What is E0 board? The office furniture standard worth asking about

Have you ever noticed how some new furniture gives off a sharp smell for weeks? Most of that is formaldehyde evaporating out of the glue in the board. In an office that is air-conditioned and sealed all day, with limited air exchange, those emissions circulate around your staff for a full eight hours at a time. That is why E0 has become a term modern purchasing teams need to know before signing off on any office furniture order.

Where the formaldehyde in furniture comes from

Most office furniture is made from particleboard or MDF, formed using glue as the binder. Some glues contain formaldehyde, which evaporates gradually after manufacture, most heavily during the first year of use. In sufficient concentration it can irritate the eyes, nose and respiratory tract. When staff complain of stinging eyes or headaches with no obvious cause, the answer is often hiding in the furniture and finishes that were chosen.

E0, E1 and E2 — the difference

The E standards grade how much formaldehyde a board emits: the lower the number, the lower the emission and the safer the board. E2 emits the most and many countries restrict its use indoors. E1 is the level generally accepted for furniture. E0 is the strictest of the group, emitting so little that it approaches natural timber — which makes it the right choice for enclosed spaces like offices and meeting rooms where people spend hours at a stretch. Before you buy, check the following.

• Ask for the board grade in writing — E0 or E1
• Request certification from a credible testing body, such as an SGS test report
• Look at the surface and edge banding: good finishing reduces emission from the board
• Notice the smell in the showroom or when you open the packaging — a strong sharp odour is a warning
• Choose a manufacturer with a real quality system behind it, such as ISO 9001:2015 certification

Better air, better work

Modern office buildings are sealed tight to save energy, so the air inside turns over more slowly than in a house where you can open a window. Choosing low-emission furniture is a health investment that pays off every single day. A team that is not putting up with low-level irritation concentrates better. And for organisations working toward a green building standard or paying attention to indoor air quality, writing a grade like E0 into the purchasing specification is the simplest place to start and the easiest to verify.

The standard WORKSTATION builds to across every series

Every WORKSTATION series — executive desks, cluster desks, boardroom tables and storage alike — is made from E0-grade low-formaldehyde board, finished in water- and scratch-resistant melamine, and certified to ISO 9001:2015, ANSI, BIFMA and SGS, with high-quality wood decors from Schattdecor. You get the look of a premium wood grain and peace of mind about the air in the office at the same time.

Need the full material specification for your purchasing file? Ask for the documents along with a free quote at /quote or call 095-424-4166.