Adhesives and Sealants

Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Content Limits

 

Introduction

This document summarizes the regulations in several states affecting the content limits of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) for Adhesives and Sealants. For a quick introduction on how to most easily interpret these pages, link to How to Use the VOC and MIR Rules.

Skip to regulations:

• South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD)
• California Air Resources Board
• Massachusetts
• Texas
• Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) (NY, NJ)
• Lake Michigan Air Directors Consortium (LADCO) (MI, OH, IL, IN)

 

South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD)

Typically, SCAQMD has the tightest and most comprehensive VOC regulations.  It has enacted the following regulation: Rule 1168 (PDF) Adhesive and Sealant Applications It has been amended several times, the last time in 2005. SCAQMD has convened a working group to propose stricter regulations to come into effect in 2015, followed by a further tightening in 2016 and 2018. Here are the current rules and proposed changes:

Sources:
Rule 1168; http://www.aqmd.gov/docs/default-source/rule-book/Proposed-Rules/1168/par1168_051614.pdf?sfvrsn=2

 

Architectural Applications

Application	Current VOC Limit (g/liter)	Proposed Limit Effective 1/1/15	Proposed Limit Effective 1/1/16	Proposed Limit Effective 1/1/18	Proposed Limit Effective 1/1/19
Adhesives:
ABS Welding	325
ABS to PVC Transition Cement	510
Indoor Carpet	50
Carpet Pad	50		20
Outdoor Carpet	150
Outdoor Floor Covering	150		20
Wood Flooring	100		50	20
Indoor Flooring	50		20
Rubber Floor	60		20
Subfloor	50		20
Ceramic Tile	65		20
VCT and Asphalt Tile	50		20
Dry Wall and Panel	50		40
Cove Base	50		20
Multipurpose Construction	70		40	20
Structural Wood Member	140		50
Structural Glazing	100		40
Single Ply Roof Membrane Adhesive	250			100
Other Roof Adhesive	250			100
Welding
CPVC Welding	490
Plastic Cement Welding	250
PVC Welding	510
Other Adhesive
Rubber Vulcanization	850
Special Purpose Contact	250
Contact	80
Top and Trim	250	540	??
All Other Adhesives	250
Other Applications
Computer Diskette Manufacturing	350
Thin Metal Laminating	780
Tire (re)Tread	100
Waterproof Resorcinal Glue			170
Sheet Applied Rubber Lining Operations	850
Substrate Specific Adhesive Applications
Metal	30
Plastic Foams	50		20
Porous  Materials (except wood)	50
Wood	30
Fiberglass	80
Reinforced Plastic Composite	250		200
Other Substrates	250
Sealants and Caulks
Architectural
Clear, Paintable, Immediately Water Resistant	250	380		50
Foam Sealant	250	200		20
Marine Deck	760
Potable Water	250	100
All Other Roof	300			100
Single Ply Roof Membrane	450			100
Other Roof Sealant	300			100
All Other Architectural	250		50
Roadway	250		50
All Other Sealants	420
Adhesive Primers
Plastic	550
Pressure Sensitive	785
Traffic Marking Tape	150
Vehicle Glass	700
All Other Adhesive Primers	250
Sealant Primers
Architectural
Non Porous	250
Porous	775
Marine Deck	760
Modified Bituminous	500
All Other Sealant Primers	750

Back to Top

 

Adhesives and Sealants Regulations Enacted by other Jurisdictions

California Air Resources Board (CARB):

The California Code of Regulations (CCR) Title 17, Division 3 Chapter 1 – Air Resources Board Subchapter 8.5 – Consumer Products Article 2 regulates VOC emissions from all consumer products, including some adhesive products. Note that CARB is revising the regulations for Aerosol consumer products, including some Adhesive Products.

Here are the applicable regulations and proposed changes for Aerosol Adhesives:

Consumer Products Aerosol – Adhesive	Current VOC Limit % by weight	New VOC Limit % by weight	Effective Date
Mist Spray Adhesive	65	30	1/1/2017
Screen Printing Adhesive	55	55	1/1/2017
Web Spray Adhesive	55	40	1/1/2017

 

Here are the Regulations for other Adhesives and Sealants:

Consumer Product	VOC Limit (% by Weight)
Special Purpose Spray Adhesive
Mounting, Automotive Engine Compartment, and Flexible Vinyl Adhesive	70
Polystyrene Foam and Automobile Headliner Adhesive	65
Polyolefin and Laminate Repair/Edgebanding Adhesive	60
Contact Adhesive – General Purpose	55
Contact Adhesive – Special Purpose	80
Adhesive Remover
Floor or Wall Covering Adhesive Remover	5
Gasket or Thread Locking Adhesive Remover	50
General Purpose Adhesive Remover	20
Specialty Adhesive Remover	70
Sealant or Caulking Compound
All forms	4
Chemically Curing nonaerosol	3
Nonchemically Curing nonaerosol	1.5

Many states and jurisdictions have adopted the CARB limits as they currently exist in late 2014, as described below. CARB is diligent in enforcing its regulations.

Back to Top

 

Massachusetts

Massachusetts air pollution control regulations are contained in: 310 CMR 7.00: Air Pollution Control Regulations.  Section 7.18: Volatile & Halogenated Organic Compounds, starting at page 269, is a detailed regulation governing the VOC content of a wide range of known emitters.  Section 7.18 recently added a new section (30): Adhesives, Adhesive Primers, Sealants and Sealant Primers to the list of regulated products. Limits came into effect on January 1, 2015 and more come into effect January 1, 2016.
Source: http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/dep/service/regulations/proposed/adhpregr.doc

Adhesive, Sealant, Adhesive Primer Or Sealant Primer Category	VOC Content Limit (grams/liter*)
ABS Welding	400
Ceramic Tile Installation	130
Computer Diskette Jacket Manufacturing	850
Contact	250
Cove Base Installation	150
CPVC Welding	490
Indoor Floor Covering Installation	150
Metal to Urethane/Rubber Molding Or Casting	850
Multipurpose Construction	200
Nonmembrane Roof Installation/Repair	300
Outdoor Floor Covering Installation	250
Perimeter Bonded Sheet Vinyl Flooring Installation	660
Plastic Cement Welding (Non ABS)	500
PVC Welding	510
Sheet Rubber Lining Installation	850
Single-ply Roof Membrane Installation/Repair	250
Structural Glazing	100
Thin Metal Laminating	780
Tire Retread	100
Waterproof Resorcinol Glue	170
Sealants
Architectural	250
Marine Deck	760
Nonmembrane Roof Installation/Repair	300
Roadway	250
Single-ply Roof Membrane	450
Other	420
Adhesive Primers
Automotive Glass	700
Plastic Cement Welding	650
Single-ply Roof Membrane	250
Traffic Marking Tape	150
Other	250
Sealant Primers
Non-porous Architectural	250
Porous Architectural	775
Marine Deck	760
Other	750

 

VOC Content Limit for Adhesives Applied to Particular Substrate	VOC Content Limit (grams/liter*)
Substrate Category
Flexible Vinyl	250
Fiberglass	200
Metal	30
Porous Material	120
Reinforced Plastic Composite	200
Rubber	250
Wood	30
Other Substrates	250

Note: The new Table 1 contained in 310 CMR 7.00: Air Pollution Control Regulations showing the new VOC content limits for Adhesive and Sealant products starting on page 355 is garbled.  When it is updated, it will be added to this section. A comparison of the SCAQMD and Massachusetts tables reveals that the SCAQMD proposed new regulations are significantly tougher.

Back to Top

 

Texas

The Texas Administrative Code, Title 30  Environmental Quality, Part 1 Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Chapter 115 Control Of Air Pollution From Volatile Organic Compounds, Division 7: Miscellaneous Industrial Adhesives, includes regulations on emissions from Adhesives products which came into effect on March 1, 2013. However, there are no regulations on the VOC content limits of Adhesive products. The VOC Content Limits are included in the following table: Source: http://info.sos.state.tx.us/fids/201105434-3.html Figure: 30 TAC §115.473(a)

Table 1.
General Adhesive Application Processes	Pounds of volatile organic compounds per gallon adhesive
Reinforced Plastic Composite	1.7
Flexible vinyl	2.1
Metal	0.3
Porous Material (Except Wood)	1.0
Rubber	2.1
Wood	0.3
Other Substrates	2.1

 

Table 2.
Specialty Adhesive Application Processes	Pounds of volatile organic compounds per gallon adhesive
Ceramic Tile Installation	1.1
Contact Adhesive	2.1
Cove Base Installation	1.3
Floor Covering Installation (Indoor)	1.3
Floor Covering Installation (Outdoor)	2.1
Floor Covering Installation (Perimeter Bonded Sheet Vinyl)	5.5
Metal to Urethane/Rubber Molding or Casting	7.1
Motor Vehicle Adhesive	2.1
Motor Vehicle Weatherstrip Adhesive	6.3
Multipurpose Construction	1.7
Plastic Solvent Welding acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)	3.3
Plastic Solvent Welding (Except ABS)	4.2
Sheet Rubber Lining Installation	7.1
Single-Ply Roof Membrane Installation/Repair (Except Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer)	2.1
Structural Glazing	0.8
Thin Metal Laminating	6.5
Tire Repair	0.8
Waterproof Resorcinol Glue	1.4

 

Table 3.
Adhesive Primer Application Processes	Pounds of volatile organic compounds per gallon adhesive
Motor Vehicle Glass-Bonding Primer	7.5
Plastic Solvent Welding Adhesive Primer	5.4
Single-Ply Roof Membrane Adhesive Primer	2.1
Other Adhesive Primer	2.1

If the manufacturer cannot comply with the content limits, he may instead operate a vapor control system capable of achieving an overall control efficiency of 85% of the VOC emissions from adhesives and adhesive primers.

Back to Top

 

Ozone Transport Commission (OTC)

The OTC states: Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia, adopted Model Rule 2006 – Adhesives and Sealantsin 2009 which includes the following table of VOC content limits: Table 1.  VOC Content Limits for Adhesives, Sealants, Adhesive Primers, Sealant Primers and Adhesives Applied to Particular Substrates Source:  http://www.otcair.org/upload/Documents/Model%20Rules/OTC_Adhesives_and_Sealants_Model_Rule_Final.doc  These limits are very similar to the limits adopted by Massachusetts and so are less strict than SCAQMD. 

 

New York

New York has adopted VOC Content rules for Adhesives that mirror the CARB standards.

In addition, it has adopted specific rules under Subpart 228-2 Commercial and Industrial Adhesives, Sealants and Primers. Table 1. VOC Content Limits for Adhesives, Sealants, Adhesive Primers, Sealant Primers and Adhesives Applied to the Listed Substrates

Adhesive, Sealant, Adhesive Primer or Sealant Primer Category	VOC Content Limit (grams/liter*)
Adhesives
ABS welding	400
Ceramic tile installation	130
Computer diskette jacket manufacturing	850
Contact bond	250
Cove base installation	150
CPVC welding	490
Indoor floor covering installation	150
Metal to urethane/rubber molding or casting	850
Multipurpose construction	200
Nonmembrane roof installation/repair	300
Other plastic cement welding	510
Outdoor floor covering installation	250
PVC welding	510
Single-ply roof membrane installation/repair	250
Structural glazing	100
Thin metal laminating	780
Tire retread	100
Perimeter bonded sheet vinyl flooring installation	660
Waterproof resorcinol glue	170
Sheet-applied rubber installation	850
Sealants
Architectural	250
Marine deck	760
Nonmembrane roof installation/repair	300
Roadway	250
Single-ply roof membrane	450
Other	420
Adhesive Primers
Automotive glass	700
Plastic cement welding	650
Single-ply roof membrane	250
Traffic marking tape	150
Other	250
Sealant Primers
Non-porous architectural	250
Porous architectural	775
Marine deck	760
Other	750
Adhesives Applied to the Listed Substrate
Flexible vinyl	250
Fiberglass	200
Metal	30
Porous material	120
Rubber	250
Other substrates	250

 

New Jersey

The New Jersey Administrative Code, Title 7, Chapter 27, Air Pollution Control includes Subchapter 26 Prevention of Air Pollution from Adhesives, Sealants, Adhesive Primers and Sealant Primers  enacted in 2011.  The regulations are captured in the following table:

Table 1.  VOC Content Limits for Adhesives, Sealants, Adhesive Primers, Sealant Primers and Adhesives Applied to Particular Substrates

Source: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/aqm/Sub26.doc

These limits are very similar to the limits adopted by Massachusetts and so are less strict than SCAQMD.

Back to Top

 

The Lake Michigan Air Directors Consortium (LADCO)

Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio, implemented VOC control strategy to adopt SCAQMD and CARB rules as appropriate.

• Ohio has adopted the CARB regulations for certain Adhesive products: Table 1: Table of standardsSource: http://www.epa.ohio.gov/portals/27/regs/3745-112/3745-112-03_Final.pdf
• Illinois:  Illinois specifically incorporates California Code Section 41712(h)(2) for Adhesives and Sealants.
• Indiana: includes VOC content limits very similar to those of Ohio.

Summary: Jurisdictions that regulate the VOC Content of Adhesives and Sealants can be grouped into 3 categories by strictness: Toughest: SCAQMD Next Toughest:  CARB (and the jurisdictions that follow them, including New York, Ohio and Indiana) Less Strict: Massachusetts (and the jurisdictions that follow them, including the OTC and LADCO states) It is not clear whether regulations of most states will gravitate towards SCAQMD or CARB, given that many have recently adopted less strict rules, such as Massachusetts.Solvent users need to determine where the Adhesive and Sealant products will be manufactured and sold.   If the products are made or sold into SCAQMD, and have not been reformulated to comply with the new restrictions, the manufacturer may need to accelerate its reformulation programs, and they have only until January 1, 2016.  TBF can help.If they are not planning to sell into SCAQMD, they may choose to comply with the less strict regulations, however, reformulation with TBF Zero VOC solvents may still be necessary.

Back to Top