Has FEMA changed any policies with regard to acceptable formaldehyde levels in travel trailers since Gulf Coast residents started complaining about exposure?
FEMA has already begun to apply standards issued by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for formaldehyde emission levels for wood products used in the construction of manufactured homes (mobile homes) to both travel trailers and park models purchased by the agency. Park models are larger than travel trailers, but smaller than manufactured homes. The HUD standard places limits on formaldehyde emissions and product certification of all plywood and particleboard materials, which involves emission certification by a nationally recognized testing laboratory and a written quality control plan for each plant where particle board is produced or finished or where the plywood is finished. These standards have been required by HUD for manufactured homes, and now FEMA’s specifications have incorporated those same standards for travel trailers. The HUD standards also require that each manufactured home be provided with a Health Notice on formaldehyde emissions as required by 3280.3
