Safety, durability, and air quality are the primary concerns when selecting or designing child-friendly furniture. Parents frequently ask if Moisture Resistant (MR) plywood is safe, and if so, why or how do I know? Knowledge of the manufacture of MR plywood and the environment it will be installed in will lend to a parent’s understanding of the material and if it is going to perform in a child-friendly indoor environment.
Indoor Use of MR Plywood
MR plywood has been engineered specifically for usage in the home where humidity levels fluctuate yet remain within a controlled range. It is manufactured using adhesive systems that are resistant to moisture. Adhesives that resist moisture protect against common issues associated with humidity levels such as swelling, warping, and delamination, which occur as a result of humidity’s seasonal nature. Because furniture items that children and/or adults use will generally be found indoors, MR plywood will fit into these circumstances of use quite nicely.
Structurally Safe for Kids’ Furniture
In selecting MR plywood for children’s furniture, it must be sufficiently stable to withstand daily wear-and-tear, climbing, tugging, and the constant movement that children place upon it. When the correct thickness of MR plywood is selected, it also provides excellent support to all types of indoor furniture requiring load support. Where structural integrity is required, the layered construction of MR plywood also provides greater load distribution than would a solid board.
Indoor Air Quality and Safety of Adhesives
For a parent, the major concern regarding MR plywood is air quality for their child’s bedroom, study room, toy room, or other area of the home. MR plywood of high quality is manufactured using reliable adhesive systems, which comply with indoor air quality standards. By sourcing MR plywood from a reputable manufacturer, you can ensure that it will be safe for indoor use, including bedrooms and studies. Avoid unbranded, low-grade plywood, as these inferior products frequently utilize lower quality adhesive systems.
Moisture Effects
Children’s rooms are subject to moisture from spills, humidity, or condensation. MR plywood will withstand exposure to minor amounts of moisture better than standard grade plywood, meaning it will maintain its dimensions and structural integrity. This option will also provide less opportunity for cracks and/or gaps to form where dust and germs could reside.
Suitable Finishing Treatments
Finishing treatments are applied to all children’s furniture pieces, including MR plywood. MR plywood provides a good surface for laminates, veneers, or other finishes to adhere to properly. All children’s furniture must have rounded edges and smooth sealing in addition to applying non-toxic finishes that meet compliance requirements.
Best Practices for Parents
Whenever you buy furniture for your child, it is critical that you select MR plywood that is certified for the appropriate use, choose the proper thickness for the intended application, and to ensure it’s being manufactured by a qualified person with smooth edges that are sealed properly.
Final Thoughts
When used indoors, with careful sourcing from reputable manufacturers, MR plywood can be a safe and effective option when designing and producing children’s furniture. Royale Touche applies stringent quality control measures; therefore, parents can rest easy in knowing they are producing durable, hygienic, and child-appropriate furniture.
