UL Releases Study of Safety of Wood Floor Coatings
WASHINGTON - Coatings and other chemical treatments used in conjunction with wood flooring products are essential in providing resistance to scratches and other damage while helping to preserve a floor’s surface appearance through years of use. However, organic solvents used in some floor coating products can be harmful to human health and can have a significant environmental impact.
Although efforts to regulate the use of these solvents has increased in recent years, especially in paint and paint products, a number of solvent-based floor coatings are still on the market in the United States. In addition, many so-called VOC-free floor coating products still contain chemicals of potential concern, placing consumers at risk.