JIS A 1460 Determination of Formaldehyde Emission from Building Boards - Drying Pan Method

The "JIS A 1460 Determination of formaldehyde emissions from building panels - Drying pan method" standard, developed by the Japan Industrial Standards Agency (JIS), describes a method for determining the amount of formaldehyde emitted from building panels.

The test to determine the amount of formaldehyde released from building panels using the desiccator method is performed using a glass desiccator as shown in the standard. Test samples with a specified surface area are placed in the desiccator containing a specified amount of distilled water or ionized water under a controlled temperature. The formaldehyde concentration absorbed in the distilled water or ionized water is measured after 24 hours.

The principle for determining the concentration of formaldehyde absorbed in distilled water or ionized water is based on the Hantzsch reaction, in which formaldehyde reacts with ammonium ions and acetylacetone to form diacetyldihydrolutide.

Test site conditions should be at a temperature of 20 degrees plus/minus 0,5 degrees, as specified in the JIS Z 8703 standard. Common conditions are as follows.

• General principles common to chemical analysis should conform to the JIS K 0050 standard.
• The water used in this standard must be equivalent to class A1 to A4 as specified in JIS K 0557, or ion exchange water, or distilled water.

Test specimens are cut from selected boards according to a reasonable sampling plan. This plan is created taking into account the necessary conditions for examining the properties of the building boards (e.g., avoiding edge cutting). The cutting of test specimens is done according to the JIS A 1902-1 standard.

The test specimen should be 150 mm plus/minus 1 mm in length and 50 mm plus/minus 1 mm in width. The number of test specimens should be such that the total surface area, defined as the sum of the areas of the end, side, and front surfaces, is as close as possible to 1800 cm², and two sets should be prepared.

The terms and conditions are as follows:

• Test specimens are conditioned under standard conditions at a temperature of 20 degrees plus/minus 2 degrees and a relative humidity of 65 percent plus/minus 5 percent, as specified in JIS Z 8703, until constant mass is achieved. Constant mass is considered to have been achieved if the results of two consecutive weighings, performed 24 hours apart, do not differ by more than 0,1 percent of the test specimen's mass. Furthermore, constant mass can be considered achieved if one week has passed since the start of conditioning.
• Each test specimen is placed at least 25 mm apart from each other, with all surfaces freely exposed to the air under standard conditions as shown above. Test specimens with low formaldehyde emission levels may absorb formaldehyde from the surrounding environment, therefore care should be taken during conditioning.

Many physical, mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties of materials and products are sensitive to temperature, relative humidity, and to a lesser extent, atmospheric pressure. To ensure comparable and reliable test results across different laboratories, organizations, or time periods, tests must be conducted under controlled and standardized atmospheric conditions (or samples must be preconditioned). The JIS Z 8703 standard defines precisely these reference conditions.

In short, the JIS A 1460 standard defines a standardized test method for measuring the amount of formaldehyde emitted from building boards (such as plywood, particleboard, fiberboard, and other wood-based panels commonly used in construction and furniture). Formaldehyde is a volatile organic compound (VOC) frequently found in adhesives (particularly urea-formaldehyde resins) used in composite wood products. Long-term exposure to high formaldehyde emissions indoors can pose health risks, including irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat, and is classified as a carcinogen.

The JIS A 1460 standard provides a reliable and reproducible method for measuring formaldehyde emissions and helps manufacturers ensure their products meet regulatory limits and international requirements for low-emission materials.

The essence of the JIS A 1460 standard is the drying vessel method, a small-scale chamber test performed under controlled conditions. The basic steps are as follows:

• Sample preparation: Test samples are cut from the building board (typically 20 pieces of the specified size, e.g., 150 mm x 50 mm or similar, the total exposed area is calculated).
• Drying dish setup: Samples are placed in a glass drying dish (typically 9-11 liters) with distilled water at the bottom to maintain high humidity (approximately 100% relative humidity).
• Conditioning and exposure: The drying container is closed and kept at a constant temperature (typically 20 degrees plus/minus 1 degree) for 24 hours plus/minus 0,5 hours.
• Formaldehyde collection: During this process, formaldehyde released from the samples is absorbed into the water.
• Analysis: After 24 hours, the water is analyzed for formaldehyde concentration using a standard colorimetric method (e.g., the acetylacetone method or a similar spectrophotometric technique referenced in the standard).
• Calculation: Results are expressed as formaldehyde emission rate (concentration in the absorption solution) in mg/L.

The method is relatively simple and cost-effective and is widely used for quality control and product certification.

It is often compared to or used in conjunction with the following standards:

• ISO 12460-3 Wood-based panels - Determination of formaldehyde emissions - Part 3: Gas analysis method
• EN 717-1 Wood-based panels - Determination of formaldehyde emission - Part 1: Formaldehyde emission by room method
• GB 18580 Interior decoration and renovation materials - Formaldehyde emission limit for wood-based panels and cladding products.

With increasing global awareness of indoor air quality, the JIS A 1460 standard continues to play a significant role in the production of safer and lower-emission wood-based products. The latest update improves precision, updates references to newer analytical standards, and addresses harmonization needs.

For many years, our organization, with its competent and experienced staff, has been understanding the needs of its clients, providing the advanced testing services they require, and assisting them in the establishment, implementation, and improvement of management systems. Within this framework, we also provide testing services compliant with the JIS A 1460 standard.