The requirements of this credit refer to paints and coatings, but the Green Seal Environmental GS-11 Standard for Paint only covers opaque topcoats and thus excludes primers, clear finishes and stains. For products such as primers, stains, and clear coatings are we to reference Bay Area Air Quality Management District Regulation 8, Organic Compounds, Rule 3, Architectural Coatings which refers to these products? Coating Category VOC Limit (g/l) Clear Wood Coatings: Clear Brushing Lacquer 680 Lacquer 550 Sanding Sealer 350 Varnish 350 Primers, Sealers, Undercoaters 200 Shellacs: Clear 730 Opaque 550 Stains 250 In addition, Green Seal GS-11 does not cover anti-corrosive paints. Green Seal Environmental Standard GC-03 does however give VOC limits for anti-corrosive paints: Coating Type VOC Limit (g/l) Gloss 250 Semi-Gloss 250 Flat 250 The Bay Area Air Quality Management District Regulation 8 Organic Compounds, Rule 3 Architectural Coatings also gives a VOC limit for Rust Preventative Coatings as 400. Which, if either, of these standards are we to reference?
The Green Seal Environmental Standard for Paint (GS-11) is the standard on which achievement of this credit is based. All paints used on the project must meet these standards to achieve this credit. According to Green Seal, primer is classified as a topcoat for purposes of this standard and must comply with the requirements as well. For projects wishing to address other coatings, additional low-VOC guidelines can be found in the South Coast Air Quality Management District\'s Rule 1113 (www.aqmd.gov/rules/Rules/r1113.html).