Virginia Administrative Code
Title 9 - ENVIRONMENT
Agency 5 - STATE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
Chapter 45 - CONSUMER AND COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS
Part II - Emission Standards
Article 5 - Emission Standards for Architectural and Industrial Maintenance Coatings
Section 9VAC5-45-550 - 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.

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.