A paint manufacturer just told us that a paint 100% solids has alway 0 VOC.
I would like to know if someone has any experience about this.
You rely on LEEDuser. Can we rely on you?
LEEDuser is supported by our premium members, not by advertisers.
Go premium for
Tristan Roberts
RepresentativeVermont House of Representatives
LEEDuser Expert
11477 thumbs up
January 11, 2013 - 2:58 pm
Hard to evaluate this on face value, without more context or information. In saying this, what are they trying to prove relative to LEED credit requirements and documentation?If they are telling you that the paint is 100% solids and that you should therefore feel comfortable calling it 0 VOC for LEED, I wouldn't bite. Get them to give a VOC figure.
Dwayne Fuhlhage
Sustainability and Environment DirectorPROSOCO, Inc.
169 thumbs up
January 11, 2013 - 3:11 pm
I agree with Tristan. Ultimately, you need enough documentation to get through your credit review.
"Zero" VOC is not impossible to achieve, but it is difficult. The Federal Trade Commission has gotten more specific on the subject. The expectation is that there are no intentionally added VOC ingredients in the product. FTC has also clarified that companies have a path to zero if they "have competent and reliable scientific evidence that the paint contains no more than trace levels of VOCs." This is partly in recognition that there are VOCs in municipal water. "Trace" is defined in the new Green Guides at http://ftc.gov/os/2012/10/greenguides.pdf
Michael E. Edmonds-Bauer
Edmonds International38 thumbs up
January 11, 2013 - 6:19 pm
I totally agree. A technical chemical expert talked to us and he explained that, when a paint is 100% solids it means nothing will "gasify", like if 2 milimiters of paints is apply 2 milimiters will remain for the rest of the lifespan of the building.
According to him, when you have something that is for example 90% solids it means the remaining 10% will become gas at some point,
According to this statement then all 100% solids pains will comply with the credits requirements.
I will keep on researching about this, but in case someone knows something else anything will be really appreciated.