How Does Wooden Furniture Affect Indoor Air Quality?
Wooden Furniture Affect Indoor Air Quality
Wood is a natural material, and it doesn’t require any artificial chemicals to produce. However, wooden furniture can be tainted by preservatives or finishes used to protect the wood and prevent fungal growth or insect infestation, and these products emit volatile organic compounds (VOC) into the air. These VOCs can affect your health and well-being, especially if you have respiratory conditions such as asthma.
When choosing your wooden furniture, look for pieces made by a local maker, preferably one that buys its materials from local suppliers. This lowers the carbon footprint of the piece, and ensures that the wood comes from a sustainable source. Local makers also usually use traditional techniques, such as a plane or a hammer and nails, which are less energy-intensive than machine tools.
Despite its seemingly rigid and brittle structure, wood is actually very flexible and a good choice for furniture construction. In fact, wood can be bent and shaped to create an almost endless variety of shapes, sizes, and patterns. This flexibility translates into a wide range of design aesthetics, from the meditative Japanese to the calm Scandinavian styles. Unlike metal and plastic furniture, which may need to be painted or covered with fabric, wood can be left bare or finished naturally for a timeless look.
How Does Wooden Furniture Affect Indoor Air Quality?
Many studies have shown that the presence of wood is associated with feelings of calm and wellbeing. For example, one study involved 40 high school students being taught in classrooms either with real wood floors, ceilings and walls or without them. The pupils in the rooms with wood experienced reduced levels of stress and blood pressure. Other studies have shown that sleeping in a wooden bed improves sleep and reduces anxiety.
As wood is a natural, renewable resource, it’s an excellent choice for the environment. Its production and manufacturing processes have a much smaller carbon footprint than other materials such as steel, glass and plastic. In addition, wood is a natural thermal insulator and stores carbon, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Compared to other types of furniture, solid wood is very durable and has great longevity. This is reflected in the fact that wood furniture from the oldest civilizations such as Egypt is still extant. Wood furniture is also very easy to clean and maintain, with a simple cleaning routine involving dusting or vacuuming.
If you’re unsure of how to reduce your exposure to toxic chemicals during the manufacturing process, the EPA has developed resources for pollution reduction in wood furniture operations. You can also visit the websites of the American Home Furnishings Alliance or the Paint and Coatings Resource Center for more information on how to limit your exposure to harmful chemicals during production. Moreover, you can use these Web pages to identify available technical and compliance assistance for your business. These resources can help you make better decisions that are based on a thorough understanding of your furniture production process and equipment. Ultimately, these decisions will lead to improved worker safety and reduced usage of hazardous chemicals in your facility.