Resource: VOC limits for paint?

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Author Message David Axt, AIA, CCS, CSI Senior Member Username: david_axt Post Number: 1100 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Thursday, June 24, 2010 - 06:32 pm:    Does anyone know of a good resource that makes sense of the myriad of rules and regulations for VOC limits for paints and coatings? Richard Howard, AIA CSI CCS SCIP LEED-AP Senior Member Username: rick_howard Post Number: 238 Registered: 07-2003 Posted on Thursday, June 24, 2010 - 08:36 pm:    Sherwin Williams has a pretty good publication entitled "LEED, Green & VOC Coatings Reference Guide", (latest is dated 3/10/2010) that you can download from swgreenspecs.com or find a link for on their regular site. It covers all of the various LEED, CHPS, CARB, OTC, SQAQMD, MPI, and almost anything else you might need to look up for VOC limits. They have a page for each rule with limits by categories and then a listing of complying S-W products. The guide gets updated whenever rules change or new products are developed. David Axt, AIA, CCS, CSI Senior Member Username: david_axt Post Number: 1101 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Friday, June 25, 2010 - 01:04 pm:    All these various VOC requirements remind me of the old days when our nation had several different building codes. Now is the time for our country to have a national standard for VOC limits! (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Friday, June 25, 2010 - 12:53 pm:    The S-W info is a good/general starting point. It would also be wise to contact local paint rep where specific project is located to be be sure of any specific "local" requirements...and that's for paints only. Sealers (for concrete, etc.) and many types of "coatings", at least in Calif, are also regulated; you will need to contact respective local reps...if you want to be sure that you don't specify non-compliant products. Richard Howard, AIA CSI CCS SCIP LEED-AP Senior Member Username: rick_howard Post Number: 239 Registered: 07-2003 Posted on Friday, June 25, 2010 - 03:36 pm:    Unregistered makes an excellent point. There are many local/regional manufacturers who specialize in coatings for particular regulations. My PPG rep gave me a sheet listing complying products by type for Ohio. Our regulations initially controlled some products, such as alkyd coatings, at point-of-sale. Vendors could sell any stock on hand, but could not restock non-complying products. I have always tried to spec the lowest VOC products available that could perform; even before there were any regulations. I give asthma credit for my early "green" attitude. I just didn't want a job site to make me sick. Anne Whitacre, FCSI CCS Senior Member Username: awhitacre Post Number: 970 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Monday, June 28, 2010 - 10:40 pm:    yes, because of the stringent requirements in California, several of the millwork suppliers my old firm used had two shops -- one in California, and one in Nevada where the applied the really good finishes. The best custom furniture and shelving we designed were finished in Nevada. Lynn Javoroski CSI CCS LEEDŽ AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 1206 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Friday, February 18, 2011 - 03:56 pm:    Has anyone successfully navigated the seas between the Sylla and Charybdis of the MPI standards and LEED requirements as they are expressed in specifications from the Corps of Engineers? My colleagues on another project are beginning to drown in the waters of incompatibility. Suggestions for a resolution would be welcome. Ellis C. Whitby, AIA, PE, CSI, LEEDŽ AP Senior Member Username: ecwhitby Post Number: 96 Registered: 03-2003 Posted on Friday, February 18, 2011 - 04:56 pm:    Lynn; Ah, the joys of SpecsIntact. I wish your colleagues good luck. Dale Hurttgam, NCARB, AIA,LEED AP, CSI Senior Member Username: dwhurttgam Post Number: 77 Registered: 10-2005 Posted on Friday, February 18, 2011 - 05:37 pm:    If you see Specs-Intact, run in the opposite direction as fast as you can. Who else but government would think to ask NASA to develop specifications for building construction. Margaret G. Chewning FCSI CCS Senior Member Username: presbspec Post Number: 200 Registered: 01-2003 Posted on Friday, February 18, 2011 - 09:01 pm:    Dale, First of all SpecsIntact is not the specifications. Its just the program that processes the editing of the section. The spec sections are generated by the agencies that use them. NAVFAC and corps of Engineers actually write the sections. Margaret G. Chewning FCSI CCS Senior Member Username: presbspec Post Number: 201 Registered: 01-2003 Posted on Friday, February 18, 2011 - 10:20 pm:    Sorry for the short post above, I saw Dale's comment during a concert intermission and felt moved to reply on my blackberry. To continue - the specifications are UFGS (Unified Facilities Guide Specification) sections, as I stated they are written by architects and engineers (mostly) working for NAVFAC and the Corps. Dealing with the MPI schedule and conflicts with LEED, my best advice would be to narrow the schedule down to known applications, then start comparing with MPI book. If you have a paint rep in your area familiar with MPI, (PPG is pretty good in our area) that would be your best resource. Good Luck Lynn, just remember the SpecsIntact isn't the problem, it's the UFGS guidespec 09 90 00 coordination with MPI. Jim Sliff Senior Member Username: jim_sliff Post Number: 26 Registered: 08-2010 Posted on Monday, February 21, 2011 - 04:05 pm:    MPI/UFGS integration is something I can look into since it's in my little specialized Specification world. I have the current docs - it'll take me a while to rake my way through them, but it is an interesting issue/question/subject (I'm trying to NOT call it a problem!). Over the years every attempt at setting a "standard" for architectural coatings has been partially at odds with the UFGS guidespec, with difficulties increased exponentially by the varying VOC regulations. It gets especially tricky when it comes to definitions; one government entity may define a product as something used in a particular type of application, with a fixed VOC limit for *that* product in *that* application...but if you specify the exact same product on a different surface, or in a different exposure situation, or on a Tuesday in June with clouds to the east and you're hungry (well - not quite that bad, but close!) a completely different VOC limit may apply. And if that application is not in the manufacturer's product data or on the label whichever limit is the most restrictive normally applies. In the days of widespread use of Federal Specifications (i.e. tt-p-29a) and Mil Specs (Mil 29875) (I grabbed those out of the air - they are close to ones I recall) there were situations where you could specify a product and it not be legal; a legal version might not meet the spec, and as I sometimes state "you can't get there from here". Thankfully that's changed significantly, but the MPI/UFGS question I haven't seen much. It's certainly an important issue and something I'll dig into. To answer David's question about "anyone knowing a good resource...?" - No. There are so many regional variations and rule implementation dates (plus some exceptions and waivers) that there is no one document source or manufacturer that can easily hand you the magic 8-ball. Every situation s different. It boils down to finding one or more resources that can either do it for you or guide you to the appropriate resources based on the specifics of a project. I've never seen a guide spec that covers all the variables - I doubt it's possible to even get close.