42
Occupant Safety
ache, nausea, and a variety of asthma-like symptoms. Elderly
persons and young children, as well as anyone with a history
of asthma, allergies or lung problems, may be more suscepti-
ble to the effects of off-gassing.
FORMALDEHYDE
Most of the attention regarding chemical off-gassing sur-
rounds formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a naturally occurring
substance. It is also a key industrial chemical used in the
manufacture of the numerous consumer products that we
referred to previously and used in the construction of RVs.
Trace levels of formaldehyde are also released from smoking,
cooking, use of soaps and detergents such as carpet sham-
poos, cosmetics, and many other household products. Some
people are very sensitive to formaldehyde while others may
not have any reaction to the same levels of formaldehyde.
Amounts released decrease over time.
California Air Resource Board (CARB) Notice
Formaldehyde is used widely in building materials such as
pressed wood products, particleboard, hardwood plywood
paneling, medium density fiberboard (MDF), and plywood
which are commonly used throughout the Recreational Vehi-
cle Industry. As mandated by the RV Industry, Grand Design
RV recreation vehicles contain composite wood products
(hardwood plywood, particle board, and MDF) that comply
with the California Air Resource Board (CARB) formaldehyde
emission standards under California Code of Regulations §
93120.2(a) Phase 2 (P2).
EFFECTS OF PROLONGED OCCUPANCY
Your RV was designed primarily for recreational use and
extended stay use. If you expect to occupy your RV for an
extended period, be prepared to deal with condensation and
the humid conditions that may be encountered. The relatively
small volume and tight compact construction of modern RVs
mean that normal living activities of even a few occupants will
lead to rapid moisture saturation of the air contained in the
RV and the appearance of visible moisture, especially in cold
weather.
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