In modern times, we often have to think about how harmful this or that material used in construction is. Plywood or OSB boards are very popular today. But are they safe for human health? Let's figure it out together!
The manufacturing technologies for these materials are similar to each other. The main element of both plywood and OSB is wood and a binder that helps to bond wood chips or veneers together.
OSB boards
There are 4 classes of OSB boards, each of which is marked with a corresponding number: 1, 2, 3 and 4. The higher the class, the stronger the material and the better its moisture resistant characteristics.
Formaldehyde is present in the binder mass of OSB boards. Therefore, the material needs mandatory preliminary processing. Otherwise, it will release substances hazardous to human health. In addition, it is not recommended to place OSB in places where they will be exposed to high temperatures.
According to DIN EN 120 there is a certain label that indicates the emission of hazardous substances, including formaldehyde. It looks like this: E0-E3.
The smallest indicator for this labeling is 6.2 mg per 100 grams of dry matter, and the largest is 35 mg. It can be concluded that the safest will be OSB plates marked with E0.
Plywood sheets
This material is also classified, but not all hardware stores offer a wide range of sheet plywood.
The sheets that are least dangerous to humans are marked FBA, FC, FB. Moreover, the first two types are suitable for interior work, and the third one can be used in rooms with high humidity.
As a rule, in stores there are sheets with the FC marking. They contain formaldehyde in an amount of up to 9 mg for every 100 grams. You can also find FSF plywood on sale, the content of a harmful substance in it exceeds the maximum permissible values (up to 35 mg per 100 grams).
I want to say at the end that the average customer sees the most popular OSB-3 boards in stores. However, they are not suitable for indoor work because they contain a large amount of formaldehyde. For interior work, it is better to opt for FC plywood.
Don't forget about labeling materials! It is dangerous to use the material without knowing its direct purpose!
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