A recent 60 Minutes story regarding a retailer’s Chinese-manufactured laminate flooring and its formaldehyde content has brought to light concerns from consumers regarding laminate flooring. The North American Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA) offers some talking points for retailers who carry NALFA- certified products to help assure customers that not all laminate flooring carries the dangers of the flooring highlighted in the TV report. NALFA is the only ANSI-accredited trade organization exclusively dedicated to the North American laminate flooring industry and representative to the International Standards Organization (ISO). NALFA-certified products must pass 10 rigorous tests conducted by an independent third-party laboratory, including meeting or exceeding CARB Phase 2 emission standards, to be approved to carry the NALFA Certification Seal. This seal serves as verification that a product will provide the retailer and consumer a safe flooring option. Laminate flooring products bearing the NALFA Certification Seal must undergo laboratory testing that affirms compliance with applicable federal and state regulations pertaining to formaldehyde content. The recent 60 Minutes story reinforced the importance of standards and purchasing certified product. NALFA-certified laminate flooring is readily available through a multitude of sales outlets. We strongly encourage retailers and consumers to purchase laminate flooring products and accessories carrying the NALFA Seal. A list of laminate flooring and accessory manufacturers who have earned the NALFA certification may be found at NALFA.com. The North American Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA) was formed in 1997 by U.S. and Canadian manufacturers and importers of laminate flooring. Since its inception, NALFA has been dedicated to creating voluntary product performance standards for laminate flooring in North America. For more information, visit www.nalfa.com.
