established for each batch of material used before the different pieces are combined into the final product? Or does each individual piece in each final product need a chain of custody? At a minimum, records must be kept documenting purchases of compliant composite wood products – HWPW, PB, an d MDF Where different pieces are combined in a final product, fabricators should be able to demon strate how many final products were made using the regulated materials, so a dete rmination can be made if an appropriate supply of raw materials was purchased to make the reported amount of final product.

In the case where there are multiple suppliers of MDF, for example, records need to show that an appropriate amount of final goods were made from the amount of MDF purchased for use. It is important that the supplier(s) can be identified. Fo r a given volume of finished goods, fabricators must be able to demonstrate the amount of MDF, etc. that was used, and records showing that enough compliant MDF was purchased to make the amount of final products that were sold.

62. Certain overseas mills are following California’s Pr oposition 65 and OSHA requirements for formaldehyde warnings on al l products containing such. Does this also present additional

issues with CARB enforcement? No, that is a separate issue fr om the composite wood products regulation. The regul ation is clear as to how products co ntaining Phase 1 and Phase 2 compliant materials need to be labeled, and if there is no l abel, then we must assume that the product does not contain compliant materials.

63. Must the fabricator’s name be on the product or box, if traceability is apparent through use

of visible batch code or other identification? Due to the nature of the import business, many importers and distributors avoid sharing their supp liers with potential com petitors. The regulation requires that the fabricator’s name, and the date the finished good was produced, is applied as a stamp, tag, sticker, or bar code on every finished good produced, or on every box containing finished goods, provided that it is destined for sale or suppl y in California. The wood products industry often

uses brand names or other means to conceal trade secrets such as which manufacturer or fabricator makes a certain product. In recognition of this, as an accepted practice, ARB will allow some flexibility in the labeling requirement for manufacturer or fabric ator name. It is the int ention of the ATCM that the name be included on the label to easily identify the party responsible for the formaldehyde emission characteristics of the board. It is acceptab le for a distributor/importer to replace an original label with a label listing their company name as long as all other information required on the original

label is retained. It should also be noted that if an importer or distributor replaces a label on a finished good, then they assume the liability for the finished good as a fabricator. 

### Pa g e 11 of 17 Composite Wood Products ATCM

3/11/2013 htt p ://www.arb.ca. g ov/toxics/com p wood/im p lementation/fa q .htm64. What labeling and no tification language is a cceptable for fabricat ors of finished goods containing composite wood products? The regulation requires fabricat ors to clearly label finished goods containing HWPW, PB or MDF. CARB strongl y recommends labeling of both the finished good and the box the finished good is contained in. La bels must include, at a minimum, the following

information:

1. Fabricator’s name 2. Date the finished good was produced 3. A statement of compliance to denote that the composite wood product or finished good complies with the ATCM. Finished goods made with all NAF or all ULEF based resins shall be labeled as such.

The intent of the statement must be clear in indica ting compliance with the ATCM and should refer to California, or CARB, and include section 93120. Fo r example, a statement of compliance may read “California 93120 Compliant for Formaldehyde.”

What labeling requirements apply if a finished good only contains NAF products? Products need to be labeled as “NAF” (exa mple: “product was ma de with NAF resin”)

What labeling requirements apply if a fini shed good only contains ULEF products? Products needs to be labeled as “ULEF” (example: “product was made with ULEF resin”)

What labeling requirements apply if a finished good contains NAF and ULEF products? The label need to indicate that the product was made with “NAF and ULEF resin” (example: “product was made with NAF and ULEF resin”)

What labeling requirements apply if a fi nished good contains NAF/ULEF and Phase 2 products? The label should indicate that the finished good contains products that were

made with materials that meet Phase 2 emission standard and products containing NAF/ULEF resins (“product contains Phase 2 products and NAF/ULEF products)

Should fabricators label their finished goods as “CARB-exempt” if they use products containing NAF/ULEF-based resin? No. NAF/ULEF products are not exempt; rather they are subject to different requirements (exemption from third party certification or reduced testing requirements) as compar ed to Phase 1/Phase 2 products.

65. Do component parts need to be labeled? Components parts or replac ement parts that are sold and/or supplied as individual items to anyone in commerce (individual fi nished goods, e.g., in a

situation where a consumer is bu ying a replacement part such as a cabinet door or warranty replacement item) are subjec t to labeling requirements. Component parts and/or replacement parts, that are supp lied to a fabricator (e.g., from a fabricator of component parts), and will be used in a finished good, do not need to be labeled but the invoice or bill of lading must include the st atement of compliance to indicate t hat the shipment of components parts or replacement parts are made of complying composite wood products.

G. No-added Formaldehyde (NAF) and Ultr a-low Emitting Formaldehyde (ULEF) Products

66. I make a veneered raised panel door. If the MDF core meets the NAF/ULEF (no-added formaldehyde/ultra-low emitting formaldehyde) standard, but the splices in the veneer are 

### Pa g e 12 of 17 Composite Wood Products ATCM

3/11/2013 htt p ://www.arb.ca. g ov/toxics/com p wood/im p lementation/fa q .htmglued with UF, will it still meet the NAF/ULEF standard? The "NAF" and “ULEF” designation applies only to manufactured HWPW -VC, HWPW-CC, PB, or MDF pa nels and not to finished goods,

such as doors.

67. The CARB regulation will drive an increase in use of NAF adhesi ves. Some of these

adhesives emit subs tances that are irritating, harmful, and/or hazardous to the human body. An example is free MDI radical s - what is being done to address concerns like this? The ATCM is based on emissions performance standards, which does not dictate resins to be used. We cannot predict whether the use of NAF adhesives will incr ease as a result of th e regulation, given the technological advancements with low-emitti ng urea formaldehyde resins (ULEF). When a manufacturer applies to CARB for certification, we will review the chemical composition of the NAF resin to determine if it qualifies for a NAF designat ion, we may also seek add itional information from the applicant to clarify our asse ssment of the candidate NAF comp osite wood product. Furthermore, manufacturing facilities may also be regulated as stationary sources of emissions. The use of a particular resin, such as MDI, may be regulated by the local or state agencies that issue permits to stationary sources or regulate occupational exposure to chemicals.

68. Would a phenolic-formaldehyde (P F) platform (for example PB or MDF core) overlaid with hardwood veneer with PVA glue be considered a NAF product? No. The NAF designation refers to HWPW-VC, HWPW-CC, PB, and MDF panels ma de entirely with a NAF adhesive (products made with PF resin are not qualified as NAF). However, such composite core plywood could be tested and would probably meet the emissions requirements to be considered a ULEF product.

69. Is there concern that manuf actured products using NAF/U LEF adhesives will act as sponges for formaldehyde when stored next to manufactured products using UF adhesives (e.g., Big Box retail storage)? No. We will be able to determine if the NAF/ULEF products were made with the proper resins, and if the retailer has the proper documentation on-site for both the NAF and ULEF products they offer for sale. In addition , the sample preparation conditioning requirements of ASTM D 6007-02 (small chamber) and ASTM E 1333-96(2002) (large chamber) are designed to address contamination by other products, by achi eving a steady state emission rate prior to measuring the formaldehyde from the NAF/ULEF product.

70. Will CARB randomly test produc t from manufacturers that are using NAF/ULEF adhesives that have exemptions from the Executive Officer? Yes. The integrity of the program depends on consumers having certainty that the products meet the low emissi on standards and there is an effective compliance program.

71. Can a mill that’s been approved to produce NAF/ULEF panels for sale in California also manufacture non-NAF/ULEF pane ls for non-California use? Mills can choose to produce products not subject to the California standards for non-C alifornia customers, bu t could not label those products as legal for sale or use in California. Mo reover, they should inform their customers that if they intend to sell their products to California, they should purchase California compliant composite wood products to make those goods.

72. What are the third party certification re quirements for panel ma nufacturers that produce NAF/ULEF products? Manufacturers of "no-added formaldehyde" (NAF) products have to apply to CARB to be approved as a NAF manufacturer. Emissions data must be included in the application. If the application is approved by CARB, the product manufacturer would be exempt from the TPC requirements for two years, but still subject to field inspection and audits to verify their use of NAF resins. Manufacturers of ultra-low emitting formalde hyde resin (ULEF) products would also have to apply to CARB to be approved as ULEF manufacture r along with providing emissions data with their application. Once the application is approved by CARB, the ULEF manufacturer may be exempt from the TPC requirements for two years or allowed to te st their products less frequently; however, they 

### Pa g e 13 of 17 Composite Wood Products ATCM

3/11/2013 htt p ://www.arb.ca. g ov/toxics/com p wood/im p lementation/fa q .htmwould be subject to field inspection and audits to verify their use of ULEF resins. NAF and ULEF approvals are granted for two-year periods and must be renewed accordingly.

H. Public Health

73. Formaldehyde emissions are significantly lowe r today compared to say 20 years ago on average. Why regulate composite wood products part icularly when most raw board is finished or laminated that encapsulates formaldehyde? Studies show that formaldehyde emissions occur

from both laminated and un-laminated boards and that cu rrent exposures still result in a public health threat. In our view, until the formaldehyde content of the board is reduced, the health risks from exposure to formaldehyde continue to exist. In t he interest of public heal th protection, action is needed to lower formaldehyde contents from composite wood products, which have been identified as major source of formaldehyde in the context of total daily exposure to the general public.

74. What is the target population you are trying to protect? If it is the end users, wouldn't finished goods be the only products to regulate? Why target raw panels th at will be laminated (industrial grade)? The target population is the citizens of California. Because large amounts of formaldehyde are released over time from compos ite wood products made with UF resins, the best solution for reducing public exposure is to reduc e the amount of formaldehyde emitted by composite wood products, which is aligned with the principal of "pollution prevention." In doing this, the amount of formaldehyde emitted in California will be lowered over the useful life of the raw panel or finished product (i.e., decades), regardless of whether the product is laminated or not.

75. What are the specific goals of the propo sed regulations and lower formaldehyde emissions? Improved air quality? By what measu re will it be improv ed? Reduced risk of cancer? By what percent? The specific goal of the proposed regulation is to reduce formaldehyde emissions from HWPW, PB, and MDF through the appl ication of Best Available Control Technology (BACT), in consideration of technological feasibi lity and cost. Improved air quality is a resulting benefit, and implementation of the Ph ase 2 standards are projected to lead to a reduction in statewide formaldehyde emissions of 500 tons per year. Reduced risk of cancer from formaldehyde exposure is also a resulting benefit, and implem entation of the Phase 2 standards is estimated to reduce excess cancer cases per million people from formaldehyde exposure by about 40%.

I. Resin Chemistry

76. In the beginning of this B est Available Control Technolog y (BACT) assessment, the limit was going to be on "unreacted UF molecules." Now it is formaldehyde as a whole, yet PF is one of your (CARB) recomm ended alternatives. Is th is not a contradiction? It is our understanding that the major portion of formaldehyde emissions from products made with UF resins is "unreacted" formaldehyde. While some formaldehyde may be released from previously bound molecules over time, the amount of "unreacted" formaldehyde is known to be much lower in products made with PF or NAF resins. Because the chemical bonds formed by formaldehyde in PF resins are largely irreversible, we believe that the use of PF resins will result in lo wer formaldehyde emissions throughout the life of the composite wood product and would be an effective alternative to the use of UF resin and an example of an ULEF resin system. Innovative ULEF resin systems, based on the use of scavengers, can be an effective alternative as well.

77. Does the new standard distinguish betwee n urea-formaldehyde an d phenol- formaldehyde or for the sake of the rule are they equally regulated? Under CARB staff's original proposed regulation, they were treated equally as both havi ng added formaldehyde and would not qualify as "no -added formaldehyde" resin systems. However, the fi nal regulation includes st aff’s modifications tothe original provision and allows ultra-low-emitting formaldehyde-based resins (such as phenolformaldehyde) to have reduced testing requirements. 

### Pa g e 14 of 17 Composite Wood Products ATCM

3/11/2013 htt p ://www.arb.ca. g ov/toxics/com p wood/im p lementation/fa q .htmJ. Third Party Certification (TPC)

78. Who has to be third party certified? Only manufacturers of HW PW-VC, HWPW-CC, PB, MDF and thin MDF are required to be third party certified.

79. Will CARB supply manufacturers with a list of cer tified third party testing facilities? We maintain a list of approved third party certifiers on our website. Currently, we have approved of close to 40 third party certifiers. For more information on their contact information, please visit our website

at: http://www.arb.ca.gov/toxics /compwood/li stoftpcs.htm

80. Will the supply of testing faci lities meet the demand of test ing (from manufacturing) in a timely manner? Yes, currently the approved TPCs are meeting demand. Many certified testing facilities exist globally and offer ce rtification services both domestica lly and internationally. CARB will make efforts to provide the necessary guidance and ti mely review of the applic ations from prospective third party certifiers.

81. What plans are in place to have certified third party testing facilities internationally? Of the nearly 40 approved TPCs (as of August, 2012), most are providing international services. A list of approved TPCs is available at: http://www.arb.ca.gov/toxi cs/compwood/lis toftpcs.htm

.

82. What has CARB done to address international stakeholders with re spect to third party

certification? CARB approached this issue in three steps. Initially, CARB conducted outreach to major international stakeholders and to the regu lated community abroad. Staff traveled to China and Malaysia to conduct site visits to the Chinese c onsulate and participated in conferences to discuss and explain the CARB ATCM and the standards. CARB’s outreach efforts also include translations of fact sheets, presently available in five languag e (Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, and Indonesian). The translations of the ATCM text ar e available in the above listed languages at the following website: http://www.arb.ca.gov/toxics/co mpwood/outreac h/foreign.htm . Second, CARB also put great emphasis on working with international third party certifie rs to develop the certification program. Thirdly, important modifi cations were made to the rule in order to provide consistency compared to other international standards. CARB staff developed and changed the ATCM to allow the use of the secondary test method (small chamber method) to reduce the worldwide need for large chamber testing. In addition, we allowed alternative quality control test methods to provide consistency with existing test methods used for Japanese and European Union composite wood product regulations. CARB also worked closely wi th the International Wood Panel Association and

made contacts with its member manufacturers.

83. My company is currently accredited to be a product certifier (e.g, ISO Guide 65), testing laboratory (e.g., ISO 17025), a nd inspection body (e.g., ISO 1702 0), and we have years of experience in inspecting compos ite wood products mills and test ing formaldehyde emissions from panels. The scope of our ISO/IEC 17025 includes ASTM D 6007, but does not include ASTM E 1333. Do we have the qualifications to be a CARB-approved Third Party Certifier? Your company can qualify as a TPC if your secondary method (ASTM D 6007) has been deemed equivalent to the primary method (ASTM E 1333), in accordance with title 17, California Code of Regulations, section 93120.9 and the data is inclu ded as part of the TPC application. Unless your ASTM D 6007 chamber is equivalent, it cannot be us ed to verify panel emission levels, for purposes of the ATCM. If you are in the process of establishing equivalence with an ASTM E 1333 chamber, your application may be submitted, but will be deemed “incomplete”. Please note that the demonstration of equivalence will require you to perform the required comparison testing with an ASTM E 1333 chamber operated by a CARB-approved testing laboratory before an approved Executive Order can be granted. A demonstration of equivalence made with a testing laboratory that has not received CARB-approval will not be accepted as valid, for purposes of the ATCM. 

### Pa g e 15 of 17 Composite Wood Products ATCM

3/11/2013 htt p ://www.arb.ca. g ov/toxics/com p wood/im p lementation/fa q .htmK. Sell-through Provisions

84. Where do I find out about exte nsions to sell-through provisions? For questions concerning sell-through provisions and updated information (sell-through extensions) please refer to CARB’s “Regulatory Guidance on Sell-through Provisions” document at: http://www.arb.ca.gov /toxics/compwood /outreach/reggu idance0212.pdf

.

L. Miscellaneous

85. Do other states have a similar regulation? We are unaware of any other State having a similar regulation. However, in 2010, th e federal Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Products Act was signed into law by President Obama. The Ac t establishes formaldehyde emission standards for HWPW, PB and MDF sold, supplied, offered for sale or manufactured in the United States. The law will require U.S. EPA to adopt CARB’s formal dehyde emission standards for composite wood products and to promulgate a regul ation to implement these new federal standards. The law is

scheduled to be effective mid-2013.

86. Are reload warehouses classified as a dist ribution warehouse or a manufacturing

warehouse? Example: take rail cars of product to a reload warehouse and distribute truckloads from there. All warehouses are owned by independent third parties and are established as separate business entities from manufacturing companies. Reload warehouses would be considered as distributors who must take reasonable prudent prec autions to ensure that compliant products are purchased for resale to California.

87. Is an “installer” of architectural woodwork and miscellaneous cabinetry (e.g., on-site milling and matching, setting up, installing, ad justing, positioning, etc.) responsible for recordkeeping under the ATCM? No. The ATCM does not apply to business entities that only install cabinetry for California consumers, since they are not considered to be a fabricator or a manufacturer. As an “installer,” these business entities only put finished goods into service and are not involved in the fabrication, purchase, or sale of products co ntaining the composite wood products for downstream customers. If an installer uses composite wood produc ts in the act of “installing” finished goods in California, then the instal ler must use complying composite wood products.

88. Does a retailer need to kn ow what type(s) of composite wood product(s) a given piece of furniture or finished good contains? Yes, to the degree that it sa tisfies the retailers need to demonstrate “reasonable prudent precautions”. As many components in furniture are made with HWPW, PB or MDF, retailers must work with their suppliers to ensure that the finished goods were made with compliant materials. Re tailers must ask for and receive fr om their suppliers, a statement of compliance that indicates that the finished goods that they are supplied for sale in California were made with composite wood products that comp ly with applicable California standards.

89. The regulation states that no person shall “s upply” any composite wood product which, at the time of sale or manufacture, does not comply with the emission standards. What is meant by “supply”? If a distributor is providing cabinets to a builder or contractor of new homes, the

distributor would be “s upplying” finished goods to his customer.

90. Are refurbished products regarded as used products? Yes. Refurbished or reconditioned items are not sold as new. Hence, they would fall under “used goods’ and not be covered by the regulation.

91. Is an installer (i.e., closet company), w ho purchases full-sized la minated panels, cutting them into shelves, edge banding them and trimming their work for installation considered a 

### Pa g e 16 of 17 Composite Wood Products ATCM

3/11/2013 htt p ://www.arb.ca. g ov/toxics/com p wood/im p lementation/fa q .htmBack to Top | All ARB Contacts | A-Z Index

Decisions Pending and Opportunities for Public Participation Conditions of Use | Privacy Policy | Accessibility How to Request Public Records

The Board is one of five boards, departments, and offices under the umbrella of the California Environmental Protection Agency. Cal/EPA | ARB | DPR | DTSC | OEHHA | SWRCB retailer or fabricator? If a closet company is simply purchasing composite wood products or component parts and then taking them to a consumer and installing shelving/cl osets, then they would be considered as a retailer. In this case, a retailer is not making a new product, simply installing a prefabricated product according to the steps necessary for on-site carpentry, a ssembly and installation. Retailers need to take reasonable prudent precautions to ensure that they obtain compliant composite wood products, and keep records to demonstrate their products comply with the applicable emission standards (Please refer to question #70).

However, if a business exists in which, panels ar e cut, edge banded, and essentially “new fabricated products” are produced, then that business would be considered as a fabricator. In addition to demonstrating the use of complying composite wood products, fabricators also need to label the finished products. To document their purchases and use of compliant materials to California, fabricators must keep records showing the dates of purchase and suppliers of composite wood products that they used.

92. Can noncompliant composite wood panels and/or finished goods be donated after the expiration of an applic able sell-through period? No. Business entities may not opt for donating their noncompliant inventories. In the ATCM (Calif ornia Code of Regulations, title 17, Section 93120 (b)), the purpose is stated as “.....the purpose of this airborne toxic control measure is to reduce formaldehyde emissions from composite wood pro ducts, that are sold, offered for sale, supplied, used, or manufactured for sale in California. By making donations, a business would be “supplying” noncompliant products and potentially exposing the California public to high-emitting and unhealthy products.

93. Are travel goods, including b ackpacks, luggage, leather goods, business and travel accessories, handbags, business and computer cases etc., th at contain small amount of composite wood products subject to the ATCM? Why do I have to use compliant materials if linings and other durable materi als fully encapsulates the comp osite wood products? Under the ATCM, some items such as backpacks, luggage, l eather goods, business, and travel accessories, etc., would be considered finished goods if they contain HWPW, PB or MDF. For these products, you would be subject to the regulatory requirements, provided they are sold or supplied to the California

market.

The ATCM does not allow exemptions for de mi nimus use in finished goods, other than those specifically identified for windows and exterior door s (please see question #47 & #48). The ATCM is an example of pollution prevention because the st rict surface formaldehy de emission standards on composite wood panels will necessitate the use of advanced resins systems that will either eliminate or chemically bind formaldehyde, thereby preventing pollution before it occurs. Therefore, we do not view coverings as emissions mitigation. At some point, even covered high-emitting composite wood products will emit into the atmosphere over ti me as products are worn and damaged. The broad applicability was necessary to ensure that all fabr icators of California finished goods would use only certified lower-emitting composite wood products.

ShareThis 

### Pa g e 17 of 17 Composite Wood Products ATCM

3/11/2013 htt p ://www.arb.ca. g ov/toxics/com p wood/im p lementation/fa q .htm