VOC in Paints "Decopaint" Directive

(French version) (German version to follow)

Decopaint Directive

European "Decopaint" Directive (2004/42/EC) is limiting the total content of VOCs in certain paints and varnishes and in vehicle refinishing products for reducing VOC emissions and thus reducing generation of ozone in lower atmosphere. Next revision of this directive is planned for 2011, probably then including more product groups.

Any paint, varnish and vehicle refinishing product must not exceed the maximum VOC contents limit values as specified in the Directive. The limit values are valid for the ready to use product. And the product must carry a label showing the type of product as given in the Directive, and the contents of VOC in g/l of the product in a ready to use condition.

For more details, please see our information in English, in French, and in German.

Testing

VOC content is measured in Europe by direct injection into gas chromatograph (ISO 11890-2). Reactive products are allowed to stand open for 1 hour after mixing before start of test for allowing first curing to happen, then VOC content is determined as total volatiles by monitoring weight loss during 1 hour heating at 110 °C (ASTM D2369, in analogy to most recent version of ISO 11890-1). In both cases no subtraction of neither water nor exempt compounds is performed, in contrast to corresponding US test methods.

CEPE website contains helpful guidance documents on how to group paints into Decopaint categories - e.g. by paint subcategory, or by country and national paint categories.

Testing is different from what US based VOC limits are used to in conjunction with SCAQMD and other VOC limitations in coatings.

Eurofins provides testing and consulting for showing compliance with VOC limits as specified in Decopaint Directive, but also for US VOC limitations, e.g. in SCAQMD rules 1113 and 1168 and similar.

Latest News

For products that are containing 15% solvents or more, now ISO 11890-1 method is accepted as alternative method (determination of total volatiles by monitoring weight loss during 1 hour heating at 110 °C). Use of ISO 11890-2 continues to be possible, too. Only in the presence of reactive diluents, ASTM 2369 shall be used and no other standard is accepted for Decopaint purposes (Directive 2010/79/EU of 19 November 2010).

Contact to VOC Testing Laboratories

Please see here contact information of Eurofins VOC testing laboratories in Europe, USA and China:
www.eurofins.com/voc-contacts.

Order forms and testing request forms are available for free download here.