OSB-plate: harm to human health

The time has gone by when only natural and natural materials - brick, stone, wood - were used for the construction and repair of residential premises. Half a century ago, even the finishing building materials were absolutely safe and did not cause a single gram of doubt about the permissibility of their use. Now increasingly in the construction of Western technology, using plasterboard, putties and wood panels. And it is the OSB-plate, the harm to health from its application that causes the hottest discussions among the inhabitants and specialists.

What is OSB?

OSB (oriented chipboard) is a product made from natural raw materials (wood) by pressing. To produce plates, use a fine fraction (chips), most often it is waste after manufacturing other types of construction materials made of wood, and special adhesives.

In production chips are impregnated with glues and resins, after which a plate of the required size, thickness and outer surface is formed.

If for the production of predominantly natural wood is used, why is it that the OSB plate is believed to be harmful to human health? It's all about additional substances, namely formaldehydes and other toxic chemical compounds that are used to improve the performance of the plate.

Stove plate strife

First of all, it should be said that there are significant differences in different products. Their classification takes place according to a special marker created by the sanitary-epidemiological services, and is a direct guide for the application. To understand which OSB plates are harmful to health, you need to know what is their main difference.

They are of four types and are marked with numbers from 1 to 4, which directly indicate how much the slab is moisture resistant and durable, which means how many adhesives were used to make it.

So, OSB-1 has a low moisture resistance (less than 20%) and is used for internal works. The OSB-2 plate is more durable, it can be used for sheathing structures, which will have a sufficiently high load, but only in dry rooms. In more humid buildings such OSB plates are harmful to human health. OSB-3 and OSB-4 litters have the highest percentage of endurance in relation to the humid environment and high loads (15 and 12%, respectively), but the percentage of toxins released is an order of magnitude higher.

In order for the plate to be stronger, to resist dampness, in the production of it add a greater amount of adhesives, evaporating toxins. The content of phenols in products made from wood chips is strictly limited, and the manufacturer is obliged to indicate its quantity. For the consumer it is important to know that the plate labeled E1 is safe for use inside the house. But OSB class E2 contains an increased number of toxic compounds, its use is limited to non-residential buildings or external cladding of buildings.

Is there a difference in who produces?

In our country, it is considered that everything Western is better, safer and safer. In fact, you can not always judge so categorically. The most important thing is that the products have quality certificates and, most importantly, compliance with them. It is in this respect that the products of the countries of Europe, the USA and Canada differ from the domestic ones.

To determine the safety, it is necessary to study the markings carried by the OSB-plate. Harm to human health will be determined by the conformity of the symbols and the place of use (inside or outside the room).

It should be noted that even in Western countries there are different standards. Production has reached such a high level that the release of phenol-formaldehyde substances is minimized.

In the United States, Canada, it is customary to erect buildings using a frame method, often an OSB plate serves as a wall and partitions. Damage to human health is taken into account, and for this purpose different types of plates are used for interior and exterior work.

So the panels for covering the facades of the house, roof, flooring thickened, have a ribbed surface and are slightly more expensive.

In Europe, such samples are not produced, but very strictly monitor the use of different types of plates, forbidding some classes for the construction of residential buildings.

Effects on the body

Many are wondering what harm the OSB-plate can do to human health. The effect of the vapors that are invisible to the eye, released by it, is, nevertheless, very serious.

The constant inhalation of air containing phenol has a number of negative consequences. This compound is a carcinogen that poisons all systems of the human body.

Irritations on the skin and in the respiratory tract are only the first signs of poisoning by toxic fumes. Constant stay in such an environment provokes serious diseases of the heart, nervous system, oncology.

These diseases are manifested by various symptoms. It is worth paying attention to the interior of the room, as well as the materials from which the house is built, if family members often complain of poor health, nausea, dizziness, lethargy. All these can be symptoms of phenol-formaldehyde vapor poisoning. Therefore, sometimes an OSB-plate is a source of danger to human health.

Identification of phenol sources

A full study of air, as well as interior and other sources that can contain dangerous substances, can only be done by specialists. Their job is to produce a chemical analysis of air and impurities in it.

It should immediately be noted that it is far from always the OSB plate - the culprit of all ills. Containing phenol elements can be found even in completely safe at first glance objects. It can be furniture, textiles (carpets made of non-natural materials), decorative elements and even children's toys.

In order to reduce the price of their products, manufacturers, alas, do not disdain any means to achieve their goals, and therefore very often cheap things are fraught with danger - this is a harsh reality.

How to reduce the impact of harmful substances on the body

If an OSB plate is used in construction, it is necessary to choose products of high quality, where a minimum amount of chemistry was used in the production process. Additional means of protection are accessible and simple to each method.

First of all, it is necessary to create stable conditions. Elevated temperatures increase the release of fumes. Also, the level of humidity in the room is important. Phenol dissolves in water, so when it gets wet, the release increases. It is better to use specially primed samples for rooms where flooding is possible, or an increased level of moisture in the air.

It is not recommended to coat the OSB with a poorly ventilated room. No matter how secure the material, it still releases harmful substances, and even in small concentrations they affect the human body. Regular airing can reduce the presence of various chemical compounds in the air to acceptable levels.

Is there a safe OSB plate?

On the market there is a non-phenol OSB-plate. Is there any harm to her health? Of course, it is impossible to vouch for all the products of wood processing plants. To connect small particles of wood with each other so that they possess increased resistance to loads, climate changes are not yet possible.

Some manufacturers, indeed, do not use formaldehyde as a part of adhesives, but this does not mean that other substances that have not been fully studied and not subject to sanitary inspections are safer.

A characteristic feature of chemical compounds of a group of phenols is that they are able to stand out for years. The situation when evaporation exists for some time, and then they are weathered, with phenols is unreal. Chemicals will enter the air, and then into the body throughout the life of the product.

Benefits of using

How toxic and dangerous the OSB plates are, their application is gaining momentum both abroad and in the CIS countries. This is explained quite simply.

Economic benefits, ease of use, durability of wood-based panels are very important advantages. What other strengths does this building material have?

• Versatility - slabs suture walls, lay floors and use them as roofing material;
• Durability - if properly installed, the OSB is not subject to moisture, corrosion, spillage, there is no danger that rodents and microorganisms are in the plates;
• Simplicity in construction - this material is easy to cut, fasten, it is not heavy, so it does not require complicated and expensive equipment for its transportation and further use.

conclusions

To summarize, I want to find out: is it true that OSB plates are harmful to health? There is no doubt that this material should be treated with caution, carefully examine who and in what conditions produced it, what materials were used for this. But, approaching the issue with all responsibility and care, it is possible to completely protect the house from the harmful effects of formaldehyde. Proof of this is the rich practice of its use for many years and steadily growing popularity among builders.