How do you know your furniture is CARB ATCM compliant?

Now that CARB ATCM Phase 1 is in full effect, people ask us, "how do we know if the furniture we bought is CARB compliant?". 

All institutional furniture sold to California end users after April 1, 2009 was required to be CARB ATCM compliant.

1. Check your copy of your invoice for written certification of CARB ATCM compliance on the invoice.   
2. Check the label on the product for written certification of CARB ATCM compliance. 

If you cannot find evidence of CARB ATCM compliance on either the document or the product, it will be assumed that the product is NOT CARB compliant. 





Beginning April 1, 2009 the manufacturer of furniture sold to California end users was required to take the following actions and maintain the following records: 

1. ALL composites used in the manufacturing of the product must comply with the emission and certficiation requirements of the rule. 
2. The manufacturer must keep all records of composite material purchases for at least two years. 
3. A label is required for every product OR box that the product is shipped in. This label may be applied as a stamp, tag, sticker or bar code. 
4. The label must include the manufacturer's name, the production date and the compliance standard for composite(s) that were used in the production of the product.  
5. Additionally, providing the end user with written documentation of compliance by the composite supplier(s) is highly recommended. 

If you purchased your furniture from a dealer, Beginning April 1, 2009 Dealers were required to take the following actions and maintain the following records. 

1. The dealer must maintain purchasing records for composites and/or fabricated products containing composites for at least two years.   
2. The dealer must receive written documentation of product compliance from the manufacturer.  Providing the documentation to the customer at point of sale is highly recommended. 

So, what do I do if I can't find my evidence of CARB ATCM compliance? 

• CARB ATCM is a "chain of custody" regulation.  If you purchased your furniture from a dealer, the dealer is required to provide you evidence of certification for at least two years should you request it. 
• If you purchased your furniture from the factory, the factory is required to provide you with evidence of certification for at least two years should you request it. 

So, what if the dealer or the factory cannot provide the required evidence of certification as required by the CARB ATCM regulation? 
You have two issues to address: 

1. Replacing your product/furniture with compliant product and/or 
2. Filing a complaint with CARB enforcement to see if they can get the required documentation for you. 

Phase 2 of the CARB ATCM standard began 1/1/2010.  Be certain that your product is at the current level of compliance.