BOARD MEETING DATE: September 7, 2007
AGENDA NO. 39

PROPOSAL:

Annual Status Report on Rule 1113 – Architectural Coatings

SYNOPSIS:

This final annual report for Rule 1113 describes program achievements with respect to the Workplan Objectives established by the Board in 1999. Rule-compliant architectural coatings are available in the marketplace and continue to demonstrate quality performance. Findings of the technology assessment for the Flat coatings category limit, whose future compliance date is July 1, 2008, are discussed.

COMMITTEE:

Stationary Source, July 27, 2007

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

Architectural coatings are the single largest source category of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions under the regulatory authority of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) and one of the largest non-mobile source of VOC emissions in the South Coast Air Basin (Basin). The VOC emissions from architectural coatings are a significant source of ozone formation in the Basin and continue to be a critical component for attainment of Federal and State standards. In 1997, architectural coatings were responsible for 50.9 tons of VOC emissions per day in the Basin on an annual average basis. Although the population has grown, as has the usage of architectural coatings, the 2005 annual average emissions were 38.8 tons per day, and are forecast to be reduced to 23.1 tons per day by the year 2010 according to the 2007 Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP). Through the regulatory limits adopted in Rule 1113, the AQMD has made great strides in reducing emissions from architectural coatings, thereby decreasing ground level ozone formation and improving the overall quality of the air and the health of the greater than 16 million people residing in the AQMD.

To assist with the implementation of Rule 1113 – Architectural Coatings, the Board approved a Workplan on August 13, 1999 that required submittal of annual status reports through the year 2007, to provide the Board with a summary of technical assessments, new developments in coatings technology, market trends and outreach and training programs. The first report, submitted on July 21, 2000, has been followed each year by new information on the implementation of future VOC limits, the averaging compliance option, and other related programs. In addition to rule requirements for technology assessments of specific coating categories, a Board approved resolution in December 2002, ensured the continuance of annual reports with a focus on the progress towards achieving the 2006 VOC limits found in the rule. This is the seventh and final such report that staff will have presented to the Board.

The main focus of this final annual report, provided in Attachment B, is to furnish the latest information on the availability and performance of Flat coatings which are subject to a future compliance limit of 50g/l on July 1, 2008. The results of surveys, internet data searches, laboratory testing and evaluation of coatings, in-situ coating performance reviews and available compliance options built into the rule are some of the topics covered in this report.

Flat Coating Technology Assessment

Staff relied on a number of key sources of data and information for determining the availability and performance of Flat coatings formulated to meet the future VOC limit of 50g/l. These include:

1. Flat Coating Laboratory Performance Study. Staff has contracted with industry experts to conduct laboratory studies to assess the performance characteristics of Flat coatings to determine whether key characteristics are compromised when formulated to comply with the future VOC limit of 50g/l. A review of these studies supports staff conclusions that overall, future-compliant and even super-compliant coatings meet or exceed expected characteristic performance standards when compared to products that have a much higher VOC content.

On the whole, results of the recent architectural coatings laboratory-based evaluation by the University of Missouri at Rolla, continues to support staff’s conclusions. Commercially available interior and exterior Flat coatings that meet the 2008 VOC limit of 50g/l have performance characteristics that are similar to and in many cases better than their higher-VOC counterparts. The results of the findings are summarized in the report with the empirical data and are available for review in Appendix B.

2. Compliant Products Found in Internet Searches. Staff continues to search for and find future compliant and super-compliant Flat coatings listed by large and small manufacturers on their websites. Staff verifies product characteristics by examining Technical Data Sheets and Material Safety Data Sheets for each coating listed, as well as discussing the performance capabilities with manufacturers. (See Appendix A.)
    
3. Store Shelf Survey. Staff conducted a survey of local store inventories in the first quarter of 2007. The primary purpose of the survey was to obtain a snapshot of the currently available architectural products being sold at various points of distribution. A secondary benefit of the survey was to alert store owners to the future rule requirements. This limited survey indicates that products meeting the current and future VOC limit are currently available and being sold to consumers in all categories, including Flat coatings.
    
4. Meetings with Local Manufacturers (Large and Small). Staff continues to visit local paint manufacturers individually to inquire about their successes and any failures in formulating Flat coatings to meet the July 2008 VOC limit of 50g/l. Manufacturers indicate that compliant products are available and that they exhibit acceptable performance characteristics for their markets.
    
5. Further Studies. Additional studies include staff’s documentation of low-VOC flat coating projects at a local university, addition of more flat coatings to the list of manufacturers producing super-compliant coatings, and research of articles on new technologies in low-VOC coatings.

Additional Technical Programs and Studies

1. Draft California Air Resources Board (CARB) 2005 Architectural Coatings Survey. The most recent sales data provided by the coating manufacturers and included in the latest draft CARB survey, indicate an increase in the overall sales volume of lower-VOC products in many categories in comparison to the sales data from previous CARB surveys. The information contained in the most recent draft CARB survey represents sales data from 2004; this is four years prior to the lower-VOC limit for Flat coatings taking effect. This data demonstrates that manufacturers are developing and marketing coatings compliant with the future VOC limits in Rule 1113.
    
2. CARB/AQMD Reactivity Study. Staff will continue to monitor reactivity-related research and assess the reactivity and availability of solvents typically used in the formulation of architectural coatings
    
3. Alternate Means of Compliance Provided by the Rule. By examining the number of manufacturers who have taken advantage of alternate means of compliance allowed by Rule 1113, staff has concluded that these flexibilities in the rule have allowed manufacturers additional time for product reformulation. These alternate methods include the averaging compliance and sell-through options, as well as the small container exemption.
    
4. Past Studies. Staff also summarizes previous technology assessments conducted relative to coatings research and VOC limits within Rule 1113.
    
5. Future Programs. Staff will continue to research new technologies in the development of lower-VOC products and continue the strong working relationship with members of the coatings industry. Among the future plans are a Roundtable discussion on reactivity, an Architectural Coatings Technology Symposium, and a Clean Coating Certification Program.

Conclusions

As detailed in this report, AQMD staff research of technical information from many coating manufacturers, coating performance studies, assessments of sales data, marketing brochures, Material Safety Data Sheets and other sources, clearly shows an ever-increasing number and volume of products that perform well and meet the future proposed limits.

Attachments (exe 458kb)
A. Key Contacts
B. Annual Status Report on Rule 1113- Architectural Coatings