10.10CLEAN AIR ACT

Federal and State clean air regulations (40 CFR Part 60 and 567 IAC, Chapters 22 & 23) are primarily intended to reduce air pollution and ozone depletion.  Some of the original legislation was (and still does) limit vehicular tailpipe emissions.  Legislation now includes a larger family or air pollutants called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) or sometimes referred to as volatile organic material (VOM).

10.11VOCs

Technically VOC/VOMs are defined as “any organic compound which participates in atmospheric photochemical reactions.”  Restated another way, VOCs are organic compunds or mixtures that volatize or evaporate in normal ambient temperature ranges, i.e., 1^o C to 43^o C (35^o F to 110^o F).  For example, when you remove the lid from a can of paint you can smell “a paint smell.”  Your nose is detecting VOCs.  VOCs are designated as grams of VOC per liter of the total produced g/L (lbs/gal), which is generally the ratio of mass of the total minus the mass of solids divided by the total volume.

What is included?

Current regulations are aimed at regulating a broad range of coatings.  For EPA, “coatings” not only include the obvious paint products, but also include products such as concrete curing compounds, concrete sealers, bond breakers, form release compounds, waterproof sealers, wood preservatives, and several bituminous coatings and mastics.  Most of the affected products are items which we accept through some type of supplier pre-certification.  Therefore, the Material’s Instructional Memorandums will be your source of material related VOC information.  If you have specific questions, contact the Office of Location and Environment.

Fugitive Dust

Refer to Construction Manual Section 2.12.