New furniture smell and formaldehyde: what Singapore homes can do

Where formaldehyde comes from

If you notice a strong new carpentry smell after built-in wardrobes, kitchen cabinets or new furniture go in, you may wonder whether it is formaldehyde. The National Environment Agency (NEA) explains in its advisory on formaldehyde in interior building products that formaldehyde can be released from interior building products such as composite wood products, adhesives and paints.

NEA refers to the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline value of 0.1 mg/m3 (0.08 ppm). If you arrange a proper reading later, that is the guideline value to keep in mind. NEA also notes that Singapore Standard SS 554 does not apply to residential premises.

A smell on its own does not measure formaldehyde, and it does not tell you how much is in the air. What you can do falls into three parts: ventilate, choose lower-emission products and, if you want a number, test properly. The sections below take each in turn, then cover air purifiers, removal companies and cleaning.

Ventilate first

NEA's advisory says ventilation is the most effective way to remove formaldehyde. That makes fresh air your first tool, before anything you buy. The steps below follow NEA's advice and help you air out new furniture, built-in carpentry and the rooms around them.

1. Open windows and doors. Open windows and doors on opposite sides of the home so air can flow through each room.
2. Use fans. Run fans to keep the air moving, especially in rooms with new wardrobes or cabinets.
3. Keep it going for weeks. Extend ventilation for several weeks after the works are completed, as NEA's advisory sets out, rather than ending it once the smell fades.
4. Delay moving in. If your plans allow, delay moving in so the rooms can be aired before you live in them full time.

If the works have left dust and debris behind, post-renovation cleaning can be arranged while the windows stay open. Cleaning and airing can run side by side, but one does not replace the other.

Choosing lower-emission products

If you are still planning carpentry or shopping for furniture, the materials are worth asking about before work starts. NEA limits formaldehyde in interior paints. NEA says there are currently no regulatory requirements on formaldehyde in other building products, such as composite wood and adhesives, so ask the seller for the panels' formaldehyde emission test report and air the room well.

For those materials, the NEA advisory mentions two things you can use. You can look for green labels from the Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC) and the Singapore Environment Council (SEC). NEA also says buyers may request emission test reports for composite wood panels from their suppliers.

In practice, that gives you a few questions for your carpentry contractor or furniture shop: which boards and adhesives will be used, whether they carry an SGBC or SEC green label, and whether an emission test report is available. When the job is handed over, keep any labels or reports with your papers and go through your post-renovation defects checklist at the same time.

Testing the air at home

If you are considering a formaldehyde test at home in Singapore, the first question is how the reading will be taken. NEA says low-cost sensors have limited accuracy. For reliable readings, NEA points to calibrated meters or laboratories accredited by the Singapore Accreditation Council (SAC).

Before you book a test, ask the provider which method it uses, whether its meter has been calibrated, or whether samples go to an SAC-accredited laboratory. Ask for the result in writing, with the unit stated, so you can read it against the WHO guideline value that the NEA advisory refers to.

If you test once and keep ventilating, a second test later can show whether the level has changed. Keep the written results with your renovation papers, so you can share them with your contractor if the smell does not ease.

Air purifiers and removal companies

While planning your move, you may come across air cleaners and companies that offer formaldehyde removal. NEA does not keep approved lists of formaldehyde removal companies or air cleaners, and it says ventilation remains the most effective way to remove formaldehyde.

If you are weighing up a purifier against the filter in your aircon, see air purifier vs aircon filter. Whatever you choose, keep the windows open and the fans running.

Cleaning after carpentry

Carpentry and painting can leave fine dust on shelves, inside drawers and along sliding tracks. Wiping it from new surfaces, shelves and drawers with a damp cloth helps the home feel ready to move into. If you would rather hand the job to a company, deep cleaning vs post-renovation cleaning explains how the two jobs differ, and the cost depends on the job.

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