Why are regulations concerning automotive refinish coatings being developed?
The Government of Canada is working to reduce emissions of air pollutants. The coatings and surface cleaners used in auto refinish operations contain solvents which evaporate to the atmosphere during surface preparation, coating application and clean-up. These solvents contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are precursors to particulate matter and ozone, the key ingredients of smog. It is estimated that over 5 kilotonnes of VOCs are emitted each year from coatings and surface cleaners used in automotive refinishing operations in Canada. The regulations would reduce the annual VOC emissions by approximately 40%.
