Blockboard Quality and Selection Guide: Avoid Mistakes and Choose Eco-Friendly Panels
As a core base material for interior decoration and furniture manufacturing, the quality of blockboard is directly related to living safety and service durability. The quality of products on the market varies greatly, and problems such as excessive formaldehyde emission and loose structure occur from time to time, making it difficult for consumers to choose.
Core Quality Indicators: Environmental Protection and Structure Are Key
The quality of blockboard depends on two core dimensions: environmental performance and structural stability. In terms of environmental protection, formaldehyde emission is the primary assessment indicator. According to the national standard GB/T 39600-2021, the formaldehyde emission of blockboard is divided into three levels: ENF grade (≤0.025mg/m³), E0 grade (≤0.050mg/m³) and E1 grade (≤0.124mg/m³), among which ENF grade is the current highest environmental protection standard. Excessive formaldehyde emission is mostly caused by the use of inferior urea-formaldehyde glue in production. Long-term volatilization will seriously affect human health. Therefore, ENF or E0 grade products should be preferred for interior decoration. Structural stability relies on bonding strength, moisture content and core strip splicing quality. Insufficient bonding strength is likely to cause delamination and cracking of the board. Imbalanced moisture content (standard range 10%-13%) will lead to warping and deformation during use. The density and uniformity of core strip splicing directly determine the load-bearing capacity of the board.
Appearance Identification: Judge Basic Quality from Details
Appearance observation is an effective means of preliminary screening high-quality blockboard, and it is necessary to focus on marks, surface conditions and core strip arrangement. First, check the product marks. Regular products should clearly mark the grade, formaldehyde emission level, service environment (indoor/outdoor) and other information on the board. Products with vague or missing marks should be chosen with caution. Secondly, observe the surface. High-quality core strips are arranged evenly and neatly with minimal gaps, no decay, moth-eaten, fracture and other defects. The width of the core strip should not exceed 2.5 times the thickness, otherwise it is prone to deformation.
Practical Testing: Hand Feel and Sound Assist in Judging Internal Quality
In addition to appearance, the internal quality of blockboard can be further judged by hand feel and sound identification. In terms of hand feel, stroke the surface of the board with the palm of the hand. High-quality boards are dry and smooth without burrs pricking the hand; when lifting the board, it should have an overall sense of weight. Boards with good dryness are not bloated but not loose and light. There are two ways to identify sound: first, lift one side of the board and shake it up and down. If you hear the sound of wood stretching and breaking such as “creaking”, it indicates that the internal core strip has large splicing gaps or weak bonding; second, tap the surface of the board lightly with a hard object. Clear and uniform sound indicates that the board has high density and compact structure, while dull or fluctuating sound may indicate internal voids. In addition, lean close to the cut of the board and smell it. Those emitting a natural wood fragrance have low formaldehyde emission, while those with a strong pungent smell are likely to exceed the standard.
Usage Tips: Compliance and Usage Control
After purchasing, it is also necessary to pay attention to compliance and usage dosage to further ensure living safety. When purchasing, you should ask the merchant for test reports and quality certificates, clarify that the product meets the requirements of national standards such as GB/T 5849, and indicate the formaldehyde grade on the invoice. In terms of use, only E1 grade and above products can be used for interior decoration. Even if E2 grade products are qualified, due to their high formaldehyde content, they can only be used after facing treatment. In terms of dosage, the usage amount of a 100-square-meter residence should not exceed 20 sheets to avoid excessive total indoor formaldehyde content due to cumulative effect. It is especially not recommended to use blockboard as a base plate under the floor to prevent long-term accumulation of formaldehyde that is difficult to volatilize.
In summary, the selection of blockboard should focus on the three cores of environmental protection grade, structural craftsmanship and appearance details, combined with practical testing methods such as hand feel and sound, to avoid weight misunderstandings and business hype traps. Prioritizing the selection of high-grade products with standardized marks and qualified craftsmanship, and controlling the usage dosage, can balance living safety and service durability.