Smith & Fong Co., manufacturer of Plyboo bamboo and DuraPalm palm architectural plywood and flooring, issued a statement to its customers and members of the architecture, design and green-building industries, which reiterated the company’s commitment to IAQ, toxin-free manufacturing and low-or-no-VOC interior finishes, according to Smith & Fong Founder Dan Smith.
The statement was delivered on the heels of recent media exposure of formaldehyde-laced Chinese-made laminate flooring imported by a large, U.S.-based discount-flooring chain.
“Environmental health is one of the cornerstones upon which Smith & Fong built its business 26 years ago,” says Smith. “Our products are third-party tested to meet the stringent environmental requirements of California’s Section 01350 specification protocols, which not only take into account formaldehyde, but 35 additional chemical compounds used in manufactured goods.”
During the past decade, Smith & Fong has painstakingly tested its entire product range to ensure that it meets all California and federal emissions standards. In 2008, the company began adopting soy resins for its core bamboo plywood and flooring products. Its Plyboo bamboo flooring is FloorScore-certified, a process that requires on-site factory inspections, rigorous documentation procedures and, again, California Section 01350 testing.
Smith & Fong’s bamboo flooring and panels can contribute toward three different USGBC LEED credits (MR 6 Rapidly Renewable Materials; MR 7 Certified Wood EQ 4.4 Low-Emitting Materials, Composite Wood). All Smith & Fong bamboo panel products meet CARB 2 emissions standards, can be specified 100 percent FSC-certified bamboo/urea formaldehyde-free (Declare-certified), and Class C fire-resistant (Class B available custom order).