Non Toxic Laminate Flooring: Guide and Related Brands

Laminate has been a great alternative for homeowners that love the look of hardwood flooring, but not the price. This popular type of flooring has been around for decades, but it has hit a few bumps in the road along the way. Misconceptions about the toxic nature of laminate flooring have turned homeowners away, and it’s something we’re going to help clear up by touching on VOCs and the manufacturing process itself.

Toxic Laminate Problems

There’s a strong chance you’ve heard about how laminate flooring can be toxic. You may also wonder if there’s any truth to that or if it’s strictly a myth, which is what we are going to clear up. Unfortunately, those rumors are true and there was a time when toxic laminate flooring was sold throughout the United States.

The issue was first brought to light in 2015 through a report by CNN's Anderson Cooper. Lumber Liquidators were found to have sold laminate that was imported from China that contained high levels of formaldehyde. The Consumer Safety Commission tested the levels in flooring sold between 2012-2014 and found that it far exceeded guidelines.

Since that time, several other companies have been involved in class action suits over selling laminate that may have contained high levels of formaldehyde. This resulted in tighter restrictions on manufacturers that produce and import flooring. CARB and other standards are no in place to safeguard consumers, although it’s a good idea to understand why it was considered toxic in the first place.

Why some Laminate Flooring is Considered Toxic

A little background into the toxic laminate issue is a must if you want to understand why some laminate was deemed toxic. The word itself is broad, however, so you have to dig a little deeper to find out what causes any type of flooring to be harmful in your home.

The main word to keep in mind with laminate flooring is off-gassing. This refers to the release of “gas” from items or objects over time and is something most of us have experienced in some form. It’s common with synthetic items like boxed mattresses, carpets, rugs, and vinyl windows or blinds. It’s also easy to diagnose as the smell can be strong enough to send you out of the room with some items.

While it’s common for some items to need to be “aired out” before they can be fully enjoyed, VOCs are the problem. Volatile organic compounds can leech off objects and into the air in your home, which directly affects your indoor air quality. With laminate flooring, the main source of VOCs comes from the binders and adhesives used to bond the flooring layers together, but it’s not the only issue.

The top coat or even the ink used for laminate flooring can also off-gas along with glue if it’s not a floating floor system. Of all the chemicals used, formaldehyde is the biggest concern according to the CDC. It’s also something that can be remedied to a degree depending on the situation, so there’s no need to plan for a remodel just yet.

Steps to reduce VOCs

You could have low levels of formaldehyde in your home and never realize it or become affected. That’s not the case for the elderly, children, or people with preexisting respiratory conditions, however. Exposure to formaldehyde and other harmful VOCs can cause breathing issues and irritation in the short term but can lead to larger problems over time.

Studies have shown links to forms of cancer and exposure to “high” levels of formaldehyde in certain environments, so it’s something you definitely want to avoid indoors. Even shorter exposure times could increase the chance for cancer if you already have poor-quality flooring in your home. That said, older flooring may already be down to acceptable indoor levels indoors.

Some flooring may have a period of acclimation before it’s installed, which can help with off-gassing. Opening windows while unboxing the flooring and using exhaust fans before and after the installation will reduce odors and VOCs as well. Keep anything in mind that might raise formaldehyde levels including smoking indoors, and choose click-lock flooring for new installations over glue-down laminate.

How Laminate Flooring is Certified

When you purchase flooring in the United States, there are a number of certifications you can look for that let you know the flooring is safe to use indoors. The agencies can vary depending on the style, and one of the leaders for laminate flooring is NALFA or the North American Laminate Flooring Association.

They have set the standards and testing methods since 1997 for laminate flooring, but deal more with structural issues than indoor air quality. If you want to ensure the flooring won’t produce a high level of VOCs indoors, you need to look for laminate that carries the highest certification which is known as GreenGuard Gold.

Laminate flooring with GreenGuard Gold certification carries the highest guarantee with stricter standards. The limit is set for 220 μg/m3 total VOCs and covers more chemicals than their regular stamp. By comparison, products that are only GreenGuard certified are rated at 500 μg/m3 total VOCs. Laminate carrying either of these labels is safe to use indoors with a minimal amount of VOCs.

FloorScore is another type of certification commonly used by laminate manufacturers, although not quite as stringent as GreenGuard Gold. The range is still set at 500 μg/m3, but they don’t cover quite as many VOCs. With either standard, you’ll need to contact the manufacturer directly for an exact number as the ratings just prove they are under a certain threshold.

It’s also important to note that even “trace” levels of VOCs within those certified ranges may prove to be unacceptable to people with an underlying respiratory condition. If you are sensitive to a specific chemical, you may want to consider a more natural style of flooring.

Best Low VOC Laminate Brands

If you want to install new laminate flooring that’s been certified by GreenGuard or FloorScore, there are no shortage of options available. Narrowing them down can be challenging, however, especially with some online retailers. Locally, you should be able to find the certification label directly on the packaging for the laminate flooring.

As you can see from our table, certification varies from CARB 2 Compliant to GreenGuard Gold depending on the brand and style. We found that some manufacturers forgo either certification for CARB 2 compliance while premium planks are usually GreenGuard certified. Flooring with gold certification does come at a slight premium, although the difference is minimal with some brands.

Final Thoughts

There are a variety of ways to ensure the air inside your home is healthy from purifiers to special air filtration systems. While there is only so much you can do to prevent off-gassing from permanent fixtures like flooring, choosing a non-toxic type of laminate is the best way to keep the levels down indoors.

FAQ

Q: Are there any laminate manufacturers that produce No VOC flooring?

A: Because of the way laminate flooring is produced, there will always be a trace of VOCs due to the binders and adhesives used in its construction.

Q: What are the side effects of exposure to VOCs?

A: Extended exposure to chemicals like formaldehyde could potentially increase the risk of cancer, but shorter periods of time can irritate the throat, eyes, and nose. It may also aggravate symptoms in people that have asthma or COPD.

Q: Can I reduce toxic VOCs with houseplants?

A: Several plants are known to freshen up the air and help reduce VOCs indoors. A few examples are the Peace Lily and Bamboo Palm although the impact is minimal compared to other methods of VOC reduction.

Q: Is CARB compliant better than GreenGuard Gold?

A: No. CARB is the standard set by the California Air Resource Board for VOCs. While stringent and nationally adopted in a variety of industries, GreenGuard Gold is top-tier certification.

Q: What types of VOCs are produced by carpets?

A: That varies, but if you want to ensure the carpet or rug in your home produces safe levels, make sure it has the CRI Green Label+ Certification.