When installing new cabinets, you might wonder: Do they contain VOCs? The short answer is yes—but there’s more to the story.
VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are naturally released from certain materials used in cabinet manufacturing. While VOCs can contribute to indoor air quality concerns, modern cabinet manufacturers have taken significant steps to reduce emissions and create safer, healthier products for homes and their manufacturing facility.
What does this mean for homeowners?
So, what does this mean for homeowners? Understanding VOCs helps you make informed decisions when selecting cabinets. Whether you’re looking for the lowest-emission options or want to know how long off-gassing lasts, this guide will cover what you need to know—so you can enjoy your new space with confidence.
Why New Cabinets Have VOC's
Certain ingredients in wood coatings are considered Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Sources of VOCs include paints, paint strippers, solvents, and wood preservatives. Every finish that is sprayed on Decor Cabinets contains VOCs, measured in ppm (parts per million). The levels vary depending on the components used in the recipe.
What are VOCs?
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are chemicals that easily evaporate into the air due to their high vapor pressure at room temperature. They are found in many household products, including paints, adhesives, and certain building materials.
In cabinetry, VOCs can come from wood composites, finishes, and glues used in manufacturing. As these materials release VOCs over time—a process known as off-gassing—they can impact indoor air quality. While some VOCs are more concerning than others, advancements in materials and manufacturing have significantly reduced their presence in modern cabinetry.
Do some cabinets have no VOCs?
Completely VOC-free cabinets are rare, but some options come extremely close. Cabinets made from solid wood with natural finishes or untreated materials can have little to no VOCs. However, most cabinetry includes engineered wood, adhesives, and finishes, which naturally contain some level of VOCs. These are used to increase the quality, longevity, and appearance of the cabinet. Decor Cabinets are not VOC free.
How Decor Cabinets Manages VOCs
At Decor Cabinets, we take proactive steps to ensure a safer environment for both homeowners and our team.
- We report annually to the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) through Environment Canada, maintaining transparency about our emissions.
- Our HDF, veneers, and composite wood products comply with the Toxic Substances Control Act Title VI in both the U.S. and Canada, ensuring they meet regulations for emissions.
- Within our manufacturing facilities, we prioritize air quality control by using air handling systems and providing personal respiratory protection for workers.
What You Should Know About New Cabinets, VOCs, and Formaldehyde
New cabinets contain VOCs, including formaldehyde.
Homeowners can expect some level of off-gassing or VOC emissions from their new cabinets, especially in the first few weeks after installation. This happens as materials or finishes release small amounts of VOCs into the air. While modern cabinets are designed to meet emissions standards, it’s normal for new cabinetry to have a noticeable smell at first.
Off-gassing naturally decreases over time, and proper ventilation, air circulation, and temperature control can help speed up the process, ensuring a healthier indoor environment as the cabinets settle into your space. For example, the process or chemical reaction that hardens our conversion varnish generates an emission of formaldehyde.
Formaldehyde and Your New Cabinets
Formaldehyde is well-studied, well-understood, and extensively regulated. The link between formaldehyde inhalation and adverse health effects like asthma or cancer is well established by the WHO (World Health Organization) which plays a significant role in developing exposure thresholds, and wood composite emission standards.
While most of the formaldehyde flashes off during the heating process, formaldehyde can be detected at a gradually reduced rate within the first 30 to 90 days of the application process, depending on the environmental conditions.
What This Means for Your New Cabinets
Our cabinets are packaged prior to absolute full cure.
When packages are reopened during installation, and reintroduced to fresh air, the curing process continues and results in a temporary odor where formaldehyde may continue to flash off. This is the “new” smell you may recognize from new cars, carpets, and furniture just to name a few.
To help with the transition, you can use an air purifier, open windows, or use fans to circulate air and increase airflow around the cabinets.
After 90 days, the curing process is typically complete and there should be little to no odor or detectable formaldehyde remaining in your home.
Now You Know, New Cabinets Have VOC’s
When choosing new cabinets, understanding VOCs and off-gassing helps you make informed decisions about your home’s air quality. With proper ventilation and time, any initial off-gassing will fade, leaving you with a space that looks great and feels just as good to live in.
