Can You Burn MDF?

There are usually two reasons people ask this question, they either have some MDF then need to get rid of and are thinking of having a bonfire. Or they have some MDF and want to know if it can be used as fuel in a log burner. But can you use it?

MDF will burn, so yes you can burn MDF. But then the actual question becomes should you? And if you are hoping to burn MDF then I’m sorry but the answer isn’t good.

Can You Burn MDF

No, you should not burn MDF. A urea-formaldehyde resin is used to glue the particles in an MDF board together. When burned these could be released into the air. The particles created by burning resin can also stick around in flues and chimneys and have been known to cause fires.

MDF Construction

MDF is made by pressing wood fibres together under high pressure. A urea-formaldehyde resin is then used to glue the fibres together.

This is how a large sheet of MDF is formed and is why it is such a affordable building material.

Formaldehyde

This is where the real problems come in when it comes to burning MFD, at least in my opinion. formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen associated with nasal sinus cancer and nasopharyngeal cancer, and possibly with leukaemia in June 2004.

At concentrations above 0.1 ppm in air formaldehyde can irritate the eyes and mucous membranes. Formaldehyde inhaled at this concentration may cause headaches, a burning sensation in the throat, and difficulty breathing, and can trigger or aggravate asthma symptoms. Source.

If that isnt enough to scare you off burning MDF then i dont know what will.

Ventiliation

One of the counter points rasied by people why see no problem in burning MDF is that a proper fire with a flue will suck all these toxins up before they ever have the chance to cause problems.

This may be true and i have no knowledge to argue otherwise. But do you really think it is a good idea to be realseing these dangerous chemicals into the air? Particuarly in resential areas?

Chimney Fires

If the chemicals arent ewnough to scare you off burning MDF then maybe the potential for chinmey fires will.

Lots of chinmey fires have been linked back to burning MDF in log burners. The resins used in the construction can stick around and build up in your chimney after burning. If enough of these build up they can catch fire.

Most chimney sweeps seriosuly advise never burning MDF in a log burner for this reason.