Page 36 - CFCM May-June 2021_Neat

PAINT & COATINGS MANUFACTURING:

NEW VOC LIMITS FOR

ARCHITECTURAL

COATINGS IN CANADA

By Gary LeRoux

n March, CPCA made a substantial submission on the federal OTC Phase II VOC limits. It assessed total VOC emission reductions
government’s intent to change the VOC limits for architectural expected from the AIM sector pursuant to the adoption of either U.S.
Iand industrial maintenance (AIM) product categories sold in model. At the time, CPCA recommended a phased-in adoption of
Canada. There are several areas which will be technically problem- OTC Phase II limits to avoid a hybrid regulatory model. It was also
atic and could be very disruptive for the Canadian coatings sector. No noted adopting U.S. rules in Canada would mostly impact specialty
paint and coatings company in Canada can ignore the upcoming products that serve specific functionalities in the preservation of
challenges these new limits could impose. As such, CPCA recently public infrastructure, transportation and other critical assets. Cana-
consulted with member companies again to update the federal gov- dian SMEs would have a much more difficult time complying with
ernment on the challenges before the paint industry in this country. stricter limits than multinationals or U.S.-based companies with ex-
Earlier this year, CPCA provided members with a questionnaire that tensive research and development capacity for products already des-
included a detailed description of the new VOC limits for SCAQMD, tined for the Californian market, under CARB limits. In effect, they
CARB 2019 and OTC II, and how they compare with the current would already be compliant.
limits in Canada for all categories. CPCA was asked to provide more detailed technical information
Early in 2020, the federal government presented the results of a on behalf of the Canadian coatings industry for the categories most
study it had commissioned comparing the actual VOC content in likely to be impacted. A questionnaire was sent to all CPCA AIM
products sold in Canada with CARB 2019, SCAQMD limits, and the members in January 2021. CPCA made it clear to government that
36 CANADIAN FINISHING & COATINGS MANUFACTURING MAY/JUNE 2021