VOCs are organic chemical compounds whose composition makes it possible for them to evaporate under normal indoor atmospheric conditions of temperature and pressure. They are described by the EPA as including a variety of chemicals (numbering in the thousands), some of which may have short and long-term adverse health effects.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. Paints, coatings and varnishes all may contain organic solvents, as do many cleaning, disinfecting, cosmetic, degreasing and hobby products. All of these products can release organic compounds while you are using them, and when they are stored. VOCs are especially problematic when used indoors or in areas of limited ventilation. Concentrations of VOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors.
The most common VOCs as it relates to resinous flooring products are found in solvents. Solvents include such chemicals as: xylene, acetone, toluene, ethyl acetate, MEK, and others. These solvents are designed to evaporate at room temperature at different rates depending on their intent. They are used to reduce the viscosity of the material (make it thinner) and also act as a carrying agent for resins as they penetrate a substrate, improving adhesion and extending working times.
How do VOC regulators define a Floor Coating? “An opaque coating that is labeled and formulated for application to flooring, including, but not limited to, decks, porches, steps, garage floors, and other horizontal surfaces, which may be subjected to foot traffic.”
How are VOCs Measured in the floor coatings industry? Within the paint & coatings industry, VOC’s are measured by the calculated mass of the VOC content relative to the overall volume of chemical. In most cases, this is represented as either grams/liter (g/l) or pounds per gallon (lbs./gal.).
National and local regulators treat acceptable VOCs differently based on the application & industry.
Often referred to as “Intended Use Categories”, these applications include everything from Industrial High-Heat Coatings to Floor Coatings.
In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency along with state and local authorities control the regulations for allowable VOC limits. Some individual states have their own requirements while others have collaborated based on their region to adopt regional multi-state statutes.
The Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) is a multi-state organization created under the Clean Air Act to develop and implement regional solutions to the ground-level ozone problem and air quality in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. Currently, two model rules are available: Model Rule 2002 and Model Rule 2010. The two model rules provide for maximum allowable VOC content based on the coating category. Each participating state independently elects to adopt a model rule. All states have adopted Model Rule 2002 with the exception of Vermont which still follows the EPA National Rule and Virginia for which only select areas have adopted. Since 2017, several states have adopted Model Rule 2010 including Maryland, Delaware, Connecticut and Rhode Island. And, although Utah is not part of the OTC, it also has several counties that adopted Model Rule 2010, in 2015. The state of Colorado adopted OTC Model Rule 2010 in May of 2020.
Often referred to as “South Coast” or “SCAMQD”, it has developed plans and regulations to bring compliance to federal and state clean air standards within this densely populated region. SCAMQD continues to have the most stringent VOC regulations in the nation.
The proposed VOC concentration limits have been developed to align with requirements in those U.S. states that are members of the Ozone Transport Commission (OTC).Implemented on September 9, 2010 , under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) these regulations provide VOC concentration limits coatings.