CARB2 shows up on a lot of spec sheets, and most of the time it gets one line of explanation: "low formaldehyde." That is true, but it is not the whole story, and it is not the same thing as FloorScore or GreenGuard Gold, even though the three often get lumped together as if they mean the same thing.
Here is what CARB2 actually regulates, the real numbers behind it, and where it fits next to the other certifications you will see on flooring.
What CARB2 Actually Regulates
CARB2 refers to Phase 2 of the California Air Resources Board's Airborne Toxic Control Measure for composite wood products. It sets a maximum formaldehyde emission limit for the core materials used to build engineered wood products, specifically hardwood plywood, particleboard, and medium-density fiberboard (MDF). For background on how that core construction compares across categories, see engineered hardwood vs vinyl flooring: what actually works in real homes.
That is an important detail: CARB2 is about the composite wood core, not the finish, not the adhesive used in installation, not the whole assembled floor. A floor being "CARB2 certified" means the wood-based core layer has been tested and meets a specific emissions ceiling.
The Actual Numbers
The formaldehyde emission limits, in parts per million (ppm), are set out in the regulation itself, 40 CFR Part 770.10(b), the federal rule that carries the identical limits as CARB's original Phase 2 standard:
- Hardwood plywood (veneer core or composite core): 0.05 ppm
- Particleboard: 0.09 ppm
- Medium-density fiberboard (MDF): 0.11 ppm
- Thin MDF (8 millimetres thick or less): 0.13 ppm
These are ceilings, not targets. A certified product has been independently tested and confirmed to emit at or below that limit. It does not mean the product emits zero formaldehyde, since formaldehyde occurs naturally in small amounts in wood itself.
CARB2 and TSCA Title VI Are the Same Standard, Different Name
CARB Phase 2 started as a California-only regulation. Since then, the U.S. EPA adopted a federal version, TSCA Title VI, using the identical emission limits. As of March 22, 2019, composite wood products sold in the U.S. must be certified and labelled under TSCA Title VI rather than CARB2 directly, but the actual numbers did not change. "CARB2 compliant" and "TSCA Title VI compliant" describe the same real-world standard; the flooring trade has simply kept using the more familiar CARB2 name.
CARB2 vs FloorScore vs GreenGuard Gold: Not Interchangeable
These three certifications get mentioned in the same breath a lot, but they are testing different things:
CARB2 / TSCA Title VI tests the composite wood core specifically, for formaldehyde only.
FloorScore tests the finished flooring product as a whole, the assembled floor and not just the core, across 35 individual volatile organic compounds (VOCs), with an eye specifically toward indoor air quality.
GreenGuard Gold goes further still: it applies across hundreds of product categories, not just flooring, and tests for more than 360 individual VOCs with tighter limits, strict enough that Gold-certified products are commonly specified for schools and healthcare facilities. This guide to GreenGuard Gold and low-VOC flooring covers how that whole-product testing works in more detail.
None of this makes CARB2 a lesser certification. It is simply narrower in scope. A product can be CARB2 / TSCA Title VI certified without also carrying FloorScore or GreenGuard Gold, and that does not automatically mean it is a high-emission product. It means the core material has been tested and verified; the broader whole-product certifications are a separate, additional step a manufacturer can choose to pursue.
If you're comparing engineered hardwood options more broadly, engineered hardwood vs solid hardwood: which is better covers how core construction affects the rest of the decision, not just emissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
A few quick answers to the questions people ask most about CARB2 certification.
Is CARB2 the same as low-VOC?
Not exactly. CARB2 specifically limits formaldehyde emissions from the composite wood core. Low-VOC is a broader, less standardized term that can refer to a wider range of chemical compounds across the whole product, not just the core.
Does CARB2 certification mean a floor has zero formaldehyde?
No. Formaldehyde occurs naturally in wood in small amounts. CARB2 certification means independent testing confirmed the product emits at or below a specific, regulated ceiling, not that it emits none at all.
Is GreenGuard Gold better than CARB2?
They test different things, so "better" depends on what you are trying to verify. CARB2 is specific to formaldehyde emissions from the composite wood core. GreenGuard Gold is a broader, stricter, cross-category certification covering many more compounds. A product can be a genuinely low-emission floor with CARB2 certification alone; GreenGuard Gold is an additional, separate certification a manufacturer may or may not pursue.
To discuss your project or ask a question, contact Caledon Floors. To find waterproof vinyl flooring, click here for a Caledon Floors dealer near you.