Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Concentration Limits for Architectural Coatings Regulations (SOR/2009-264)

Interpretation

Marginal note:Definitions

• 1 (1) The following definitions apply in these Regulations.

  architectural coating

  architectural coating means a product to be applied onto or impregnated into a substrate, for use on traffic surfaces such as streets and highways, curbs, berms, driveways, parking lots, sidewalks and airport runways, or stationary structures, including temporary buildings and their appurtenances, whether installed or detached. (revêtement architectural)

  excluded compounds

  excluded compounds means the compounds that are excluded under item 65 of Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 and includes acetic acid, 1,1–dimethylethyl ester (C₆H₁₂0₂). (composés exclus)

  pigment

  pigment means finely ground insoluble powder that provides an architectural coating with any of the following properties: colour, corrosion inhibition, conductivity, opacity, sheen, gloss or improved mechanical properties. (pigment)

  volatile organic compounds

  volatile organic compounds or VOC means volatile organic compounds that participate in atmospheric photochemical reactions and that are not excluded compounds. (composés organiques volatils ou COV)

• Marginal note:Incorporation by reference

  (2) Any standard or method that is incorporated by reference in these Regulations is incorporated as amended from time to time.

Application

Marginal note:Application

• 2 (1) These Regulations apply in respect of the architectural coatings set out in the schedule, except if they are

  • (a) for application to a product or a component of a product, in or on the premises of a factory or a shop, as part of a manufacturing, processing or repairing activity;

  • (b) manufactured, imported, offered for sale or sold to be used in scientific research;

  • (c) manufactured, imported, offered for sale or sold to be used as a laboratory sample or analytical standard; or

  • (d) manufactured, imported or sold for export or for shipment to other persons for processing or repackaging.

• Marginal note:Non-application

  (2) These Regulations do not apply in respect of the following coatings:

  • (a) adhesives;

  • (b) aerosol coatings — pressurized coatings, containing pigments or resins, whose ingredients are dispensed by means of a propellant and are packaged in a disposable can for either

    • (i) hand-held application, or

    • (ii) use in specialized equipment for the marking of streets, highways or other traffic surfaces including curbs, berms, driveways, parking lots, sidewalks and airport runways;

  • (c) antifouling coatings — coatings for application to submerged stationary structures and their appurtenances, whether installed or detached, to prevent or reduce the attachment of marine or freshwater biological organisms, registered under the Pest Control Products Act; and

  • (d) wood preservatives — coatings to protect exposed wood from decay or insect attack, registered under the Pest Control Products Act.

• Marginal note:Non-application — 1 L or less

  (3) These Regulations, except for sections 17 and 19, do not apply in respect of the following architectural coatings set out in the schedule if their container has a capacity of one litre or less:

  • (a) faux finish;

  • (b) any other high-temperature coating;

  • (c) any other lacquer, including lacquer sanding sealers;

  • (d) any other varnish;

  • (e) low solids coating;

  • (f) quick-dry enamel;

  • (g) interior wiping stain;

  • (h) exterior wood stain;

  • (i) any other stain; and

  • (j) rust preventive coating.

Prohibitions

Marginal note:Manufacture or import

• 3 (1) A person must not manufacture or import any architectural coating set out in column 1 of the schedule if its concentration of volatile organic compounds exceeds the limit set out in column 2 for that architectural coating unless

  • (a) dilution of the architectural coating before its use is required and in accordance with the written instructions of the manufacturer, importer or seller, to a VOC concentration equal to or less than that limit set out in column 2 and that coating is either labelled with or accompanied by those instructions in both official languages; or

  • (b) the person has been issued a permit for that architectural coating under section 10.

• Marginal note:Effective date

  (2) The prohibition takes effect in respect of each architectural coating set out in column 1 of the schedule beginning on the corresponding anniversary of the day on which these Regulations come into force as set out in column 3.

Marginal note:Use of traffic marking coating

• 4 (1) A person must not use, during the period beginning on May 1 and ending on October 15, any traffic marking coating set out in column 1 of the schedule in which the VOC concentration exceeds 150 g/L.

• Marginal note:Effective date

  (2) The prohibition takes effect in respect of the traffic marking coating beginning three years after the day on which these Regulations come into force.

Marginal note:Sale or offer for sale

• 5 (1) A person must not sell or offer for sale any architectural coating set out in column 1 of the schedule if its VOC concentration exceeds the limit set out in column 2 for that product unless

  • (a) dilution of the coating before its use is required and in accordance with the written instructions of the manufacturer, importer or seller, to a VOC concentration equal to or less than that limit set out in column 2 and that coating is either labelled with or accompanied by those instructions in both official languages; or

  • (b) the coating was manufactured or imported under a permit issued under section 10 and the sale or offer for sale occurs no later than two years after the day on which the permit expires.

• Marginal note:Effective date

  (2) The prohibition takes effect in respect of each architectural coating set out in column 1 of the schedule beginning two years after the corresponding anniversary of the day on which these Regulations come into force as set out in column 3.

Marginal note:Dilution instructions

6 For greater certainty, the instructions referred to in sections 3 and 5 cannot provide for any dilution of the architectural coating before its use to a VOC concentration greater than the limit set out in column 2 of the schedule for that coating.

Marginal note:Combination of multiple components

• 7 (1) For greater certainty, if the written instructions of the manufacturer, importer or seller require the combination of multiple components before an architectural coating is to be used, the VOC concentration in the architectural coating resulting from the combination of the multiple components must not exceed the VOC concentration limit set out in column 2 of the schedule for that architectural coating.

• Marginal note:Combination instructions

  (2) If an architectural coating requires that components be combined, the manufacturer, importer or seller must set out on the architectural coating’s label or in accompanying documentation the recommended combination instructions in both official languages.

Marginal note:Most restrictive VOC concentration limit

• 8 (1) If anywhere on the container of an architectural coating set out in the schedule, or in any documentation relating to the architectural coating supplied by the architectural coating’s manufacturer, importer, seller or their duly authorized representative, it is indicated that the architectural coating may be used for the purpose of a different coating category set out in column 1 of the schedule, then the most restrictive VOC concentration limit applies.

• Marginal note:Non-application

  (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to the following architectural coatings set out in column 1 of the schedule:

  • (a) antenna coating;

  • (b) bituminous roof primer;

  • (c) calcimine recoater;

  • (d) conjugated oil varnish;

  • (e) fire retardant coating;

  • (f) flow coating;

  • (g) any other high-temperature coating;

  • (h) impacted immersion coating;

  • (i) any other industrial maintenance coating;

  • (j) any other lacquer, including lacquer sanding sealers;

  • (k) low solids coating;

  • (l) metallic pigmented coating;

  • (m) nuclear coating;

  • (n) pre-treatment wash primer;

  • (o) shellac;

  • (p) specialty primer, sealer and undercoater;

  • (q) temperature-indicator safety coating; and

  • (r) thermoplastic rubber coating and mastic.

Permits

Application

Marginal note:Requirement for permit

• 9 (1) Any person that manufactures or imports an architectural coating set out in column 1 of the schedule, other than an architectural coating referred to in paragraph 3(1)(a), or the components of an architectural coating that must be combined together before their use in which the VOC concentration exceeds the limit set out in column 2 of the schedule, must hold a permit issued under section 10.

• Marginal note:Required information

  (2) An application for a permit must be submitted to the Minister and contain the following information:

  • (a) respecting the applicant,

    • (i) their name, civic and postal addresses, telephone number and, if any, fax number and e-mail address,

    • (ii) the name, title, civic and postal addresses, telephone number and, if any, fax number and e-mail address of their duly authorized representative, if applicable;

  • (b) respecting the architectural coating,

    • (i) its trademark and trade name, if any,

    • (ii) its VOC concentration,

    • (iii) the estimated quantity to be manufactured, sold, offered for sale or imported in a calendar year and the unit of measurement,

    • (iv) its category as set out in the schedule and the information on which the selection of the product category was made, and

    • (v) in the case of an application for renewal of a permit under subsection 10(3), the number of the existing permit that was issued under section 10;

  • (c) evidence that it is not technically or economically feasible for the applicant at the time of the application to reduce the VOC concentration in the architectural coating to the limit set out in column 2 of the schedule for that coating;

  • (d) a description of the plan prepared identifying the measures that will be taken so that the VOC concentration in the architectural coating to be manufactured or imported will be within the limit set out in column 2 of the schedule for that coating;

  • (e) identification of the period within which the plan is to be fully implemented; and

  • (f) the civic and postal addresses of the location where information, supporting documents and certification, as set out in subsection (3), are kept.

• Marginal note:Certification

  (3) The application must be accompanied by a certification dated and signed by the applicant or by their duly authorized representative stating that the information contained in the application is accurate and complete.

• Marginal note:Format for submission

  (4) The application and certification may be submitted either in writing or in an electronic format that is compatible with the format that is used by the Minister, and the documents must bear the written or electronic signature, as the case may be, of the applicant or their duly authorized representative.

• Marginal note:Additional information

  (5) The Minister may, on receiving an application made under this section, require further details that pertain to the information contained in the application and that are necessary for the application to be processed.

Conditions of Issuance

Marginal note:Conditions for issuing permit

• 10 (1) Subject to subsection (2), the Minister must issue the permit if the following conditions are met:

  • (a) the applicant has provided evidence that, at the time of the application, it is not technically or economically feasible for the applicant to reduce the VOC concentration in the product to the limit set out in column 2 of the schedule for that product;

  • (b) the applicant has prepared a plan to identify the measures that will be taken by the applicant such that the VOC concentration in the architectural coating for manufacture or import is within the limit set out in column 2 of the schedule for that coating; and

  • (c) the period within which the plan is to be fully implemented does not exceed four years after the day on which the first permit is issued to the applicant.

• Marginal note:Grounds for refusing permit

  (2) The Minister must refuse to issue a permit if

  • (a) the Minister has reasonable grounds to believe that the applicant has provided false or misleading information in support of their application; or

  • (b) information required under subsections 9(2) or (5) has not been provided or is insufficient to enable the Minister to process the application.

• Marginal note:Expiry and permit renewal

  (3) A permit expires 24 months after the day on which it is issued unless, within the period of 30 days before the day on which the permit expires, the applicant submits a new application in accordance with section 9. The validity of the first permit may only be extended once for an additional 24 months for a given architectural coating and the same use.

Revocation

Marginal note:Grounds for revocation

• 11 (1) The Minister must revoke a permit if the Minister has reasonable grounds to believe that the implementation of the plan set out in paragraph 10(1)(b) will not be completed within the specified period or that the permit holder has provided false or misleading information.

• Marginal note:Conditions for revocation

  (2) The Minister must not revoke a permit unless the Minister has provided the permit holder with

  • (a) a written reason for the revocation; and

  • (b) an opportunity to be heard, by written representation, in respect of the revocation.

Determination of VOC Concentration

Marginal note:General formula

• 12 (1) Subject to subsection (2), the VOC concentration of an architectural coating set out in the schedule, diluted to the maximum recommendation of the manufacturer, importer or seller, excluding the volume of any water and excluded compounds, must be determined using the following equation:

  VOC concentration = (Ws - Ww - Wec) ÷ (Vm - Vw - Vec)

  where

  VOC concentration

  is the VOC concentration of an architectural coating, in grams of VOC per litre of coating;

  Ws

  is the weight of volatiles, in grams;

  Ww

  is the weight of water, in grams;

  Wec

  is the weight of excluded compounds, in grams;

  Vm

  is the volume of architectural coating, in litres;

  Vw

  is the volume of water, in litres; and

  Vec

  is the volume of excluded compounds, in litres.

• Marginal note:Low solids coating

  (2) The VOC concentration of a low solids coating set out in the schedule, diluted to the maximum recommendation of the manufacturer, importer or seller, including the volume of any water and excluded compounds, must be determined using the following equation:

  VOC_ls concentration = (Ws - Ww - Wec) ÷ Vm

  where

  VOC_ls concentration

  is the VOC concentration of a low solids (ls) coating, in grams of VOC per litre of coating,

  Ws

  is the weight of volatiles, in grams,

  Ww

  is the weight of water, in grams,

  Wec

  is the weight of excluded compounds, in grams, and

  Vm

  is the volume of architectural coating, in litres.

• Marginal note:Colourant

  (3) The VOC concentration of an architectural coating must be determined excluding any colourant that is added after the tint base is manufactured or imported, as the case may be, and packaged for sale.