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Massachusetts VOC Compliance Regulations

Consumer Product Rule: This rule was initially adopted with a compliant date of 1/1/2005. The rule was modified with more product categories added with a compliant date of 5/2009.

It regulates Adhesives, Sealants and Caulking compounds packaged in containers of 16 fluid ounces or less with an exception where it regulates Contact Adhesives packaged in containers of 1 gallon or less.

The following consumer products are exempt from the rule:

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

(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.

(5) Contact Adhesives packaged in containers of greater than 1 gallon.

(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:

 

Adhesive and Sealant Rule: This rule was adopted with a compliant date of January 1, 2015. This manufacturers will not ship noncompliant products into the State as of September 1, 2015 and retailer must exhaust their inventory of noncompliant products by May 1, 2016. This rule regulates adhesives, sealants, adhesive primers, and sealant primers. 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 the following exemptions:

(1) Adhesive and sealant regulated under Massachusetts’s consumer product rule (adhesives and sealants packaged in 16 fluid ounces or less and contact adhesives packaged in containers of 1 gallon or less).

(2) Adhesive and sealant used in testing and evaluation associated with research and development.

(3) Adhesive and sealant with less than 20 g/L of VOC content.

(4) Adhesive and sealant used in applications such as tire repair, assembly and manufacturing of undersea-based ship and weapons systems components, specialty electronic systems and subsystems for defense and homeland security, solvent welding operations for medical devices, plaque laminating operations.

(5) Adhesive application operations at stationary sources using less than 55 gallons per calendar year of noncomplying adhesives.

(6) Adhesive application operations at stationary sources emitting not more than 200 pounds per calendar year of VOCs.

(7) Adhesive, sealant, adhesive primer, or sealant primer used at permitted facilities using add-on air pollution control equipment with an overall capture and control efficiency of at least 85 percent, by weight.

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