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VOC?
VOC's Are Volatile Organic Compounds. Organic solvents found in paint are among many compounds that fall into this category. As paint dries, organic solvents evaporate and combine with nitrogen oxides and sunlight to create ground level ozone or smog. |
| The coatings industry is filled with third-party organizations like U.S. Green Building Council (LEED), Master Painter's Institute (MPI), Greenguard, California's Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) and Green Seal that are trying to define what green means for coatings as well as other consumer products. Benjamin Moore has concluded that we need to make it easier for our customers (DIYers, painters, designers and specifiers) to make sense of all these standards while also bringing clarity to our perspective on green. To that end, we are introducing our Green Promise® designation that will be used to designate coatings that offer both lower total volatile compounds and a premium level of paint performance. The Green Promise Designation is Benjamin Moore's assurance that its environmentally friendly coatings meet and exceed the strictest industry standards, while also delivering the premium levels of performance you expect from Benjamin Moore. |
| ICI Paints
vision is
to develop, produce, distribute, and market its products and
services
in
a way that does not cause damage to the environment. In 1991, ICI Paints was the first North American paint manufacturer to develop and market a latex paint completely free of organic solvents. The Lifemaster 2000 and Wonder-Pure products revolutionized the way air quality regulators viewed the paint industry. In 2002, ICI paints introduced the first oil paint suspended in water. The Advanced Oil and Mirrolac Speed products allow the application of a quality oil paint film to architectural surfaces with a fraction of the organic solvent. In the near future, a version of this product will be lauched in Southern California that has VOC levels of less than 50 grams per liter. When it comes to building paint products to the absolute limits of VOC reduction, ICI Paints has over 15 years experience developing and manufacturing ultra low solvent coatings. ICI Paints is committed to introducing innovative technologies to meet new more restrictive VOC regulations, without affecting product performance. |
| Leadership in
Energy
and Environmental Design (LEED) is the nationally accepted
benchmark for
the design, construction, and operation of high performance green
buildings.
LEED provides a rating system based on accepted energy and
enviromental
principles, and they strike a balance between established
practices and
emerging concepts. Commercial Architects and Designers are developing LEED certified commercial projects requiring Leed compiant products to be used on the project. As a result, ICI hae made the job of selection of their LEED Compliant Product Guide. LEED guidelines for archtectural paints, coatings and primers applied to the interior walls and ceilings must not exceed VOC content limits established in Green Seal Standard GS-11. These paints, coatings and primers shall comply with the following criteria: |
Click here for
ICI Paints LEED Compliant Product Guide
| Coating Type | VOC Limits | Standard |
| Architectural Flat Paints | 50 g/L | Green Seal GS-11 |
| Architectural Non-Flat Paints (Primers) | 150 g/L | Green Seal GS-11 |
| Anti-Corrosive and Anti-Rust Coatings | 250 g/L | Green Seal GS-03 |
| Clear Wood Finishes | Varnish 350 g/L Lacquer 550 g/L |
SCAQMD Rule 1113 |
| Floor Coatings | ALL Floor Coatings 100 g/L | SCAQMD Rule 1113 |
| Sealers | Waterproofing Sealers 250 g/L Sanding Sealers 275 g/L All other Sealers 200 g/L |
SCAQMD Rule 1113 |
| Shellac | Clear 730 g/L Pigmented 550 g/L |
SCAQMD Rule 1113 |
| Stains | All Stains 250 g/L | SCAQMD Rule 1113 |
*All Information from LEED guidelines 2008