Published 19 July 2026 · Updated 21 October 2026 · JIYU SDN BHD
IN SHORT
ENF plywood is plywood whose formaldehyde emission tests at or below 0.025 mg/m³ in the 1 m³ climate-chamber method — the strictest of the three grades in China's GB/T 39600-2021; E0 allows up to 0.050 and E1 up to 0.124 mg/m³. Designers typically specify the lower-emission grades for rooms people spend long hours in, such as bedrooms and enclosed kitchens — that is what the grade measures, not a health claim — and whichever grade you choose, the proof is a third-party test report showing the measured value.
When you're selecting plywood for a wardrobe, kitchen cabinet or renovation project in Malaysia, you'll often see labels like ENF, E0 or E1 attached to emission ratings. These aren't marketing buzzwords—they're formaldehyde emission grades defined in a national standard, each with a measured ceiling in mg/m³. Formaldehyde is a colourless gas released mainly by the glue in many engineered wood products, which is why the grade tells you more about a board than any adjective on a brochure. This guide breaks down what ENF, E0 and E1 mean, how they're measured, and why choosing the right grade matters for your Malaysian home or commercial project. Whether you're a furniture manufacturer, interior designer, renovation firm or cabinet maker in Selangor, understanding these standards will help you specify lower-emission materials and build trust with your clients.
ENF, E0 and E1 are three tiers of formaldehyde emission limits established by China's national standard GB/T 39600-2021 for engineered wood products like plywood, particleboard and MDF. The grades rank materials by how much formaldehyde gas they release into the air, measured in milligrams per cubic metre (mg/m³) using a 1m³ climate-chamber test method. ENF is the highest environmental grade, meaning it permits the lowest formaldehyde release; E0 is the middle tier; and E1 is the least strict of the three. These classifications help manufacturers, specifiers and end-users compare products on a standardised emission scale. In Malaysia, where imported plywood is often graded under Chinese standards, understanding these grades lets you choose boards that meet stricter indoor-air-quality expectations, especially for enclosed residential and commercial spaces where ventilation may be limited.
Formaldehyde is a volatile organic compound (VOC) commonly found in the adhesive resins that bond plywood veneers together. In Malaysia's hot, humid climate, higher temperatures can accelerate off-gassing, releasing more formaldehyde into indoor air. Homes, offices and furniture showrooms often have limited natural ventilation and rely on air conditioning, which recirculates indoor air. That is why the grade matters: it tells you, as a measured number, how much formaldehyde a board released under standard test conditions. For furniture factories, renovation firms and interior designers, specifying a grade in writing, backed by a test report, also shows clients exactly what they are getting.
Under GB/T 39600-2021, the three grades set specific upper limits for formaldehyde release measured by the 1m³ climate-chamber method. ENF grade requires ≤0.025 mg/m³, making it the strictest tier. E0 grade allows ≤0.050 mg/m³—twice the ENF limit and well under E1. E1 grade permits ≤0.124 mg/m³, which is roughly five times the ENF threshold and the least strict of the three grades. Lower numbers mean less formaldehyde measured in the test chamber, so ENF is the lowest-emission grade of the three. When comparing products, always check that figures use the same unit (mg/m³) and test method; mixing units like mg/L or mg/100g can lead to confusion. When a specification calls for the strictest grade, ENF is the one with the lowest ceiling.
For most Malaysian residential and commercial projects, ENF-grade plywood is the grade to specify when the client wants the lowest measured emission: its ceiling of 0.025 mg/m³ is about a fifth of E1's. Bedrooms, kitchens and enclosed office spaces are where designers most often ask for it, since people spend many hours there with limited fresh-air exchange. E0 grade is a reasonable middle ground for budget-conscious projects, with a ceiling (0.050 mg/m³) less than half of E1's. E1 is the least strict of the three grades, at up to 0.124 mg/m³. Furniture factories, cabinet makers and renovation firms that specify ENF or E0 materials can differentiate their offerings and, when a client asks, back the grade with a third-party test report rather than an adjective.
GB/T 39600-2021 names three grades: E1, E0 and ENF. A label such as "Super E0" is not one of those three names, so on its own it does not tell you which ceiling the board was tested against. "EO plywood" is the E0 grade written with the letter O instead of the number zero; treat it as a claim of E0 and check it the same way. Here is a simple way to read any label on a quotation or brochure. First, ask which of the three grade names the supplier means. Second, ask for the third-party test report and find the measured value in mg/m³ from the 1 m³ climate-chamber method. Third, compare that figure with the ceilings: at or below 0.025 mg/m³ meets ENF, at or below 0.050 mg/m³ meets E0, and at or below 0.124 mg/m³ meets E1. Fourth, check that the sample description on the report matches the board you are ordering. If a supplier cannot show a report with a measured figure, the label is only a name.
JIYU's ENF-grade plywood, manufactured under the Shengshi Gelin brand in Langfang, China and supplied from Puchong, Selangor, uses soybean-based adhesive instead of traditional urea-formaldehyde or phenol-formaldehyde resins. Because formaldehyde in plywood comes primarily from chemical glues, switching to a plant-derived soy adhesive drastically cuts emission levels at the source. The 18 mm boards are constructed with eleven cross-laminated veneer layers, in 2440 mm × 1220 mm × 18 mm sheets. Third-party laboratory analysis by the CMA-accredited Liuzhou Quality Inspection and Testing Research Center (report JC26-WT0087, issued 14 July 2026) confirmed that a tested sample released only 0.022 mg/m³ of formaldehyde after 77 hours in a 1m³ climate chamber—below the 0.025 mg/m³ ENF threshold and well under the E0 and E1 limits.
Independent, accredited laboratory testing offers the most reliable proof that a plywood product meets its claimed emission grade. A sample of JIYU's ENF-grade plywood was evaluated by Liuzhou Quality Inspection and Testing Research Center, a CMA-recognised facility, using the 1m³ climate-chamber method specified in GB/T 17657-2022 and GB 18580-2025. The test report (number JC26-WT0087) recorded a formaldehyde release of 0.022 mg/m³, which satisfies the ENF requirement of ≤0.025 mg/m³ under GB/T 39600-2021. That result is under a fifth of the E1 ceiling (0.124 mg/m³), giving specifiers and end-users a documented, measured figure rather than a claim. A third-party test report means you are not relying on a supplier's self-declaration: it gives furniture factories, interior designers and renovation contractors a traceable document—laboratory, report number, method and measured value—that they can share with their own clients to justify material selection.
Which rooms is ENF-grade plywood usually specified for?
Lower emission grades are what designers typically specify for rooms people spend long hours in — that is what the grade measures, not a health claim. ENF is the strictest grade under China's GB/T 39600-2021 (≤0.025 mg/m³); the sample we submitted tested 0.022 mg/m³ (report JC26-WT0087).
Can E0 or E1 plywood be upgraded to ENF grade after manufacturing?
No. Formaldehyde emission grade is determined by the type of adhesive resin used during manufacturing. E0 and E1 boards typically use urea-formaldehyde or similar chemical glues that inherently release more formaldehyde; the grade is set by the adhesive when the board is made, not afterwards. ENF-grade plywood uses alternative adhesives—such as soybean glue—from the start, which fundamentally lowers formaldehyde at the source. To achieve ENF performance, you must specify ENF-grade materials during procurement.
Is "EO" plywood the same as E0 plywood?
"EO" is E0 written with the letter O instead of a zero, so it refers to the E0 grade, which GB/T 39600-2021 caps at 0.050 mg/m³. Read the measured figure on the test report rather than the label: a board that tests at or below 0.025 mg/m³ meets the stricter ENF grade.
How long does formaldehyde continue to off-gas from plywood?
Off-gassing duration depends on the adhesive chemistry, board thickness, temperature and ventilation. Plywood made with traditional urea-formaldehyde resins can release formaldehyde for months or even years, with concentrations declining slowly over time. ENF-grade plywood using soybean-based adhesives starts from a much lower measured emission. What a test report gives you is one measured figure under standard conditions — for the sample JIYU submitted, 0.022 mg/m³ at 77 hours in a 1 m³ climate chamber (report JC26-WT0087) — not a forecast for every later year, so keep rooms reasonably ventilated whichever grade you choose.
Do Malaysian building regulations specify formaldehyde emission limits for plywood?
Malaysia does not yet have a mandatory national formaldehyde emission standard equivalent to China's GB/T 39600-2021 or Europe's EN 13986. However, green-building frameworks like GBI (Green Building Index) encourage low-emitting materials. Specifying ENF, E0 or E1 grades helps Malaysian projects meet voluntary sustainability targets, answer clients who ask about formaldehyde and align with best practices in indoor air quality, even in the absence of strict local regulation.
Where can I see third-party test reports for JIYU ENF-grade plywood?
JIYU's ENF-grade plywood has been independently tested by the Liuzhou Quality Inspection and Testing Research Center (CMA-accredited). The laboratory report—number JC26-WT0087, issued 14 July 2026—confirms a formaldehyde emission of 0.022 mg/m³, which meets GB/T 39600-2021 ENF requirements. Furniture factories, renovation firms, interior designers and dealers in Malaysia can request a copy of the test report from JIYU for client documentation, green-building submissions or quality assurance records.
JIYU SDN BHD is a Selangor-based supplier of ENF-grade soybean-glue plywood, working with Malaysian cabinet makers, interior designers and renovation firms.
Ready to specify the lowest formaldehyde grade for your next Malaysian furniture or renovation project? JIYU supplies ENF-grade soybean-glue plywood — third-party test report JC26-WT0087 graded our submitted sample ENF, measuring 0.022 mg/m³ against the 0.025 mg/m³ ceiling — with a 10-year limited warranty on manufacturing defects in the board (delamination, cracking not caused by external force, moisture blistering from a defect). Contact our Puchong, Selangor team at jiyu.my to request the test report, sample sheets or a tailored quote for your furniture factory, cabinet workshop, interior design studio or board dealership.
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