Carpentry is ubiquitous to any home in Singapore: these can be feature walls in the living room, overhanging cabinets in the kitchen and even vanity counters in the washroom. Where there is carpentry, they will most certainly be covered in laminates as well, the material that forms both a protective and decorative surface for your built furniture. Here are some facts about High Pressure Laminates.
1. What are High Pressure Laminates?
As the most commonly used type of laminate used for carpentry works in Singapore, high pressure laminates (HPL) are made by fusing layers of craft paper with resin into a strong laminate sheet. HPLs come in a wide variety of colours and patterns, which make them the material of choice in fitting out interior spaces for visual appeal.
2. What are some features of HPLs?
HPLs are very durable, lasting for upwards of 5-15 years. They are also hardy enough to withstand the usual machinations of any household, and are easily replaced in the event of damage. HPLs are versatile enough to be used almost anywhere and can be applied to mimic a surface texture – such as marble or wood – that is a little over your budget.
In fact, the sheer variety of patterns and designs available to HPLs ensure that there will be a laminate suitable for any home. Some varieties of laminates also have antiviral and antibacterial properties, helping to keep homes safe and healthy.
3. Are HPLs healthy materials?
It is widely known that the materials and products placed in our places and spaces have a direct impact on our health and wellbeing. Toxic substances such as formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can show their impact during the manufacture, use or disposal of a building product. Given that any office or home will make use of a variety of building materials, these substances may find their way into your spaces and impact your health and wellbeing.
Many studies have shown that reducing exposure to toxic substances bring about real and measurable health benefits. For example, eliminating formaldehyde has shown potential to reduce asthma symptoms by half, while reducing VOCs indoors can bring about better air quality and improve the body’s resistance against disease. In these times where health and wellbeing are paramount, it is essential to ensure that the materials placed in your homes leave as small an impact on your health for as long a time as possible. As HPLs are used in large quantities – especially if you have a lot of fabricated carpentry – it is important to ensure that these materials contain as little toxic substances as possible.
HPLs manufactured by SGBC Member Greenlam Asia Pac Pte Ltd have been certified to have minimal emissions and low toxicity. In fact, Greenlam is one of the few companies to have achieved the highest-possible 4-tick rating under the Singapore Green Building Product (SGBP) certification scheme, which means that the product has been proven to emit very, very low amounts of harmful VOCs. This ensures that indoor air quality will be kept optimal throughout the laminate’s lifespan.
Greemlam’s onus on environmental sustainability has led them to set up a Green Strategy Group which works to develop, implement and monitor several green initiatives across the whole organisation including Zero Liquid Discharge, Responsible Forestry and Safe & Non-Hazardous Products.
Find out more about Greenlam’s solutions here: https://www.greenlam.com/sg/sustainability/
