Aerosol Paints

Try GS-3 standard

Erika, We just recently had this issue on a project and found a CIR (not for LEED 2009 – Ruling 2/10/09) that said “spray paints” are not addressed in either standard and can therefore be excluded from this credit. I think it is unfortunate that spray paints aren’t addressed as they generally have a high VOC %. The CIR goes on to say that the EPA has a new standard for aerosol coatings (EPA 40 CFR Parts 51 and 59) but that this is not required to be followed for LEED. Shannon

does anyone know if this is still true? are spray paints excluded from this credit? that seems odd since they are typically very very high. I have a submittal for a pipe marker that is 56% VOC and marked 'low VOC' - should I just let it go?

Michele – This is a very old thread, but it is still true. Aerosol paints are outside the scope of IEQc4.2 because the referenced SCAQMD and Green Seal standards do not govern aerosols. Despite this, rulings from 2002 & 2009 recommend avoiding aerosols altogether, restricting their use, or allowing only lower VOC aerosols to reduce their unpredictable and negative impact on indoor air quality. Here are the LEED Interpretations: http://www.usgbc.org/leed-interpretations?keys=5581 & http://www.usgbc.org/leed-interpretations?keys=2486.

Incidentally, even though using aerosol paints does not risk IEQc4.2, aerosols can foul Construction IAQ measures for IEQc3.1 & IEQc3.2. If this product is being used to stencil identifiers onto pipes, ducts, or other equipment, there may be alternatives that better preserve IAQ. For example, some MEP engineers specify self-adhesive signage or tags in lieu of painted markings. If you want to avoid using the aerosol, look at your project’s MEP specs to determine what identification systems have been specified and consult your MEP engineers to discuss alternatives to spray paint.