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California VOC Compliance Regulations

Links to California air districts with limits or regulations for adhesives and sealants:

California State Regulations

Consumer Product Rule: The State’s Air Resource Board (CARB) initially adopted the State’s Consumer Product rule with a compliant date of January 1, 1995. It has been updated multiple times in 2002, 2008, 2010, and 2012 adding more product categories and adopting more stringent VOC limits for existing product categories. It regulates Adhesives, Sealants and Caulking compounds packaged in containers of 16 fluid ounces or less.

The following consumer products are exempt from the rule:

(1) Any consumer product manufactured solely for shipment and use outside of the Connecticut.

(2) Adhesives sold in containers of 0.03 liter (1 ounce) or less.

(3) Flooring seam sealers used to join fill the seam between two adjoining pieces of flexible sheet flooring.

(4) Adhesives, Sealants and Caulking compounds packaged in containers of greater than 16 fluid ounces.

(6) Clear, paintable, water resistant caulking compounds.

(7) Removable caulking compounds.

(8) Roof cements and roof sealants.

(9) Insulating foam sealants.

DAP repair products such as glazing and spackling compounds, painter’s putty products, fillers and repair products are not regulated under this rule.

Following is the category of products regulated by this rule and their VOC limits:

* On January 1, 2017, the VOC limits of aerosol mist and web spray adhesive categories are scheduled to change to 30% and 40% respectively.

Adhesive and Sealant Rule: California is comprised of 35 different air districts where each air district adopts its own rule for adhesives and sealants. Air districts with limits or regulations for adhesives and sealants are listed below, along with the regulations.

Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District

Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District adopted Rule 1168 Adhesive and Sealant Applications rule in 1989. This rule has gone through numerous revisions with the last amendment date 9/20/2011. It only applies to the northeast portion of Los Angeles County. This rule regulates adhesive and sealant products and applications. It prohibits the sale of any adhesive, sealant, adhesive primer or sealant primer which exceeds the VOC content limits set under this rule. This regulation offers some exemptions including products already regulated under California Air Resource Board’s Consumer Product rule such as aerosol adhesives and primers dispensed from aerosol Spray Cans.

Following is the category of products regulated by this rule and their VOC limits:

Bay Area Air Quality Management District

Bay Area Air Quality Management District adopted Rule 5-51 Adhesive and Sealant Products rule in 1992. This rule has gone through numerous revisions with the last amendment date 7/17/2002. This rule regulates adhesive and sealant products and applications. It prohibits the sale of any adhesive, sealant, adhesive primer or sealant primer which exceeds the VOC content limits set under this rule. This regulation offers some exemptions including products already regulated under California Air Resource Board’s Consumer Product rule such as aerosol adhesives and primers dispensed from aerosol Spray Cans.

Following is the category of products regulated by this rule and their VOC limits:

El Dorado County Air Quality Management District

El Dorado County Air Quality Management District adopted Rule 236 Adhesives rule in 1995. This rule has not ever gone through any revisions as of yet. This rule regulates adhesive and sealant products and applications. It prohibits the sale of any adhesive, sealant, adhesive primer or sealant primer which exceeds the VOC content limits set under this rule. This regulation offers some exemptions including products already regulated under California Air Resource Board’s Consumer Product rule such as aerosol adhesives and primers dispensed from aerosol Spray Cans.

Following is the category of products regulated by this rule and their VOC limits:

Placer County Air Pollution Control District

Placer County Air Pollution Control District adopted Rule 235 Adhesives rule in 1995. This rule was later modified in 1997, 2004 and 2012. This rule regulates adhesive and sealant products and applications. It prohibits the sale of any adhesive, sealant, adhesive primer or sealant primer which exceeds the VOC content limits set under this rule. This regulation offers some exemptions including products already regulated under California Air Resource Board’s Consumer Product rule, low use of aerosol cleaning solvents and contact adhesives regulated under CPSC’s 40 CFR Part 1302. It also offers a low use exemption when the total annual volume of noncompliance products remains below 55 gallons.

Following is the category of products regulated by this rule and their VOC limits:

Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District

Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District adopted Rule 460 Adhesives and Sealants rule in 1997. This rule was later modified in 1999 and 2000. It regulates adhesive and sealant products and applications. It prohibits the sale of any adhesive, sealant, adhesive primer or sealant primer which exceeds the VOC content limits set under this rule. This regulation offers some exemptions including products already regulated under California Air Resource Board’s Consumer Product rule, and contact adhesives regulated under CPSC’s 40 CFR Part 1302. It also offers a low use exemption when the total annual volume of noncompliance products remains below 55 gallons.

Following is the category of products regulated by this rule and their VOC limits:

San Diego County Air Pollution Control District

San Diego County Air Pollution Control District adopted it Rule 67.21 - Adhesive Material Application Operations in 1998 and later modified it in 2008. It regulates adhesive and sealant products and applications. It prohibits the sale of any adhesive, sealant, adhesive primer or sealant primer which exceeds the VOC content limits set under this rule. This regulation offers some exemptions including a low use exemption when the total annual volume of noncompliance products remains below 55 gallons.

Following is the category of products regulated by this rule and their VOC limits:

San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District

San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District adopted Rule 4653 Adhesives and Sealants rule in 1994. This rule has gone through many revisions and it was last amended on September 16, 2010 with a compliance date of 1/1/2012. It regulates adhesive and sealant products and applications. It prohibits the sale of any adhesive, sealant, adhesive primer or sealant primer which exceeds the VOC content limits set under this rule. This regulation offers some exemptions including a low use exemption when the total annual volume of noncompliance products remains below 20 gallons. It also offers exemptions for products already regulated under California Air Resource Board’s Consumer Product rule, and contact adhesives regulated under CPSC’s 40 CFR Part 1302.

Following is the category of products regulated by this rule and their VOC limits:

Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District

Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District adopted Rule 353 Adhesives and Sealants rule in 1999 and later amended in 2012 with a compliance date of 6/21/2013. It regulates adhesive and sealant products and applications. It prohibits the sale of any adhesive, sealant, adhesive primer or sealant primer which exceeds the VOC content limits set under this rule. This regulation offers some exemptions including a low emission site exemption (stationary sources with a total VOC emissions less than 200 pounds per calendar year) and facilities that use emission control device that capture at least 85% or more of the emissions. It also offers exemption for products already regulated under California Air Resource Board’s Consumer Product rule.

Following is the category of products regulated by this rule and their VOC limits:

Shasta County Air Quality Management District

Shasta County Air Quality Management District adopted Rule 3:32- Adhesives and Sealants rule in 2003 and later amended in 2005. It regulates adhesive and sealant products and applications. It prohibits the sale of any adhesive, sealant, adhesive primer or sealant primer which exceeds the VOC content limits set under this rule. This regulation offers some exemptions including a low use exemption when the total annual volume of noncompliance products remains below 55 gallons. It also offers exemptions for products already regulated under California Air Resource Board’s Consumer Product rule, and contact adhesives regulated under CPSC’s 40 CFR Part 1302.

Following is the category of products regulated by this rule and their VOC limits:

South Coast Air Quality Management District

South Coast Air Quality Management District adopted its Rule 1168 Adhesive and Sealant Applications in 1989. This rule has gone through numerous revisions with the last amendment date of 1/7/2005. This rule regulates adhesive and sealant products and applications. It prohibits the sale of any adhesive, sealant, adhesive primer or sealant primer which exceeds the VOC content limits set under this rule. This regulation offers some exemptions including products already regulated under California Air Resource Board’s Consumer Product rule. It also offers a low use exemption when the total annual volume of noncompliance products remains below 55 gallons.

Following is the category of products regulated by this rule and their VOC limits:

Tehama County Air Pollution Control District

Tehama County Air Pollution Control District adopted its Rule 4:40, Adhesives and Sealants, in 2003 without any amendments since its adoption date. This rule regulates adhesive and sealant products and applications. It prohibits the sale of any adhesive, sealant, adhesive primer or sealant primer which exceeds the VOC content limits set under this rule. This regulation offers some exemptions including products already regulated under California Air Resource Board’s Consumer Product rule. It also offers a low use exemption when the total annual volume of noncompliance products remains below 55 gallons.

Following is the category of products regulated by this rule and their VOC limits:

Ventura County Air Pollution Control District

Ventura County Air Pollution Control District adopted its Rule 74.20 Adhesives and Sealants in 1993. This rule has gone through numerous revisions with the last amendment date of 9/12/202012. This rule regulates adhesive and sealant products and applications. It prohibits the sale of any adhesive, sealant, adhesive primer or sealant primer which exceeds the VOC content limits set under this rule. This regulation offers a low use exemption when the total annual volume of noncompliance products remains below 55 gallons.

Following is the category of products regulated by this rule and their VOC limits:

Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District

Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District adopted its Rule 2.33, Adhesives Operations rule in 1994. This rule was amended in 1997, 2003 and lasted on May 14, 2008. It regulates adhesive and sealant products and applications. It prohibits the sale of any adhesive, sealant, adhesive primer or sealant primer which exceeds the VOC content limits set under this rule. This regulation offers some exemptions including a low use exemption when the total annual volume of noncompliance products remains below 20 gallons. It also offers exemptions for contact adhesives regulated under CPSC’s 40 CFR Part 1302.

Following is the category of products regulated by this rule and their VOC limits: