VOC Regulations

李新

Volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from
the manufacture and use of consumer and
commercial products not only contaminate the air
but also pose serious health risks to human. To
address these threats, a number of jurisdictions at
both the federal and state levels have imposed
mandatory VOC content limitations for particular
categories of consumer and commercial products in
the United States (US).
Of these, the California state continues to lead the
nation with the most
aggressive VOC regulation
in terms of regulatory
requirements and product
scopes. Gaining US
experiences of the
implementation, China has
partially adopted these
regulations to align the VOC content limits, where
appropriate, with requirements in the US. Similar

regulations will be also introduced in Canada although the
government of Canada has set limits on the concentration
of 2-Butoxyethanol in various consumer and commercial
products designed for indoor use. Of course, China had
published mandatory standards to Indoor decorating and
refurbishing materials, the restricted items include VOCs
and formaldehyde emission.
TESTING METHODS
To determine compliance with the VOC content limit
values in these regulations, a list of well recognized
methods has been recommended by General
Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and
Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China (AQSIQ) and
US Environment Protection Agency (EPA).

Product Category Standard/Method
(1) Indoor decorating and refurbishing materials
-wood-based panels and wooden furniture, solvent coatings for woodenware,
interior architectural coatings, adhesives, Polybinyl chloride floor
coverings, wallpapers, carpets, carpet cushions and adhesives
− GB18580-2001～GB18588-2001
(2) Architectural Paints/Coatings
- Lacquers, varnishes, primers, sealers, undercoats, enamels,
preservatives, and stains
(3) Printing Inks
- Flexographic inks, letterpress ink, lithographic ink, gravure ink, and screen
printing ink
− US EPA Method 24/24A
− SCAQMD Methods 302-91 & 303-91
(4) Consumer Products
- Air fresheners, floor wax strippers, hairspray, insect repellent, insecticides,
and multi-purpose lubricant
− CARB Method 310
− SCAQMD Methods 302-91 & 303-91
(5) Toys and Stationary − VOC Emission Test(Chamber Method)
− Solvent EN71 part 9-11

*Note: China Standard (GB); California Air Resources Board (CARB); South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) in California
来源：STC 李昊鹏