Section 550. Standard for volatile organic compounds

A. Except as provided in this section, no owner or other person shall (i) manufacture, blend, or repackage for sale, (ii) supply, sell, or offer for sale, or (iii) solicit for application or apply any architectural coating with a VOC content in excess of the corresponding limit specified in Table 45-5A.

B. If anywhere on the container of any architectural coating, or any label or sticker affixed to the container, or in any sales, advertising, or technical literature supplied by a manufacturer or any person acting on behalf of a manufacturer, any representation is made that indicates that the coating meets the definition of or is recommended for use for more than one of the coating categories listed in Table 45-5A, then the most restrictive VOC content limit shall apply. This provision does not apply to the following coating categories:

Lacquer coatings (including lacquer sanding sealers);

Metallic pigmented coatings;

Shellacs;

Fire-retardant coatings;

Pretreatment wash primers;

Industrial maintenance coatings;

Low-solids coatings;

Wood preservatives;

High-temperature coatings;

Temperature-indicator safety coatings;

Antenna coatings;

Antifouling coatings;

Flow coatings;

Bituminous roof primers;

Calcimine recoaters;

Impacted immersion coatings;

Nuclear coatings;

Thermoplastic rubber coating and mastic; and

Specialty primers, sealers, and undercoaters.

Table 45-5A VOC Content Limits for Architectural Coatings
Limits are expressed in grams of VOC per liter1 of coating thinned to the manufacturer's maximum recommendation, excluding the volume of any water, exempt compounds, or colorant added to tint bases. "Manufacturers maximum recommendation" means the maximum recommendation for thinning that is indicated on the label or lid of the coating container.
Coating Category			VOC Content Limit
Flat Coatings			100
Nonflat Coatings			150
Nonflat High Gloss Coatings			250
Specialty Coatings:
	Antenna Coatings		530
	Antifouling Coatings		400
	Bituminous Roof Coatings		300
	Bituminous Roof Primers		350
	Bond Breakers		350
	Calcimine Recoater		475
	Clear Wood Coatings:
		Clear Brushing Lacquers	680
		Lacquers (including lacquer sanding sealers)	550
		Sanding Sealers (other than lacquer sanding sealers)	350
		Conversion Varnishes	725
		Varnishes (other than conversion varnishes)	350
	Concrete Curing Compounds		350
	Concrete Surface Retarder		780
	Dry Fog Coatings		400
	Extreme durability coating		400
	Faux Finishing Coatings		350
	Fire‑Resistive Coatings		350
	Fire‑Retardant Coatings:
		Clear	650
		Opaque	350
	Floor Coatings		250
	Flow Coatings		420
	Form‑Release Compounds		250
	Graphic Arts Coatings (Sign Paints)		500
	High‑Temperature Coatings		420
	Impacted Immersion Coating		780
	Industrial Maintenance Coatings		340
	Low‑Solids Coatings		120
	Magnesite Cement Coatings		450
	Mastic Texture Coatings		300
	Metallic Pigmented Coatings		500
	Multi‑Color Coatings		250
	Nuclear Coatings		450
	Pretreatment Wash Primers		420
	Primers, Sealers, and Undercoaters		200
	Quick‑Dry Enamels		250
	Quick‑Dry Primers, Sealers and Undercoaters		200
	Recycled Coatings		250
	Roof Coatings		250
	Rust Preventative Coatings		400
	Shellacs:
		Clear	730
		Opaque	550
	Specialty Primers, Sealers, and Undercoaters		350
	Stains		250
	Swimming Pool Coatings		340
	Swimming Pool Repair and Maintenance Coatings		340
	Temperature‑Indicator Safety Coatings		550
	Thermoplastic Rubber Coating and Mastic		550
	Traffic Marking Coatings		150
	Waterproofing Sealers		250
	Waterproofing Concrete/Masonry Sealers		400
	Wood Preservatives		350
1 Conversion factor: one pound of VOC per gallon (U.S.) = 119.95 grams per liter.

C. A coating manufactured prior to the applicable compliance date specified in 9VAC5-45-580, may be sold, supplied, or offered for sale for two years following the applicable compliance date. In addition, a coating manufactured before the applicable compliance date specified in 9VAC5-45-580, may be applied at any time, both before and after the applicable compliance date, so long as the coating complied with the standards in effect at the time the coating was manufactured. This subsection does not apply to any coating that does not display the date or date code required by subdivision 1 of 9VAC5-45-560.

D. All architectural coating containers used to apply the contents therein to a surface directly from the container by pouring, siphoning, brushing, rolling, padding, ragging, or other means, shall be closed when not in use. These architectural coatings containers include, but are not limited to, drums, buckets, cans, pails, trays, or other application containers. Containers of any VOC-containing materials used for thinning and cleanup shall also be closed when not in use.

E. No owner or other person who applies or solicits the application of any architectural coating shall apply a coating that contains any thinning material that would cause the coating to exceed the applicable VOC limit specified in Table 45-5A.

F. No owner or other person shall apply or solicit the application of any rust preventive coating for industrial use unless such a rust preventive coating complies with the industrial maintenance coating VOC limit specified in Table 45-5A.

G. For any coating that does not meet any of the definitions for the specialty coatings categories listed in Table 45-5A, the VOC content limit shall be determined by classifying the coating as a flat coating or a nonflat coating, based on its gloss, as defined in 9VAC5-45-540 C, and the corresponding flat or nonflat coating limit shall apply.

H. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A of this section, up to 10% by volume of VOC may be added to a lacquer to avoid blushing of the finish during days with relative humidity greater than 70% and temperature below 65°F, at the time of application, provided that the coating contains acetone and no more than 550 grams of VOC per liter of coating, less water and exempt compounds, prior to the addition of VOC.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 26, Issue 12, eff. March 17, 2010.

Statutory Authority

§ 10.1-1308 of the Code of Virginia.