In 2012, a law shifting the building industry to the use of water-borne coatings is in full effect. A significant change in favor of the environment, exterior painting contractors keep this in mind as they select products for their existing and future coatings projects.
Federal and local laws on environmental protection have influenced the design and manufacture of exterior coatings. Paints with the low-VOC formulations have been introduced. This aims to halt the harmful effects of VOC-emitting regular paints to the environment.
Exterior painting contractors and paint manufacturers must comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) VOC-level standards at the national level. In the north east and mid-Atlantic states, the Ozone Transport Commission (EPA) Model Rule is in place. State-based air quality programs also watch strictly over VOC compliance that covers the building industry.
Compliance to these varying environmental regulations and agencies resulted in new formulations of exterior coating products for architectural, commercial and industrial painting. These are often low-VOC latex, water-borne or solvent alkyd products.
The factors above often dictate the choice of exterior coating products to use in painting projects. Yet exterior painting contractors often advise building owners to continue to seek the balance between meeting these conditions and choosing the best-performing product for their projects.
