The EPH is an acknowledged THIRD PARTY CERTIFIER (TPC) of the CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD (CARB) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
On 11 August 2008, the Entwicklungs- und Prüflabor Holztechnologie GmbH (EPH) was recognised by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) as “Third Party Certifier (TPC) of Composite Wood Products”.
In June 2017, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officially recognised the EPH as the first European TPC for the surveillance and certification acc. to the new “Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Products Act, TSCA Title VI – 40 CFR Part 770”.
As a TPC, the EPH has the CARB Registration No. TPC-010. (see EXECUTIVE ORDER)
CARB/EPA reapproval granted
In a notification dated 7 January 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) has confirmed that the Entwicklungs- und Prüflabor Holztechnologie GmbH (EPH), Dresden, meets all requirements as a Third Party Certifier and continues to be recognised (under the label TPC-010) for surveillance and certifying formaldehyde emissions from wood-based materials and timber products according to the ATCM rules. This was also confirmed by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in a further announcement on April 11. This recognition granted after extensive examination also includes the activities of the worldwide listed EPH partners and representatives and will remain valid for the next two years.
EPH currently monitors 41 plants worldwide. For this purpose, 20 of 104 of EPH`s test chambers are continuously used for emission testing under CARB/EPA. (as of April 2025)
The following methods meeting IKEA and CARB requirements are available for formaldehyde testing:
- Test chamber method according to DIN EN 717-1 (test chamber size 0.225 m³, 1 m³, > 12 m³)
- Gas analysis method according to DIN EN 717-2 and DIN EN ISO 12460-3
- Perforator method according to DIN EN 120 and DIN EN ISO 12460-5
- Desiccator method according to JIS A 1460, ASTM D 5582
- Test chamber method according to ASTM E 1333 (test chamber size > 23 m³)
- Test chamber method according to ASTM D 6007 (test chamber size 0,1 m³ to 1.0 m³)
With a TSCA Title VI certification the requirements of the future Canadian Formaldehyde Regulation (CANFER) are also fulfilled.
