E0 is a formaldehyde emission class used mainly in China and parts of Asia, generally defined as 0.5 mg/L or below on the desiccator test. It sits below the E1 limit of 1.5 mg/L on the same method. It is a board classification, not a global standard.
What the number measures
The desiccator method puts a board sample in a sealed chamber and measures formaldehyde concentration in the air after a set period, expressed in mg/L. E1 is 1.5 mg/L, E0 is 0.5 mg/L. Lower is better, and the test is comparative rather than absolute.
The critical point: mg/L on the desiccator method and ppm on the chamber method are not interchangeable. A board at "E0" is not automatically compliant with CARB P2, and a CARB P2 board is not automatically E0. The test method defines the number.
| Clase | Método | Limitar | donde se usa |
|---|---|---|---|
| E1 | Desiccator, mg/L | 1.5 | China, parts of Asia |
| E0 | Desiccator, mg/L | 0.5 | China, project specifications |
| CARBOHIDRATO P2 | Chamber, ppm | 0.09 (PB) / 0.11 (MDF) | Estados Unidos |
| E1 (ES) | EN 717-1, ppm | 0.124 mg / m³ | Europa |
When E0 is worth specifying
Residential projects with a large board area and limited ventilation — small apartments, wardrobes in bedrooms, children’s rooms. The difference between E1 and E0 is small per board but scales with the number of panels in a room.
It is also a useful commercial signal in markets where buyers recognise the label. In Australia, North America and the EU, the local class is what matters; quoting E0 there is often misunderstood rather than persuasive.
What to ask for instead of the letter
Ask for the test report: which method, which board grade, which factory, which date. A certificate that names the factory but not the board grade proves very little, because most factories buy board from several suppliers.
Also ask whether the certificate covers the batch. Board is tested periodically, not continuously, so a report from last year may not describe the panels in your container.
Preguntas frecuentes
¿Es E0 mejor que E1?
Yes on the same test method — 0.5 mg/L against 1.5 mg/L. But the comparison only holds within the desiccator method; it does not tell you whether the board meets CARB P2 or the European E1 limit.
Is E0 the same as CARB P2?
No. E0 is a desiccator result in mg/L; CARB P2 is a chamber result in ppm. Different methods, different numbers, no direct conversion.
Do I need E0 for an Australian project?
Not necessarily. Australia references E1 and, for some applications, low-emission board under AS/NZS. Specify the standard the project actually cites rather than a label from another market.
Can a factory supply E0 board without a test report?
It can claim it. Without a report naming the board grade and date, the claim is unverifiable and should be treated as marketing.
