Preliminary survey report: control technology for formaldehyde emissions at Jasper Laminates, Jasper, Indiana, October 19, 1982

Technical Report · Fri Jul 29 04:00:00 EDT 1983

OSTI ID:5910320

Mortimer, V D

An onsite visit was made to Jasper Laminates, Jasper, Indiana to observe the processes used in veneering wood panels by a heater platen press method, and methods of controlling formaldehyde emissions. The facility produced panels for pianos, organs, office furniture and other wood products, using primarily the hot press process along with some radiofrequency (RF) pressing of curved panels and small parts. The glue most often used was a urea/formaldehyde resin adhesive. The hot presses were located under one large ventilated enclosure, measuring about 20 by 150 feet. There were also eight ventilation fans in the ceiling and auxiliary fans used to provide additional cooling air for workers and for the caul plates. Therefore, the primary methods of controlling formaldehyde exposure were dispersion, using auxiliary fans, and area ventilation. No partial-shift-time weighted-average formaldehyde concentrations were measured at over 1 part per million (ppm). For two workers unloading different hot presses, short-term breathing-zone concentrations occasionally reached 2 ppm. The author concludes that this facility offers the opportunity to study large-scale area ventilation with passive make-up air supply, and the appropriate use of auxiliary fans.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5910320
• Report Number(s): PB-89-137897/XAB; ECTB-108-28A
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
552000 -- Public Health
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
ADHESIVES
AIR FLOW
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
ALDEHYDES
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
ENGINEERING
EQUIPMENT
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
FORMALDEHYDE
FURNITURE INDUSTRY
GAS FLOW
GASES
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INDUSTRY
INSPECTION
MATERIALS
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
SAFETY ENGINEERING
VAPORS
VENTILATION
WOOD PRODUCTS INDUSTRY