For the development and modification of low-emission binder systems for the woodworking industry a fast and simple determination method of the formaldehyde emission potential is essential. Up to now, the evaluation of glues has been complicated by long-winded and laborious methods. During panel manufacture, the hot pressing parameters significantly affect the long-term formaldehyde emission. Consequently, a comprehensive optimization of the pressing process is necessary to enable statements on the binder’s emission potential. Hence, this production step is skipped in primary binder development. For the method presented here, glued particles are hardened in a conventional laboratory drying chamber without pressing. Afterwards, the samples are analyzed in a bleached tea bag following the flask method EN717-3 (CEN 1996). With this approach, rapid determination of the formaldehyde emission potential is possible. From these results, a ranking of binders can be established, based on which an experimental design for subsequent measurements including chamber tests can be set up.