We have a paint that has been tested under ASTM D5201 and some other with ASTM D3960, but the Green Seal standard GS-11 states that the tested method needs to be the ASTM D6886-03.
Does anybody know if ASTM D5201 and ASTM D3960 are also accepted testing methods for determining the VOC content?
Thank you.
Tristan Roberts
RepresentativeVermont House of Representatives
LEEDuser Expert
11478 thumbs up
July 26, 2014 - 8:35 am
Michael, I'm sorry, I don't know the details of those ASTM standards. Anyone else?
Jon Clifford
LEED-AP BD+CGREENSQUARE
LEEDuser Expert
327 thumbs up
July 28, 2014 - 11:11 pm
First, Green Seal GS-11 2011 cites ASTM D6886-03, but LEEDv3 uses GS-11 1993. This older version uses US-EPA Reference Test Method 24, as do GC-03 & SCAQMD 1113. Method 24 is the standard used in US jurisdictions that regulate VOCs in paints. Therefore, any paint product sold in the US should report VOC content according to Method 24.
Method 24 reports VOC content in grams per liter (g/L or lbs/gal), “LESS WATER AND EXEMPT COMPOUNDS.” If you find these words, the manufacturer has probably used the correct method. Sometimes, manufacturers also use terms such as “EPA,” “Regulatory,” “Theoretical,” or “Calculated” to describe this method. However, if VOC is reported as a percentage or using other units, the manufacturer has used a different standard.
I am not a chemist, but I have taken a cursory look at ASTM D3960. It appears to describe three different methods of measuring VOC content. One method appears comparable to EPA Method 24, but I could not say for sure.
ASTM D5201 appears more general, describing calculations to measure various compounds in paint besides VOCs. It appears to reference ASTM D3960 for VOC measurements.
Recommendation: Contact the paint company’s technical services departments. Their chemist should be able to compare their methods to US-EPA Method 24.