EL DORADO COUNTY AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

RULE 230 - AUTOMOTIVE REFINISHING OPERATIONS
(Adopted: September 27, 1994)

230.1 GENERAL

  1. PURPOSE: To limit the emission of volatile organic compounds from finishing or refinishing of Group I and Group II Vehicles and Equipment as defined in this rule.
  2. EXEMPTION, TOUCH-UP: The provisions of this rule shall not apply to touch-up operations.
  3. EXEMPTION, GRAPHIC DESIGN APPLICATIONS: The provisions of this rule shall not apply to graphic design applications.
  4. EXEMPTION, MILITARY VEHICLES AND GROUND SUPPORT EQUIPMENT: The provisions of this rule shall not apply to the coating of military vehicles and ground support equipment.
  5. EXEMPTION, RADIATORS AND ENGINE COMPONENTS: The provisions of this rule shall not apply to the coating of radiators and engine parts.
  6. EXEMPTION, AEROSOL PAINT PRODUCTS: The provisions of this rule shall not apply to the application of aerosol paint products.
  7. LIMITED EXEMPTION, SELF-CONTAINED COATING APPLICATION: The provisions of Section 230.3 B., shall not apply to the application of high viscosity or thixotropic coatings with application equipment that is supplied with and is an integral part of the coating container.

230.2 DEFINITIONS

  1. ANTIGLARE/SAFETY COATING: A coating which minimizes light reflection for safety purposes.
  2. CAMOUFLAGE COATING: A coating applied on motor vehicles to conceal such vehicles from detection.
  3. CATALYST: A substance whose presence initiates the reaction between chemical compounds.
  4. COLOR MATCH: The ability of a repair coating to blend into an existing coating so that color difference is not visible.
  5. ELECTROSTATIC APPLICATION: The application of charged atomized paint droplets which are deposited by electrostatic attraction.
  6. EXEMPT COMPOUNDS: The following compounds are exempt from the definition of VOC in Section 230.2 HH.:
    1. Methane
    2. Carbon Dioxide
    3. Carbon Monoxide
    4. Carbonic Acid
    5. Metallic Carbides or Carbonates
    6. Ammonium Carbonate
    7. l,l,l-Trichloroethane
    8. Methylene Chloride
    9. Dichlorotrifluoroethane (HCFC-123)
    10. 2-Chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HCFC-124)
    11. Trichlorofluoromethane (CFC-11)
    12. Dichlorodifluoromethane (CFC-12)
    13. Trichlorotrifluoroethane (CFC-113)
    14. Dichlorotetrafluoroethane (CFC-114)
    15. Chloropentafluoroethane (CFC-115)
    16. Pentafluoroethane (HFC-125)
    17. 1,1,2,2-Tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134)
    18. Tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a)
    19. Dichlorofluoroethane (HCFC-141b)
    20. Chlorodifluoroethane (HCFC-142b)
    21. 1,1,1-Trifluoroethane (HFC-143a)
    22. Chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22)
    23. Trifluoromethane (HFC-23)
    24. 1,1-Difluoroethane (HFC-152a)
    25. The following four classes of perfluorocarbon compounds:
      1. Cyclic, branched, or linear, completely fluorinated alkanes.
      2. Cyclic, branched, or linear, completely fluorinated ethers, with no unsaturations.
      3. Cyclic, branched, or linear, completely fluorinated tertiary amines, with no unsaturations.
      4. Sulfur-containing perfluorocarbons with no unsaturations and with sulfur bonds only to carbon and fluorine. Perfluorocarbon compounds shall be assumed to be absent from a product or process unless a manufacturer or facility operator identifies the specific compounds and the amounts present in the product or process and provides a validated test method which can be used to quantify identified compounds.
  7. FINISHING: The coating of incomplete vehicles, their parts and components, or mobile equipment for which the original coating was not applied from an Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM) plant coating assembly line.
  8. FINAL STAGE MANUFACTURE: An incomplete vehicle chassis is delivered to a manufacturer for installation and paint of a truck body and/or components to form a completed vehicle.
  9. GRAMS OF VOC PER LITER OF COATING LESS WATER AND LESS EXEMPT SOLVENT: The weight of VOC per combined volume of VOC and coating solids as calculated by the following equation:
       

      where:
      Gvoc = Grams VOC per liter of coating less water and exempt compounds.
      Ws = weight of volatile compounds in grams.
      Ww = weight of water in grams.
      Wes = weight of exempt compounds in grams
      .Vm = volume of material in liters.
      Vw = volume of water in liters.
      Ves = volume of exempt compounds (as defined in Section 230.2 F., of this rule) in liters.
       
  10. GRAPHIC DESIGN APPLICATION: The application of logos, letters, numbers and graphics to a painted surface, with or without the use of a template.
  11. GROUND SUPPORT: Vehicles used in support of aircraft activities at airports.
  12. GROUP I VEHICLES: Passenger cars, large/heavy duty truck cabs and chassis, light and medium duty trucks and vans, and motorcycles.
  13. GROUP II VEHICLES: Public transit buses and mobile equipment.
  14. HIGH VOLUME, LOW PRESSURE (HVLP) SPRAY: Equipment used to apply coatings by means of a gun which is designed to be operated and which is operated between 0.1 and 10 psig air atomized pressure measured dynamically at the center of the air cap and at the air horns.
  15. LACQUER: A coating that dries primarily by solvent evaporation and is resoluble in its original solvent.
  16. LARGE/HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS: Any truck having a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of over 30,000 pounds.
  17. LIGHT AND MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS AND VANS: Any truck or van having a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of 30,000 pounds or less.
  18. METALLIC COATING TOPCOAT: Any coating which contains more than 5 g/l (0.042 lb/gal) of metal particles, as applied, where such particles are visible in the dried film.
  19. MOBIL EQUIPMENT: Any equipment which may be drawn or is capable of being driven on rails or on a roadway, including, but not limited to, trains, railcars, truck bodies, truck trailers, camper shells, mobile cranes, bulldozers, street cleaners, golf carts and implements of husbandry.
  20. MULTI STAGE TOPCOAT SYSTEM: A topcoat system composed of either a basecoat/clearcoat, a basecoat/midcoat/clearcoat, or a groundcoat/basecoat/midcoat/clearcoat.
      The VOC content of a basecoat/clearcoat coating system shall be calculated according to the following formula:

      The VOC content of a 3 Stage coating system shall be calculated according to the following formula:

      The VOC content of a 4 Stage coating system shall be calculated according to the following formula:

      Where:
      VOCTotal = The sum of the VOC content, as applied and used to determine compliance with Section 230.3 A.
      VOCgc = The VOC content, as applied, of a pigmented groundcoat or tinted primer sealer.
      VOCbc = The VOC content, as applied, of a pigmented basecoat.
      VOCmc = The VOC content, as applied, of a translucent midcoat.
      2VOCcc = Two times the VOC content, as applied, of a transparent clearcoat.
       

  21. PRECOAT: Any coating which is applied to bare metal primarily to deactivate the metal surface prior to application of a subsequent water-base primer surfacer. Effective June 1, 1995, a precoat shall be a two component coating that dries by oxidation or chemical polymerization.
  22. PRETREATMENT WASH PRIMER: Any coating which contains a minimum of 0.5 percent acid by weight, is necessary to provide surface etching and is applied directly to bare metal surfaces to provide corrosion resistance and adhesion.
  23. PRIMER: Any coating applied prior to the application of a topcoat for the purpose of corrosion resistance and adhesion of the topcoat. Primer surfacer and primer sealer shall be considered a primer when applied to Group II vehicles.
  24. PRIMER SEALER: Any coating applied for the purpose of sealing the underlying metal or coating system prior to the application of a topcoat.
  25. PRIMER SURFACER: Any coating applied prior to the application of a topcoat for the purpose of corrosion resistance, adhesion of the topcoat, and which promotes a uniform surface by filling in surface imperfections.
  26. REDUCER: The solvent used to thin enamel.
  27. REFINISHING: Any coating of vehicles, their parts and components, or mobile equipment, including partial body collision repairs, for the purpose of protection or beautification and which is subsequent to the original coating applied at an Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM) plant coating assembly line.
  28. SPECIALTY COATINGS: Unique coatings and compliant coatings with additives which are necessary due to unusual job performance requirements. Said coatings include, but are not limited to, adhesion promoters, uniform finish blenders, elastomeric materials, gloss flatteners, bright metal trim repair, and anti-glare/safety coatings.
  29. TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE COATING: A coating applied for the purpose of protecting adjacent areas to that being painted from overspray. The temporary protective coating is removed after primer or topcoat applications.
  30. TOPCOAT: Any coating applied over a primer, primer system, or an original OEM finish for the purpose of protection or appearance. For the purposes of this rule, solid color and metallic topcoats are single stage applications, the VOCTotal of a multi stage topcoat system will determine compliance with VOC standards in Section 230.3 A.
  31. TOUCH-UP COATING: A coating applied by brush, air brush, or hand held, non-refillable aerosol cans to repair minor surface damage and imperfections less than four square feet.
  32. TRANSFER EFFICIENCY: The ratio of the amount of coating solids adhering to the object being coated to the total amount of coating solids used in the application process, expressed as a percentage.
  33. UTILITY BODY: A special purpose service compartment or unit that will be bolted, welded, or affixed onto an existing cab and chassis. The compartment may serve as storage for equipment or parts.
  34. VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOC): Any chemical compound containing at least one atom of carbon except exempt compounds specified in Section 230.2 F.

230.3 STANDARDS

  1. LIMITS: Any person who applies coatings to Group I or II vehicles, mobile equipment, their parts and components, shall comply with Sections 230.3 A.1., or 230.3 A.2., of this rule.
    1. Group I Vehicles: A person shall not refinish Group I vehicles, their parts and components, using any coating with a VOC content in excess of the following limits, expressed as grams of VOC per liter (or pounds per gallon) of coating applied, excluding water and exempt compounds (as defined Section 230.2 F., of this rule), unless emissions to the atmosphere are controlled to an equivalent level by air pollution abatement equipment with an overall control efficiency (capture and control) of at least 85 percent and which has been approved in writing by the Air Pollution Control Officer.

 
 


 

  1. TRANSFER EFFICIENCY: Effective March 27, 1995, for all coatings, a person shall not apply any coating to any Group I or II vehicles or mobile equipment or their parts and components unless one of the following methods is used:
    1. Electrostatic application equipment, operated in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations;
    2. High Volume Low Pressure (HVLP) spray equipment, operated in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations;
    3. Any other coating application method which has been demonstrated to have a transfer efficiency of 65% or greater according to the requirements of Section 230.5 C., Determination of Transfer Efficiency.
  2. SURFACE PREPARATION AND SOLVENT LOSS MINIMIZATION: Any person using organic solvent for surface preparation and cleanup or mixing, using or disposing of coating or stripper containing organic solvent:
    1. Shall use closed, nonabsorbent containers for the storage or disposal of cloth or paper used for solvent surface preparation and cleanup.
    2. Shall store fresh or spent solvent, coating, catalyst, thinner, or reducer in closed containers when not in use.
    3. Shall not use organic compounds for the cleanup of spray equipment including paint lines unless an enclosed system or other system that has been approved in writing for use by the Air Pollution Control Officer and submitted to and approved by ARB and U.S. EPA, is used for cleanup. The system must enclose spray guns, cups, nozzles, bowls and other parts during washing, rinsing and draining procedures. Equipment used shall minimize the evaporation of organic compounds to the atmosphere.
    4. Effective June 1, 1995, the VOC content of surface preparation solvent shall not exceed 72 g/l (0.6 lb/gal). The VOC content of surface preparation solvent used to clean plastic parts shall not exceed 780 g/l (6.5 lbs/gal).
  3. SMALL PRODUCTION/UTILITY BODIES: A person shall not coat utility bodies where the coating must match that of the vehicles upon which there will be mounted using any coating with a VOC content in excess of the standards set forth in Section 230.3 A.1., provided production is less than 20 vehicles per day. Daily records shall be maintained on the number of utility bodies coated each day and such records shall be retained for the previous five (5) year period and be available at the time of inspection.
  4. SPECIALTY COATINGS: A person shall not use any specialty coating with a VOC content in excess of 840 g/l (7.0 pounds per gallon), excluding water and exempt compounds. Use of all specialty coatings except antiglare/safety coatings shall not exceed 5.0 percent of all coatings applied, on a daily basis. The application of topcoats with a specialty coating used as an additive shall be subject to the topcoat limits in Sections 230.3 A.1., and 230.3 A.2., of this rule.
  5. TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE COATING: A person shall not use any temporary protective coating with a VOC content in excess of 60 g/l (0.5 lbs/gal), excluding water.
  6. PRECOAT LIMITATION: A person shall not use precoat in excess of 25%, by volume, of the amount of primer surfacer used.
  7. HVLP MARKING: Effective March 27, 1995, a person shall not sell or offer for sale for use within the District any HVLP gun without a permanent marking denoting the maximum inlet air pressure in psig at which the gun will operate within the parameters specified in Section 230.2 N.

230.4 ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS

  1. PROHIBITION OF SPECIFICATION: No person shall solicit or require for use or specify the application of a coating on a Group I or II vehicle, mobile equipment, or part or component thereof if such use or application results in a violation of the provisions of this rule. The prohibition of this Section will apply to all written or oral contracts under the terms of which any coating which is subject to the provisions of this rule is to be applied to any motor vehicle, mobile equipment, or part or component at any physical location within the District.
  2. PROHIBITION OF SALE: A person shall not offer for sale or sell within the District any coating if such product is prohibited by any of the provisions of this rule. The prohibition of this section shall apply to the sale of any coating which will be applied at any physical location within the jurisdiction of the local air pollution control agencies. This requirement shall not apply to the application of coatings where emissions to the atmosphere are controlled to an equivalent level of this rule by air pollution abatement equipment with an overall efficiency (capture and control) of at least 85 percent and which has been approved in writing by the Air Pollution Control Officer.
  3. COMPLIANCE STATEMENT REQUIREMENT: The manufacturer of coatings subject to this rule shall include a designation of VOC (as defined Section 230.2 HH., of this rule) as supplied, including coating components, expressed in grams per liter (or pounds per gallon), excluding water and exempt compounds, on data sheets.

 
230.5 MONITORING AND RECORDS

  1. ANALYSIS OF SAMPLES: Samples of volatile organic compounds as specified in Sections 230.3 A.1., and 230.3 A.2., of this rule shall be analyzed as prescribed by EPA Reference Method 24.
  2. DETERMINATION OF EMISSIONS: Emissions of volatile organic compounds as specified in Section 230.3 A.1., and 230.3 A.2., of this rule shall be measured as prescribed by EPA Reference Method 25.
  3. DETERMINATION OF TRANSFER EFFICIENCY: Transfer efficiency as required by Section 230.3 B., of this rule shall be determined in accordance with the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) test method for determining transfer efficiency entitled, "Spray Equipment Transfer Efficiency (TE) Test Procedure for Equipment User, May 24, 1989," or other equivalent method which has been approved in writing by the Air Pollution Control Officer and submitted to and approved by U.S. EPA.
  4. DETERMINATION OF CAPTURE EFFICIENCY: Capture efficiency as required by Section 230.3 A.1., and 230.3 A.2., of this rule shall be determined by and reported in accordance with 40 CFR 52.741, Appendix B, "VOM Measurement Techniques for Capture Efficiency".
  5. DETERMINATION OF METALLIC PARTICLES IN METALLIC COATING TOPCOAT: Metallic particles in metallic coating topcoat as defined, in Section 230.2 R., of this rule shall be determined by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Method 311 Analysis of Percent Metal in Metallic Coatings by Spectrographic Method contained in the SCAQMD "Laboratory Method of Analysis for Enforcement Samples" manual.
  6. DETERMINATION OF ACID CONCENTRATION IN PRETREATMENT WASH PRIMER: Acid concentration in pretreatment wash primer as defined in Section 230.2 V., of this rule shall be determined by ASTM Test Method D-1613-85 (modified).
  7. COATING RECORDS: Any person subject to Sections 230.3 A., and 230.3 C., of this rule shall comply with the following requirements:
    1. The person shall maintain and have available during an inspection, a current list of coatings in use which provides all of the coating data necessary to evaluate compliance, including the following information, as applicable:
      1. coating, catalyst and reducer used.
      2. mix ratio of components used.
      3. VOC content of coating as applied.
    2. The person shall maintain records on a daily basis including the following information:
      1. coating and mix ratio of components in the coating used.
      2. quantity of each coating applied.
      3. type and amount of solvent used for cleanup and surface preparation.
    3. The person shall maintain and have available during an inspection, a list showing the category of each of the coatings used and the type of vehicle or equipment to which each coating was applied.
    4. Such records shall be retained and available for inspection by the District for the previous five (5) year period.
  8. PRECOAT LIMITATION RECORDS: Any person using precoat shall retain purchase invoices to verify compliance with Section 230.3 G. Such records shall be retained for the pervious five (5) year period and made available for inspection upon request.