Materials
E1
E1
Also known as E1 class
A European classification for wood-based panels whose formaldehyde emission is at or below 0.124 mg/m³ when tested to the EN 717-1 chamber method referenced by EN 13986.
In more detail
E1 is an emission class for wood-based panels used in construction and related products under EN 13986. In that scheme, E1 corresponds to formaldehyde emission at or below 0.124 mg/m³ by EN 717-1; E2 sits above that value. It is a panel classification language that manufacturers, specifiers, and regulators have used for years across Europe.
It is not identical to the REACH Annex XVII restriction that became applicable on 6 August 2026. That restriction sets 0.062 mg/m³ for furniture and wood-based articles under its own Appendix 14 conditions — a tighter market limit than classic E1. National and ecolabel thresholds (including Germany's former panel rules and classes sometimes discussed as E0.5 / E05) are related history, not synonyms.
E1 does not mean a finished room meets any indoor-air guideline, and it does not certify the whole furniture piece if other components dominate emissions.
Why it matters
Panel class still shows up on cut sheets for cabinetry and interior woodwork. Knowing what E1 actually measures — and that newer EU market limits are stricter — prevents an older classification from being mistaken for the current market requirement.
The common misunderstanding
That E1 and the 2026 REACH formaldehyde restriction are the same limit. E1 is the older 0.124 mg/m³ EN 13986 class; the REACH furniture and wood-based article ceiling is 0.062 mg/m³ under the regulation's test conditions.
Related terms
On Compound
Where this term does real work — and where the decisions get made.
Sources
Last reviewed August 2026 by Compound Editorial. Definitions are educational and not project-specific engineering or medical advice.