Formaldehyde in furniture: is E1 still enough?

A furniture quotation arrives: 18 mm laminated particleboard, ABS edging, E1.

The thickness is clear. The edging is clear. The emission class looks familiar, so attention moves to the price and delivery date.

For orders entering the EU market in autumn 2026, that familiar designation deserves another look. E1 tells you something about the board. It does not, by itself, confirm that the finished furniture meets the current formaldehyde requirements.

Where formaldehyde comes from

Formaldehyde is used to manufacture some of the resins that bind wood particles, fibres and veneer layers together. Materials made with these resins can release formaldehyde into the surrounding air. That is why emissions are relevant when selecting particleboard, MDF or plywood for furniture. ECHA background information

Knowing the material type is a starting point. A buyer also needs to understand its measured emissions and how that information relates to the product being ordered.

What E1 tells you - and what has changed

The European E1 classification for wood-based panels has a chamber-test ceiling of 0.124 mg/m³ under EN 717-1 . A particular panel may achieve a substantially lower result. Wood Panel Industries Federation, PanelGuide

Since August 2026, the new EU restriction sets a limit of 0.062 mg/m³ for furniture and wood-based articles within its scope , measured under specified test conditions. The restriction includes exemptions, so the product and its intended use also matter. EU Regulation 2023/1464

The distinction is straightforward: the E1 ceiling is higher than the new limit. A panel labelled E1 may also meet the stricter requirement, but the label alone does not establish that.

This is a reason to ask for the relevant evidence, rather than automatically accept or reject a material because its specification says E1.

A cabinet brings several materials together

Consider a school storage cabinet. Its sides and shelves may use one board, while the back panel uses another. Doors, coatings and adhesives are also part of the construction.

The EU limit applies to the complete furniture item. Component tests can support its assessment under certain conditions, provided the complete product’s emissions can be verified and no formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing substances are added during or after assembly. French national REACH helpdesk

That becomes particularly relevant when materials change.

Suppose a supplier offers a replacement board with the same thickness, decor and E1 classification. It may be entirely suitable. Before approving the substitution, ask whether the evidence still covers the revised construction.

Keep that answer with the agreed specification. It gives both parties a reference for production and repeat orders.

The smallest number does not automatically win

In a chamber test, a specimen is placed inside a closed chamber with controlled conditions. Air is sampled to determine the formaldehyde released by the material. Repeated measurements establish the steady-state concentration. EN 717-1 chamber method

A result therefore needs its test conditions alongside it. Temperature, humidity, air exchange and the amount of material in the chamber all belong to the assessment. Results from different conditions require a scientifically valid correlation before they can be used against the EU reference conditions. CATAS technical guidance

Chamber testing measures formaldehyde released into the air by a material. Results must be compared with the test conditions in mind. Schematic illustration; the chamber remains closed during testing.

When reviewing two quotations, a useful comparison connects three things: the proposed material, the supporting result and the finished furniture it covers.

For a distributor, this also makes the next conversation easier. When a school or project manager asks about emissions, you have a specific answer relating to the products being supplied.

At GEROM, we encourage partners to include material and emission requirements in the initial project brief, alongside dimensions, quantities and delivery dates.