Consideration to the air environment

We realize the important issue to manufacture resident-friendly products by reducing the amount of chemical substance discharge.

Asahi WoodTech has been aware of formaldehyde emission, which has been recognized as target guideline substance specified by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, to clear the test for obtaining the highest grade of F☆☆☆☆ in all products, which is not subject to the restriction of the use area according to the Building Standard Law.

Regarding four VOCs (*), such as toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene and stilbene, the company has been engaged to clear "the emission rate standard of construction material" defined by the committee composed of members of the Japan Testing Center for Construction Material, scholars and experts, and industry officials. Once it is cleared the standard, the product is displayed with "4-VOS standard compliance."
*VOC: volatile organic compound

Also, other chemical substances, defined as target substance guideline specified by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, are confirmed not to use according to MSDS.

All products have been manufactured to create a comfortable and healthy indoor environment including insect processing without using chlorpyrifos.

Realization of obtaining F☆☆☆☆ in all products from Asahi WoodTech

It becomes a subject of discussion of "sick building syndrome" for people who are moved into new house and renovated house, resulting in the reconsideration for a variety of VOC emission including formaldehyde derived from various wood materials for construction. It becomes more strict for formaldehyde use according to the revised Building Standard Law in 2003. Asahi WoodTech has accomplished the performance of wood product with F☆☆☆☆ by promoting technology development for substantial a reduction of VOC emission including formaldehyde from all interior building construction materials in order to maintain healthy air environment in living area without worrying about use space.

What is F☆☆☆☆?

F☆☆☆☆ (F four stars) represents a grade for emission levels of causative hazardous substances, such as formaldehyde, that cause building sick syndrome. The levels are graded according to the number of stars by JIS (Japan Industrial Standards Committee), JAS (Japan Agricultural Standard) or the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation. Products with F☆☆☆☆ is classified as the highest grade with containing the lowest levels of hazardous substance emission, suggesting that these products can be used without the restriction under the Building Standard Law.

Corresponding to the voluntary labelling system for 4-VOC emission

After informing the usage restriction of formaldehyde and chlorpyrifos under the revised building standard law in July of 2003, the Japan Testing Center for Construction Material composing of scholars and experts, and industry officials has established "the group for standardization of VOC emission rate from building materials" to enact "Standard Emission Rate of VOC for Building Materials," which is applied to the testing method and establishing standard value for 4 VOCs, such as toluene, xylene, ethybenzene and styrene. This is the voluntary guideline established by the group. In response to this voluntary guideline, other industry organizations including the Japan Construction Material & Housing Equipment Industries Federation (hereinafter referred to J-CHIF), the VOC voluntary labeling guideline has been established, which is now in operation. Asahi WoodTech has been promoting the acquisition of certification of "compliance with 4-VOC" (registered trademark of J-CHIF). The products with the certification are displayed with "compliance with 4-VOC" in catalogue and homepage according to "the guideline for displaying VOC levels for housing materials" in order for customers to select products with the lesser effects of indoor-pollution by VOC.

Target VOC and standard emission rate

Target substance Standard value of emission rate Asahi WoodTech guideline*
Toluene 38μg/m²h Confirm not to be used as raw material based on MSDS data sheet.
Xylene 120μg/m²h
Ethylbenzene 550μg/m²h
Styrene 32μg/m²h
* Some materials are certified by Results of Test Reports
Standard values of emission rate defined by "Society for Standardization of VOC Emission Rate" are not fulfilled the environmental regulation under a high temperature over 28 ºC, since the values are targeted below the guideline value of indoor temperature for subjected VOCs specified by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare under the normal assumed temperature conditions.