When browsing our online selection of ready to assemble and pre-assembled quality cabinets for the home, you may have seen the words “CARB2 Compliant,” and you may have wondered, what on Earth does that mean? Like our FloorScore and Greenguard Gold Certified flooring, and NSF Certified countertops, CARB2 sets rigorous indoor air quality standards for products in order to ensure a safer and greener home environment for you and your family. Read on to learn more!
What Is CARB2 Compliance?
CARB2 is the 2nd phase of a strict certification process initiated by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Its purpose is to reduce formaldehyde emissions in the home and to protect the public from the harmful effects of air pollution. When you see the CARB2 Compliant seal on a product, it means the formaldehyde levels are well within safety limits.
Rest assured, our amazing selection of quality cabinets at TheRTAStore meets CARB2 certification standards, so they are not just an affordable choice, but also a safe choice. All you have to worry about is which kitchen cabinet finishes, styles, and accessories you like best!
Why is CARB2 Compliance important?
Formaldehyde is a toxic, organic compound commonly used to make adhesive resins for composite wood products, including cabinetry. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), high levels of formaldehyde exposure can have a negative effect on health, both in the short and long term, causing irritation of the skin, eyes, nose, and throat, and possibly even some types of cancers.
As you shop for materials to complete the projects on your home renovation checklist, the choices you make could have a serious impact on your health and the indoor air quality of your living space. That is why it is important to look for CARB2 certification, whether it’s quality cabinets for a dream kitchen, dream bathroom, or any room in between.
What other certifications should I look for when shopping?
If new flooring is on your home renovation checklist, make sure your final choice is FloorScore and Greenguard Gold Certified, like the flooring options offered by TheRTAStore. Developed by SCS Global Services with the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI), FloorScore sets indoor air quality certification standards for hard surface flooring materials, adhesives, and underlayments.
According to UL, a global safety science leader, “studies by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other researchers have found that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are common in indoor environments and that their levels may be two to a thousand times higher than outdoors.” The Greenguard Gold Certification program has established test methods and emission limits for products like flooring to help ensure safer and green building practices.
If new countertops are on your home renovation checklist, natural/engineered stone like our quartz countertops, and manufactured materials like our acrylic solid surface countertops, should be NSF Certified. When you see the NSF certification mark, you know that product has been through extensive testing to ensure strict health and safety standards.
At TheRTAStore, we help make your dream home a reality with RTA (ready to assemble) and pre-assembled cabinets and accessories. Whether it’s your kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, home office, home bar, TV room, or closet, we offer the same (if not better) quality you would find at any retail store, but for a fraction of the price. Stop by our website or give us a call, and let us make your dreams come true with the help of our free room design service.
