Home > Media > News > Industry News > Formaldehyde-Free Flooring Comprehensive Guide for Flooring ManufacturersIn the home decoration process, "environmental protection" has long evolved from an optional requirement to a mandatory bottom line. As one of the most widely used decoration materials, the formaldehyde emission issue of flooring has always been the core concern of consumers. Especially with the liberalization of the three-child policy and the improvement of health awareness, more and more families will first ask when decorating: "Is there any formaldehyde-free flooring?"
However, in the market, concepts such as "zero formaldehyde", "formaldehyde-free addition" and "low formaldehyde" are diverse, making it difficult for consumers to distinguish; different merchants have inconsistent publicity, which further confuses the purchasing process. As flooring manufacturers with years of experience in the industry, we deeply understand consumers' concerns and are familiar with the technical standards and practical logic in the industry. This article will comprehensively popularize formaldehyde-free flooring in the most popular language from a professional perspective, helping you understand all the key information from definition to purchasing.
Many consumers mistakenly believe that "formaldehyde-free flooring" is flooring that contains no formaldehyde at all, but from a professional perspective, this understanding needs to be accurately corrected. Combining flooring industry standards and manufacturers' production practices, we can define it clearly as follows:
Formaldehyde-free flooring, accurately speaking, is "formaldehyde-free added flooring", which refers to flooring products that do not actively add any raw and auxiliary materials containing formaldehyde (the core is formaldehyde-free adhesives, formaldehyde-free additives, etc.) during the production process, and the final product meets or exceeds the highest environmental protection standards stipulated by the state in terms of formaldehyde emission after testing.
Two key prerequisites need to be specially explained here: first, "no addition ≠ absolute zero formaldehyde". Because the natural raw materials of flooring (such as wood, bamboo) themselves contain extremely trace amounts of natural formaldehyde, which is a natural attribute, just like apples, bananas and other fruits also release trace amounts of formaldehyde. Its content is far below the threshold harmful to the human body and will not affect health; second, the core judgment criteria are "no active addition during production" and "qualified formaldehyde emission of finished products", both of which are indispensable.
When producing formaldehyde-free flooring, flooring manufacturers will control from the source—all raw and auxiliary materials must undergo formaldehyde testing, especially the adhesives that are the main source of formaldehyde, which must adopt formaldehyde-free formulas to fundamentally eliminate the man-made factors of formaldehyde emission.
For consumers, the most intuitive and reliable basis for judging whether a flooring product is a qualified formaldehyde-free flooring is industry standards and test reports. At present, there are three main levels of standards for formaldehyde emission in China's flooring industry, which are E1 grade, E0 grade and ENF grade from low to high. Among them, ENF grade is the most stringent environmental protection standard at present, and also the core compliance basis for formaldehyde-free flooring.
3.1 Comparison of Core Domestic Environmental Protection Standards
We use clear parameters to help you distinguish the core differences between the three levels, and these data are also the core basis for flooring manufacturers' production and testing:
· E1 grade standard: Formaldehyde emission ≤ 0.124mg/m³ (this is the minimum environmental protection standard for flooring stipulated by the state, and flooring that meets this standard can be used for interior decoration);
· E0 grade standard: Formaldehyde emission ≤ 0.050mg/m³ (it belongs to the mid-to-high-end environmental protection standard and needs to be achieved through stricter production control);
· ENF grade standard: Formaldehyde emission ≤ 0.025mg/m³ (the highest level of the new national standard implemented in 2021, and also one of the most stringent flooring environmental protection standards in the world at present. Basically, all formaldehyde-free flooring takes this as the compliance benchmark).
It should be noted that many consumers equate "E0 grade" with "formaldehyde-free", but from the data, the formaldehyde emission of E0 grade is still higher than that of ENF grade. Regular flooring manufacturers will clearly mark the corresponding environmental protection grade on the product packaging and test reports, and will not blur or confuse the concepts.
3.2 Test Report: How to Read It to Avoid Pitfalls?
In addition to looking at the environmental protection grade marked on the product, checking the authoritative test report is a key step to verify the authenticity of formaldehyde-free flooring. Flooring manufacturers remind consumers that when checking the test report, they should focus on three core points:
· Testing standard: It must be clearly marked that the test is based on GB/T 39600-2021 "Classification of Formaldehyde Emission from Wood-Based Panels and Their Products", which is the official basis for judging the level of formaldehyde emission at present;
· Testing method: Priority should be given to reports tested by the "climate chamber method". This method simulates the actual domestic use environment, and the test results are closer to the real situation, which is the most authoritative testing method at present;
· Testing institution: The report must be issued by a third-party authoritative institution with CMA (China Metrology Accreditation) and CNAS (China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment) qualifications. Avoid recognizing the test data issued by the manufacturer itself.
A qualified formaldehyde-free flooring needs to go through multiple strict processes from raw materials to finished products. The core technology and quality control capabilities of flooring manufacturers directly determine the environmental protection of the products. We will reveal the creation logic of formaldehyde-free flooring for you from the key links of the production process.
Raw materials are the foundation of formaldehyde-free flooring. Flooring manufacturers will establish a strict screening system when selecting materials:
For wood raw materials, they will prioritize environmentally treated solid wood substrates or FSC-certified sustainable wood to avoid additional pollution caused by inferior wood; for auxiliary materials, especially adhesives, they will adopt environmentally friendly formulas such as formaldehyde-free bio-based adhesives and soybean protein adhesives.
Such adhesives do not contain formaldehyde components, fundamentally solving the main source of formaldehyde emission from traditional flooring. In addition, auxiliary materials such as flooring coatings and moisture-proof layers will also choose low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) products to ensure the environmental protection of the entire link.
In the production process, flooring manufacturers will further ensure the quality of formaldehyde-free flooring through refined process control:
In the substrate processing link, high-temperature hot pressing process is adopted instead of the traditional low-temperature slow pressing, which can not only improve the stability of the substrate but also reduce the residue of harmful substances; in the surface treatment link, UV curing coating technology is adopted, which can make the coating cure quickly and reduce the volatilization of VOC; at the same time, manufacturers will set up real-time testing nodes on the production line to sample and test each batch of products to ensure that the formaldehyde emission always meets the ENF grade standard.
Before leaving the factory, formaldehyde-free flooring will go through multiple strict tests: in addition to random inspections by third-party authoritative institutions, flooring manufacturers will establish their own laboratories and conduct full-batch testing of finished products using the climate chamber method. Only when the test results show that the formaldehyde emission is ≤ 0.025mg/m³ and other indicators (such as wear resistance, moisture content, static bending strength, etc.) are up to standard can the products be officially delivered for sale.
After understanding the definition, standards and production logic of formaldehyde-free flooring, the most critical thing is to master practical purchasing skills. Combining the practical experience of flooring manufacturers and common market problems, we have summarized the five-step purchasing method of "looking, checking, smelling, testing and asking" to help you avoid misunderstandings and choose real formaldehyde-free flooring.
First, check the environmental protection grade marking on the product packaging and manual, which must clearly mark "ENF grade" or "formaldehyde emission ≤ 0.025mg/m³", and at the same time mark "formaldehyde-free addition"; second, observe the appearance details of the flooring. High-quality formaldehyde-free flooring has clear surface texture, uniform color, flat edges without burrs, dense substrate texture, and no obvious gaps or defects.
Take the initiative to ask the merchant for the test report issued by a third-party authoritative institution, and verify the testing standard, method and institution qualifications according to the points mentioned earlier to ensure that the report is true and effective; at the same time, check the brand's qualification certificates, and choose products from flooring manufacturers with formal production qualifications and good industry reputation to avoid purchasing three-no products produced by small workshops.
Although the formaldehyde emission of formaldehyde-free flooring is extremely low, the environmental protection can be initially judged by smell. When purchasing, open the flooring packaging and smell the flooring closely. If you smell a strong pungent odor, it is likely that the product has excessive formaldehyde or high VOC content. Even if it is marked as ENF grade, it is not recommended to buy it; high-quality formaldehyde-free flooring only has a faint smell of wood itself, without pungent odor.
Touch the surface of the flooring with your hand. High-quality formaldehyde-free flooring has a smooth and delicate surface without unevenness; try to splice two pieces of flooring together. The joint should fit closely without gaps, and the splicing process should be smooth, indicating that the dimensional accuracy and splicing technology of the flooring are up to standard. In addition, you can gently scratch the surface of the flooring with a hard object. The coating of high-quality flooring is not easy to be scratched, and the wear resistance is good.
Ask the merchant in detail about the raw materials, adhesive type, production process and other details of the product to confirm whether it is formaldehyde-free addition; at the same time, ask about the after-sales service policy, such as warranty period, installation service, return and exchange policy, etc. Regular flooring manufacturers will provide comprehensive after-sales services, such as free on-site measurement, professional installation, and multi-year warranty, which can provide guarantee for subsequent use.
In the market, there are many misleading claims about formaldehyde-free flooring. Combining the professional cognition of flooring manufacturers, we will help you clarify several common misunderstandings:
As clearly stated earlier, the core of formaldehyde-free flooring is "no addition", not "absolute zero formaldehyde". The trace amount of formaldehyde contained in natural wood itself is a normal phenomenon, and its content is far below the standard harmful to human health. Consumers do not need to excessively entangle with "absolute zero formaldehyde", but focus on whether it meets the ENF grade standard.
Price is not the only criterion for judging environmental protection. The price of formaldehyde-free flooring is affected by many factors such as raw materials, craftsmanship and brand. Some brands may have high prices due to brand premium, but their environmental protection may not be better than other cost-effective brands. The key is to look at the test report and environmental protection grade marking. As long as it meets the ENF grade standard, it is a qualified formaldehyde-free flooring.
Flooring is one of the main sources of formaldehyde emission in home decoration, but not the only source. Wall coatings, furniture, soft furnishings and other materials may also release formaldehyde. Therefore, even if formaldehyde-free flooring is chosen, after the completion of decoration, it is still necessary to keep the room ventilated for a period of time and conduct formaldehyde testing to ensure that the overall indoor formaldehyde concentration meets the standard before moving in.
With the upgrading of domestic flooring manufacturing technology, the environmental protection and quality of domestic formaldehyde-free flooring have reached the international advanced level. Many ENF grade products of domestic manufacturers are even better than some imported products. Moreover, domestic products are more in line with China's climate environment and usage habits, with higher cost performance and more convenient after-sales service. There is no need to blindly pursue imports when purchasing; focus on the environmental protection standards and quality of the products themselves.
For consumers, understanding the relevant knowledge of formaldehyde-free flooring and mastering scientific purchasing methods can help them avoid market misunderstandings and choose products that are truly suitable for them. Remember, the core value of formaldehyde-free flooring is not "concept hype", but to provide a healthy and reassuring living environment for the family.
As the organizer of Domotex asia/CHINAFLOOR, which focuses on the communication and development of the flooring industry, we have always paid attention to the trend of environmental protection upgrading in the industry, and deeply understand the importance of high-quality formaldehyde-free flooring to consumers' living health and the high-quality development
of the industry. We remind you here: when purchasing formaldehyde-free flooring, you must choose formal channels and regular brands, and do not buy inferior products to save costs. Health is always the top priority of home decoration, and a qualified formaldehyde-free flooring is worthy of your more attention and choice.
Domotex asia/CHINAFLOOR gathers many high-quality flooring manufacturers from all over the world that adhere to environmental protection bottom lines and have advanced production technologies, focusing on displaying formaldehyde-free flooring products and cutting-edge technologies that meet high-end environmental protection standards such as ENF grade.
We hope to build a professional industry communication and procurement platform to help consumers accurately connect with high-quality brands and promote the development of the entire flooring industry in a more environmentally friendly and healthy direction. Welcome everyone to visit the exhibition to personally experience and understand the core advantages of formaldehyde-free flooring and escort the health of home decoration.
May 27-29, 2026
National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai)
