Putty in Paints

Going absolutely by the book, I am not sure that putty is regulated as either a coating under SCAQMD-1113 or as an adhesive or sealant under SCAQMD-1138. SCAQMD appears to use other Rules to govern fillers for wood, metals, or fiberglass, at least for industrial applications. However, to be safe, I have always addressed putty-like fillers under IEQc4.1, classifying them as a “Sealant,” which SCAQMD-1138 defines as “any material with adhesive properties that is formulated primarily to FILL, seal, or waterproof gaps or joints between two surfaces.” The VOC limit is 250g/L. This classification seems the closest, especially since putty is not applied like a paint or coating. I classify paint-like fillers as “Undercoaters,” which SCAQMD defines as “coatings formulated for or applied to substrates to provide a smooth surface for subsequent coats.” The VOC limit is 200g/L. To be absolutely safe, I look for products that comply with either standard.