How to stop prempanel acoustic panels off-gassing?

[joel5217]

I recently installed 6 x prempanel black oak acoustic panels in my theatre/office and it looks great but the smell it gives off gives me a headache, learnt that this is called off gassing and it gives off strong VOCs that clearly affect me(cant walk into the room without getting a light headache)
I've given it a week and trying to ventilate it for the last 5 days with a fan and an air purifier on full and it smells the same as the day i put them on, just wondering if the smell eventually goes away or any ideas how to get rid of the smell and if even getting rid of the smell would get rid of the headaches, or do i cut my loses and just take them down.

ive seen people say leave them in the garage for a week before installing but saw that too late and i cut the panels and installed them on the day i got them using liquid nails, so if the answer is take them down then im not putting them back up even if the smell is gone. as I'm assuming the wall would be destroyed (would appreciate any removal of liquid nails tips so i can try avoid destroying the wall)

kind of disappointing as none of the reviews have had issues with this and i seem to be the only one, and the instructions don't say anything about VOCs or what to do about getting rid of the smell

Product: https://www.bunnings.com.au/prempanel-2700-x-600-x-21mm-black-oak-timber-acoustic-panel_p0455961?sto...

[joel5217]

little update
Bunnings store that i bought from haven't tried to reach out yet
going to call the store tomorrow
i've moved into the room to work in and still smell it with an air purifier running non stop now 
some days i don't smell anything 
some days i get little smells throughout the day but today has been nonstop 
and notice it the most when just entering the room so i think i get used to it throughout the day
but when i smell it i get the headaches which today was the last straw

Smells of uncured wood, would sealing it work? or even just putting cabinet's in front of it take some smell out?

depending on what the store says I'm gunna try pull off the slats one by one then try cut the back fabric as close to the glue as possible to try minimize damage to the wall as i need to work throughout the week in there

[Dave-1]

Afternoon  @joel5217 

😕 I was hoping that the scent would have dropped by now for you. I was in a Bunnings store yesterday and was checking the panels out (I do admit it had slipped my mind the scent you are describing) and didnt smell anything. I actually went up to all of them as I am going to install a few in my foyer I can still smell the new paint I used on the bookcases (its a laminate paint) that I painted a week and a half ago and the scent does ebb and sway with different days. Tho it is on a downward level. 

I might try and keep a log of how long my foyer smells of fresh paint/plastering as I am going to be painting it in the next few days. 

As to the store and having a chat with them, I always find my best results when I talk to the people in person. Take that sample piece you mentioned and have a chat. Hopefully it will help work out what the issue is.

Feeling your pain.

Dave

[EricL]

Hi @joel5217 

I definitely recommend brining a sample of the Prempanel to the store to make sure that they smell the off gassing of the panel.  

Please keep us updated with your progress, we look forward to seeing your panels sorted out.

Eric

[MitchellMc]

Hi @joel5217,

Josh, one of the leaders at Bunnings Mindarie has tried to reach out several times without success. He's going to give you another call now to try and connect. Feel free to contact him at the store as I've provided details of the issue to him.

Mitchell

[OJ26]

@MitchellMc @EricL @joel5217 Hello we have just got trade install same panels just yesterday at our new house and have same issue( wondering what resolution you came to? I had to work in that room and apart from headache it's triggering my asthma. was removing only solution? 

 

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @OJ26.

I'm sorry to hear you've had an issue with your product.

I'll follow up with our team again today and reach out via private message for additional details and to offer solutions.

Many thanks for your patience.

Mitchell

[joel5217]

So for me the only option was to remove as nothing was working to fix the smell and currently working with the store i bought it from on getting a refund
they've been removed for a week now and my whole garage just smells of the panels now
they offered to swap colours as i noticed when i went in the oak panels don't have the smell
but didn't want to go through it again and just had to rip them down

haven't had an issue in the room at all since pulling them down and wish i removed it sooner rather than trying to wait for the smell to go

contact your store you got them from and explain, the customer service has been great for me

[JacobZ]

Hi @joel5217,

Thank you for sharing your experience.

I'm glad to hear the store has been helpful and sorry to hear of the ongoing issues.

Please don't hesitate to reach out if you need any further support.

Jacob

[Kindrew]

Hey there, wondering if you’ve had an update on your issue? Just just installed in our bedroom at it’s exactly these same issues I’m worried as we are sleeping in the environment and the off gassing smell is so strong it wakes me up at night with a headache. It’s been 2 weeks with no change in the intensity of the smell. 

[Jason]

@Kindrew,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. Sorry to hear that you are also having an issue with your panels.

One of our resident Bunnings D.I.Y. experts will be happy to reach out via private message to get your contact details and assist.

Thanks for your patience in the meantime. 

Jason