Air board rules lift furniture costs

A SierraPine mill in Rocklin is one of 55 composite wood products manufacturers that meet state Air Resources Board restrictions on formaldehyde, the air board said this week.

Formaldehyde, used in wood-binding adhesives and resins, is a carcinogen and can irritate the lungs. California’s formaldehyde cap takes effect in January for manufacturers of hardwood plywood, particle board, medium-density fiberboard and thin medium-density fiberboard. The state will impose similar restrictions in June for hardwood plywood with a composite core.

The air board expects the regulation will increase the cost of a four-by-eight-foot panel by $1 to $2. It’s likely to raise costs for furniture producers, cabinet makers, importers, distributors and retailers, all of whom may be inspected by the Air Board for compliance with the regulation.

The state estimates the new limits will cut formaldehyde emissions by 680 tons per year.

A list of compliant mills is available at www.arb.ca.gov/toxics/compwood/compwood.htm. SierraPine, based in Roseville, has the only mill in the four-county Sacramento region that meets the new limits.