Question from Miriam
We are setting up our homeschool environment and I have a few questions about furniture.
We’d like to get an ‘active’ chair for my son. Most of the ones I’ve found don’t look great, materials are not really disclosed. I did find this one, although more pricey, does this seem like a good option?
Made of beechwood grown and harvested in Northwestern Germany
Certified sustainable by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)
https://www.fully.com/chairs/kids/tic-toc-tyke-chair.htmlIt has 3 options for finishes:
1. PU varnish as a finish for naural,
2. black nitrocellulose lacquer for black, or
3. red nitrocellulose lacquer for red
Would you feel comfortable with any of these?
p.s. here are a few of the non-wood ones I had found, here and here – if any of these look decent, we’d do one of these perhaps:
Lisa’s Answer
I’d like a little more information about the chair from fully.com but it seems like the better choice over the 2 plastic alternatives. First of all, fully.com is a B corp and states that they are committed to transparency and minimizing toxins and waste so I imagine they will be willing and able to provide the information we need. The chair looks to be solid wood but the top of the chair is probably engineered. I would want the following additional information:
Is the top of the chair solid wood and if not does the engineered wood have any certifications such as CARB Phase 2, NAF, etc.?
Is the adhesive used low VOC? Is a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) available?
Is the PU lacquer low VOC? Is a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) available?
Thanks, Lisa! Which product in the AFM Safecoat would be appropriate?
Safecoat Hardseal. Here is a guide to figure out which of their products to use.
Thanks, Lisa! Very helpful, as always 🙂
Hi Lisa, thanks so much for your guidance on this. Here are the responses I received:
“the adhesive used is an E-0 resin and the PU is non toxic and formaldehyde tests results for the finish are .04 mg/l”
“yes the PU is low-voc
The whole chair uses the same materials and manufacturing processes. There is no difference between the materials used on the base, column, or seat”
and I was directed to this PDF which appears to primarily concern lead, to my untrained eye:
CPSC
The flammability requirements of 16 CFR 1500.3(c)(6)(vi), “Flammable solid” (FHSA regulations).
The total lead content of 100ppm requirements by composite testing in substrate materials (Consumer Products Safety
Improvement Act (CPSIA) of 2008).
The total lead content of 90ppm requirements of 16 CFR 1303, “Ban of lead-containing paint and certain consumer products
bearing lead-containing paint” as mandated by Congress in section 101(f) of the consumer Products Safety Improvement
Act (CPSIA) of 2008, Public Law 110-314.
CCPSA
The applicable lead content requirements for surface coatings of the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, Surface Coating
Materials Regulation, SOR/2005-109 (Amended Up To SOR/2011-14) Sec 7.2 and 7.3.
The mechanical hazards requirements of the tested sections of Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, Toys Regulations,
SOR/2011-17 and Schedule 2.
The cellulose nitrate requirements of Canada Toys Regulations, SOR/2011-17, section 21.
After all that, my son really wants the red one. What would you ask about the red nitrocellulose lacquer for red?
The information from the PDF that you included just shows you the different regulations and most of them pertain to lead. It’s not giving you specifics about the item.
They didn’t answer if the chair is solid wood or engineered. Looking back at the picture you can see layers of wood so it is not solid. This means there is some adhesive used. I can’t really say how much of an issue this is. They also didn’t answer if there if it has any certifications. I can’t tell you how much and for how long it will offgas.
I would definitely go with the clear over the red lacquer. They state that the clear PU is low VOC but they don’t make that claim for the lacquer. I see that you referenced a past post that Debra wrote about this type of lacquer and she said she has tolerated it. There is a difference between tolerating something and it being free of toxicants. I would need a specific safety date sheet (SDS) on the lacquer to give a better assessment but it will offgas and will likely contain harmful solvents.
If you really want the chair and in the red color, get it and seal it with a couple of coats of AFM Safecoat. That will encapsulate any remaining VOCs.