Founded in 1960, the Composite Panel Association (CPA) is dedicated to advancing the North American wood-based panel and decorative surfacing industries. CPA represents both industries on technical, regulatory, quality assurance and product acceptance issues.

CPA General Members include the leading manufacturers of particleboard, medium density fiberboard (MDF) and hardboard, representing about 95% of North American manufacturing capacity.

CPA Associate Members include manufacturers of decorative surfaces, furniture, cabinets, mouldings, doors and equipment, along with laminators, distributors, industry media and adhesive suppliers. All are committed to product advancement and industry competitiveness.

CPA is a vital resource for both manufacturers and users of industry products. The association provides leadership on federal, state and provincial regulatory and legislative matters of interest to industry, particularly those with environmental implications. As a highly-regarded and accredited standards developer, CPA writes, publishes and maintains industry product standards.

CPA operates an International Testing and Certification Center (ITCC) in Leesburg, Virginia and manages the Grademark Certification Program, the largest and most stringent testing and certification program of its kind for North American composite panel products. The association also helps manufacturers create in-plant quality control programs through educational programs and on-site assistance.

CPA compiles and publishes the most definitive industry performance data, as well as technical bulletins on the use of industry products and other educational materials. The association also partners with Surface & Panel magazine in publishing this magazine as well as a yearly "Buyers Guide."

CPA‘S EPP PROGRAMS

CPA offers an Environmentally Preferable Product (EPP) certification program, which certifies composite panel products that contain 100% recycled or recovered fiber and meet low formaldehyde emission limits. Most EPP-certified mills have also achieved compliance with California‘s tough new regulation on formaldehyde emissions-the CARB rule.

CPA‘s EPP has been extended to include finished (downstream) manufacturers that use EPP panels. Products carrying the EPP Downstream logo were manufactured by a company that has demonstrated its environmental commitment by purchasing EPP-certified composite wood panels.

CPA sponsors the 2009 Surface & Panel Buyers Guide, which is dedicated to providing the most comprehensive product information available about North American composite panel and decorative surfacing products. The Guide includes in-depth descriptions of the different types of composite panels and decorative surfaces available, along with key features and services offered by the major producers of these products.

WOOD-BASED COMPOSITE PANELS

The three types of wood-based composite panels in the marketplace today are particleboard, medium density fiberboard (MDF) and hardboard. These panels can be engineered to the customer‘s specific physical properties and surface characteristics to create durable, functional end products. By their very nature, wood-based composite panels are among the greenest materials in the world, and a great choice for environmentally-conscious consumers.

DECORATIVE SURFACES

Decorative surfaces are used in a wide variety of applications including: cabinets, mouldings, flooring, furniture, countertops, store fixtures, doors and shelving. Composite panels provide an ideal substrate for decorative surfaces – one that is consistent, uniform in strength and free of defects.

Decorative surfaces are broadly separated into overlays and coatings, and are applied to composite panels by various techniques. Overlays include foils, high pressure laminates, light basis weight papers, TFM (thermally fused melamine), veneers and vinyls. Coatings are available in both liquid and powder forms.

NEW FROM CPA

Compendium of Voluntary Standards for Decorative Overlays (2009)

This first-ever Voluntary Compendium of Standards for Decorative Overlays sponsored by the Decorative Surfaces Council (DSC) covers overlays made from cellulosic or polymeric materials. This comprehensive resource, published in August 2009, highlights the six major types of overlays; describes industry-accepted test methods to determine the performance and physical characteristics of different overlay types; and helps the reader select the appropriate product for a particular application.

ANSI Standards for Particleboard and MDF (2009)

Earlier this year the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approved ANSI A208.1- 2009Particleboard and ANSI A208.2-2009 MDF for Interior Applications, the revised national voluntary standards for these products. Sponsored by CPA, the standards include new grades and product categories as well as harmonization with the formaldehyde emission requirements recently enacted by the California Air Resources Board.

Visit www.pbmdf.com for more information or to order these publications.

MORE INFORMATION
Composite Panel Association
19465 Deerfield Avenue, Suite 306
Leesburg, Virginia, USA 20176
(703) 724-1128
www.pbmdf.com