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Certified Low/No Emission Interior Paints and Finishes

    Scope
    Scope Images
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    Interior paints and finishes certified low-emission
    Scope

    In living spaces, utilize third-party certified low-emission paints and finishes that are designed to reduce human exposure indoors to individual VOCs. At least 90 percent of the interior surface area covered by site-applied paints and coatings shall use low-VOC or no-VOC products certified by one of the following third-party standards or certifications:

    Interior paints and finishes certified low-emission.
    How to Find Indoor airPLUS Compliant Low Emission Products).

     

    The How to Find Indoor airPLUS Compliant Low Emission Products document provides guidance on identifying compliant products including industry databases and examples of product labeling. The guide also includes more detailed descriptions of the compliant third-party standards and certifications applicable to interior paints and finishes. Utilize this guide when outlining detailed product certifications to be included in the project specifications and/or subcontractor bid package.

    See the Compliance Tab for related codes and standards requirements, and criteria to meet national programs such as DOE’s Zero Energy Ready Home programENERGY STAR Single-Family New Homes, and Indoor airPLUS.

    Description
    Description

    Interior paints and finishes may contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects. Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors. VOCs are emitted by a wide array of products. Examples include: paints and lacquers, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, pesticides, building materials and furnishings, office equipment such as copiers and printers, correction fluids and carbonless copy paper, graphics and craft materials including glues and adhesives, permanent markers, and photographic solutions.

    VOCs can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches; loss of coordination and nausea; and damage to the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system. Some organics can cause cancer in animals; some are suspected or known to cause cancer in humans. Key signs or symptoms associated with exposure to VOCs include conjunctival irritation, nose and throat discomfort, headache, allergic skin reaction, dyspnea, declines in serum cholinesterase levels, nausea, emesis, epistaxis, fatigue, and dizziness.

    Interior paints and finishes certified low-emission.
    Figure 1. Interior paints and finishes certified low-emission. (Source: How to Find Indoor airPLUS Compliant Low Emission Products.)

     

    When found in building materials, VOCs tend to be emitted at higher levels when materials are new, with emissions lessening over time. This can mean that VOC emissions in a home could be particularly high during construction and upon first occupancy. To protect indoor air quality for both occupants and contractor staff, the best approach is to limit use of VOC-containing materials by specifying and purchasing low- or no-VOC products. Paints, sealants, coatings and adhesives are building products that traditionally contain VOCs. However, there is an increasing supply of low-and no-VOC alternatives, and often manufacturers will supply both an original formula as well as a low-VOC formula. Although some contractors may express concern as to the adhesive quality of low- or no-VOC products, this concern is not necessarily well-founded, and working with the product supplier can help to ensure an equivalent low-emission product is selected.

    Using certified products lowers occupants’ risk of exposure to high levels of VOCs from construction materials. These Indoor airPLUS specifications can be implemented by requiring documentation of material certification for each material submittal package from sub-contractors. Any submittal requirements, such as manufacturer documentation of product certifications, should be clearly outlined in the project specifications and/or subcontractor bid package. Information for each third party certification and emissions standard required by Indoor airPLUS can be found in the How to Find Indoor airPLUS Compliant Low-Emission Products document.

    Success
    Ensuring Success

    To meet Indoor airPLUS specifications, include product certification requirements for interior paints and finishes in the project specifications and/or bid package. In general, the most progressive low-emission paint certifications are based on California 01350, the Standard Method for the Testing and Evaluation of Volatile Organic Chemical Emissions from Indoor Sources using Environmental Chamber. This standard, updated in February 2010, established emissions requirements to ensure the certifications follow a standard practice for product testing and VOC calculations. However, not all third party certifications compliant with Indoor airPLUS are based on California 01350. While these certifications do not all have the exact same level of stringency or testing protocols, they currently provide a variety of reliable and market-available low-emission paints and finishes.

    Even when selecting certified paints, coatings, cabinets, carpet and composite wood, these products may not be 100% emissions-free. Therefore, to protect construction teams and future occupants, ventilate the home during and shortly after installing products that are known sources of contaminants (e.g., cabinets, carpet padding, paint, and other finishes) and during the time between construction completion and occupancy.  See Indoor airPLUS Item 7.2 for more details on ventilation strategy to dilute pollutants.

    Climate
    Climate

    No climate specific information applies.

    Training
    Right and Wrong Images
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    Right - Use low- or no-VOC paints, stains, and varnishes.
    Right - Use low- or no-VOC paints, stains, and varnishes.
    Compliance

    Compliance

    The Compliance tab contains both program and code information. Code language is excerpted and summarized below. For exact code language, refer to the applicable code, which may require purchase from the publisher. While we continually update our database, links may have changed since posting. Please contact our webmaster if you find broken links.

     

    DOE Zero Energy Ready Home (Revision 07)

    Exhibit 1 Mandatory Requirements.
    Exhibit 1, Item 6) Certified under EPA Indoor airPLUS.

     

    EPA Indoor airPLUS (R­evision 04)

    6.2: Interior Paints and Finishes. 

    Download How to Find Indoor airPLUS Compliant Low Emission Products, which provides guidance on identifying compliant products including industry databases and examples of product labeling.

    Retrofit
    Existing Homes

    SCOPE

    Guidance for the measures described in this guide is applicable to both new and existing homes.

    Follow safe work practices as described in the Global Worker Safety section of the Standard Work Specifications.

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    More Info.

    Access to some references may require purchase from the publisher. While we continually update our database, links may have changed since posting. Please contact our webmaster if you find broken links.

    References and Resources*
    Author(s)
    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
    Organization(s)
    EPA
    Publication Date
    Description
    Companion document to the Indoor airPLUS Construction Specifications, providing guidance on identifying compliant products, including industry databases and examples of product labeling.
    Author(s)
    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
    Organization(s)
    EPA
    Publication Date
    Description
    Document outlining specifications that were developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to recognize new homes equipped with a comprehensive set of indoor air quality (IAQ) features.
    Author(s)
    Greenguard Certification
    Organization(s)
    Greenguard Certification
    Publication Date
    Description
    Website explaining GREENGUARD Certification, which helps manufacturers create and helps buyers identify interior products and materials that have low chemical emissions, improving the quality of the air in which the products are used.
    Author(s)
    Environmental Protection Agency
    Organization(s)
    EPA
    Publication Date
    Description
    Indoor airPLUS is a voluntary partnership and labeling program that helps new home builders improve the quality of indoor air by requiring construction practices and product specifications that minimize exposure to airborne pollutants and contaminants.
    *For non-dated media, such as websites, the date listed is the date accessed.
    Contributors to this Guide

    The following authors and organizations contributed to the content in this Guide.

    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Indoor airPlus program and PNNL.

    Sales
    Building Science Measures
    Building Science-to-Sales Translator

    Low/No VOC Paints and Finishes = Certified Low/No VOC Finishes

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    Technical Description

    Interior paints and finishes may contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as a plasticizer. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects, including eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches; loss of coordination and nausea; allergic skin reactions; and damage to the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system. Certified low/no-VOC finishes help protect indoor air quality for both occupants and construction workers. Best practices also include airing out the house thoroughly during construction and in the first few weeks after paints and sealants have been applied when any VOC concentrations would be at their highest.

    Certified Low/No VOC Finishes
    Sales Message

    Certified low/no VOC finishes help control one of the most significant health risks where we live. What this means to you is your family can breathe better every day knowing your home was built to help manage a critical respiratory contaminant.  Wouldn’t you agree protecting health is too important to ignore in new homes?

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