CARB P2 (California Air Resources Board Phase 2) sets formaldehyde emission limits for composite wood sold in California: 0.09 ppm for particleboard, 0.11 ppm for MDF, and 0.13 ppm for thin MDF. The same limits were adopted federally in the US under TSCA Title VI, so in practice P2 compliance is the entry requirement for the US market.
The numbers, by board type
The limit depends on the board, not on the finished cabinet. Particleboard is held to 0.09 ppm, MDF to 0.11 ppm, and thin MDF (under 8 mm) to 0.13 ppm. A cabinet containing both particleboard and MDF has to satisfy both limits for the respective panels.
Testing is by chamber method (ASTM D6007), expressed in ppm. This is a different method from the desiccator test behind the Chinese E1/E0 labels, so the figures cannot be compared or converted.
| Type de tableau | Limite (ppm) | Méthode d'essai |
|---|---|---|
| Panneaux de particules | 0.09 | ASTM D6007 chamber |
| MDF | 0.11 | ASTM D6007 chamber |
| Thin MDF (<8 mm) | 0.13 | ASTM D6007 chamber |
| Produits finis | Panel limits apply | Composite core assessed |
Ce que la conformité exige réellement
It is not a self-declaration. Panel producers must be certified by a CARB-approved third-party certifier, work to a quality control manual, and label panels with the producer, lot and compliance statement. Importers and fabricators downstream are expected to keep records showing the board they used.
For a factory exporting finished cabinets, that means traceability from the panel label to the shipment. A certificate for the factory is not the same as a certificate for the board in this container.
The three failures we see
Mixed board. A factory buys P2-certified particleboard for carcasses but standard MDF for doors, and the finished unit does not comply. Both panels have to meet their own limit.
Expired or generic certificates. CARB certification is maintained through ongoing testing; a certificate from several years ago, or one that names no board grade, is not evidence.
Labels removed. Panels are often de-labelled during cutting, so the traceability is lost before the cabinet is packed. Ask how the factory records board lot against production batch.
Foire aux questions
Is CARB P2 the same as E0?
No. P2 is a chamber result in ppm by board type; E0 is a desiccator result in mg/L. Different methods, no direct conversion, and neither implies the other.
Does CARB P2 apply outside California?
The federal TSCA Title VI rule adopts the same limits across the United States, so in practice P2-level compliance is required for the whole US market.
Quelles preuves un fournisseur doit-il fournir ?
A certificate naming the board producer, the board type and grade, the certifier, and a recent test date — plus a record linking that board lot to your shipment.
Can a P2 cabinet use E0 board?
Only if the board also holds P2 certification. E0 is a different method and does not satisfy the US requirement on its own.
