SECTION 115.421. Emission Specifications

The owner or operator of the surface coating processes specified in §115.420(a) of this title (relating to Applicability and Definitions) shall not cause, suffer, allow, or permit volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions to exceed the specified emission limits in paragraphs (1) - (16) of this subsection. These limitations are based on the daily weighted average of all coatings delivered to each coating line, except for those in paragraph (9) of this subsection which are based on paneling surface area, and those in paragraph (15) of this subsection which, if using an averaging approach, must use one of the daily averaging equations within that paragraph. The owner or operator of a surface coating operation subject to paragraph (10) of the subsection may choose to comply by using the monthly weighted average option as defined in §115.420(c)(1)(YY) of this title.

(1) Large appliance coating. VOC emissions from the application, flashoff, and oven areas during the coating of large appliances (prime and topcoat, or single coat) must not exceed 2.8 pounds per gallon of coating (minus water and exempt solvent) delivered to the application system (0.34 kilogram/liter (kg/liter)).

(2) Metal furniture coating. VOC emissions from metal furniture coating lines (prime and topcoat, or single coat) must not exceed 3.0 pounds per gallon of coating (minus water and exempt solvent) delivered to the application system (0.36 kg/liter).

(3) Coil coating. VOC emissions from the coating (prime and topcoat, or single coat) of metal coils must not exceed 2.6 pounds per gallon of coating (minus water and exempt solvent) delivered to the application system (0.31 kg/liter).

(4) Paper coating. VOC emissions from the coating of paper (or specified tapes or films) must not exceed 2.9 pounds per gallon of coating (minus water and exempt solvent) delivered to the application system (0.35 kg/liter).

(5) Fabric coating. VOC emissions from the coating of fabric must not exceed 2.9 pounds per gallon of coating (minus water and exempt solvent) delivered to the application system (0.35 kg/liter).

(6) Vinyl coating. VOC emissions from the coating of vinyl fabrics or sheets must not exceed 3.8 pounds per gallon of coating (minus water and exempt solvent) delivered to the application system (0.45 kg/liter). Plastisol coatings should not be included in calculations.

(7) Can coating. The following VOC emission limits must be achieved, on the basis of VOC solvent content per unit of volume of coating (minus water and exempt solvent) delivered to the application system:

Attached Graphic

(8) Miscellaneous metal parts and products (MMPP) coating.

(A) VOC emissions from the coating of MMPP must not exceed the following limits for each surface coating type:

Attached Graphic

(B) If more than one emission limitation in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph applies to a specific coating, then the least stringent emission limitation applies.

(C) All VOC emissions from non-exempt solvent washings must be included in determination of compliance with the emission limitations in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph unless the solvent is directed into containers that prevent evaporation into the atmosphere.

(9) Factory surface coating of flat wood paneling. The following emission limits apply to each product category of factory-finished paneling (regardless of the number of coats applied):

Attached Graphic

(10) Aerospace coatings. The VOC content of coatings, including any VOC-containing materials added to the original coating supplied by the manufacturer, that are applied to aerospace vehicles or components must not exceed the following limits (in grams of VOC per liter of coating, less water and exempt solvent). The following applications are exempt from the VOC content limits of this paragraph: manufacturing or re-work of space vehicles or antique aerospace vehicles or components of each; touchup; United States Department of Defense classified coatings; and separate coating formulations in volumes less than 50 gallons per year to a maximum of 200 gallons per year for all such formulations at an account.

(A) For the broad categories of primers, topcoats, and chemical milling maskants (Type I/II) which are not specialty coatings as listed in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph:

(i) primer, 350;

(ii) topcoats (including self-priming topcoats), 420; and

(iii) chemical milling maskants:

(I) Type I, 622; and

(II) Type II, 160.

(B) For specialty coatings:

Attached Graphic

(11) Automobile and light-duty truck manufacturing coating. The following VOC emission limits must be achieved, on the basis of solvent content per unit volume of coating (minus water and exempt solvents) delivered to the application system or for primer surfacer and top coat application, compliance may be demonstrated on the basis of VOC emissions per unit volume of solids deposited as determined by §115.425(3) of this title (relating to Testing Requirements).

Attached Graphic

(12) Vehicle refinishing coating (body shops). VOC emissions from coatings or solvents must not exceed the following limits, as delivered to the application system. Additional control requirements for vehicle refinishing (body shops) are referenced in §115.422 of this title (relating to Control Requirements).

Attached Graphic

(13) Surface coating of mirror backing.

(A) VOC emissions from the coating of mirror backing must not exceed the following limits for each surface coating application method:

(i) 4.2 pounds per gallon (0.50 kg/liter) of coating (minus water and exempt solvent) delivered to a curtain coating application system; and

(ii) 3.6 pounds per gallon (0.43 kg/liter) of coating (minus water and exempt solvent) delivered to a roll coating application system.

(B) All VOC emissions from solvent washings must be included in determination of compliance with the emission limitations in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, unless the solvent is directed into containers that prevent evaporation into the atmosphere.

(14) Surface coating of wood parts and products. VOC emissions from the coating of wood parts and products must not exceed the following limits, as delivered to the application system, for each surface coating type. All VOC emissions from solvent washings must be included in determination of compliance with the emission limitations in this paragraph, unless the solvent is directed into containers that prevent evaporation into the atmosphere.

Attached Graphic

(15) Surface coating at wood furniture manufacturing facilities. For facilities which are subject to this paragraph, adhesives are not considered to be coatings or finishing materials.

(A) VOC emissions from finishing operations must be limited by:

(i) using topcoats with a VOC content no greater than 0.8 kilogram of VOC per kilogram of solids (0.8 pound of VOC per pound of solids), as delivered to the application system; or

(ii) using a finishing system of sealers with a VOC content no greater than 1.9 kilograms of VOC per kilogram of solids (1.9 pounds of VOC per pound of solids), as applied, and topcoats with a VOC content no greater than 1.8 kilograms of VOC per kilogram of solids (1.8 pounds of VOC per pound of solids), as delivered to the application system; or

(iii) for wood furniture manufacturing facilities using acid-cured alkyd amino vinyl sealers or acid-cured alkyd amino conversion varnish topcoats, using sealers and topcoats that meet the following criteria:

(I) if the wood furniture manufacturing facility uses acid-cured alkyd amino vinyl sealers and acid-cured alkyd amino conversion varnish topcoats, the sealer must contain no more than 2.3 kilograms of VOC per kilogram of solids (2.3 pounds of VOC per pound of solids), as applied, and the topcoat must contain no more than 2.0 kilograms of VOC per kilogram of solids (2.0 pounds of VOC per pound of solids), as delivered to the application system; or

(II) if the wood furniture manufacturing facility uses a sealer other than an acid-cured alkyd amino vinyl sealer and acid-cured alkyd amino conversion varnish topcoats, the sealer must contain no more than 1.9 kilograms of VOC per kilogram of solids (1.9 pounds of VOC per pound of solids), as applied, and the topcoat must contain no more than 2.0 kilograms of VOC per kilogram of solids (2.0 pounds of VOC per pound of solids), as delivered to the application system; or

(III) if the wood furniture manufacturing facility uses an acid-cured alkyd amino vinyl sealer and a topcoat other than an acid-cured alkyd amino conversion varnish topcoat, the sealer must contain no more than 2.3 kilograms of VOC per kilogram of solids (2.3 pounds of VOC per pound of solids), as applied, and the topcoat must contain no more than 1.8 kilograms of VOC per kilogram of solids (1.8 pounds of VOC per pound of solids), as delivered to the application system; or

(iv) using an averaging approach and demonstrating that actual daily emissions from the wood furniture manufacturing facility are less than or equal to the lower of the actual versus allowable emissions using one of the following inequalities:

Attached Graphic

(v) using a vapor control system that will achieve an equivalent reduction in emissions as the requirements of clauses (i) or (ii) of this subparagraph. If this option is used, the requirements of §115.423(3) of this title do not apply; or

(vi) using a combination of the methods presented in clauses (i) - (v) of this subparagraph.

(B) Strippable booth coatings used in cleaning operations must not contain more than 0.8 kilogram of VOC per kilogram of solids (0.8 pound of VOC per pound of solids), as delivered to the application system.

(16) Marine coatings.

(A) The following VOC emission limits apply to the surface coating of ships and offshore oil or gas drilling platforms at shipbuilding and ship repair operations, and are based upon the VOC content of the coatings as delivered to the application system.

Attached Graphic

(B) For a coating to which thinning solvent is routinely or sometimes added, the owner or operator shall determine the VOC content as follows.

(i) Prior to the first application of each batch, designate a single thinner for the coating and calculate the maximum allowable thinning ratio (or ratios, if the shipbuilding and ship repair operation complies with the cold-weather limits in addition to the other limits specified in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph) for each batch as follows.

Attached Graphic

(ii) If the volume fraction of solids in the batch as supplied V_s is not supplied directly by the coating manufacturer, the owner or operator shall determine V_s as follows.

Attached Graphic

Source Note: The provisions of this §115.421 adopted to be effective February 19, 1990, 15 TexReg 549; amended to be effective July 23, 1990, 15 TexReg 3857; amended to be effective July 17, 1991, 16 TexReg 3726; amended to be effective August 1, 1992, 17 TexReg 4683; amended to be effective November 16, 1992, 17 TexReg 7782; amended to be effective December 3, 1993, 18 TexReg 8538; amended to be effective May 27, 1994, 19 TexReg 3703; amended to be effective March 7, 1996, 21 TexReg 1548; amended to be effective May 22, 1997, 22 TexReg 4213; amended to be effective April 7, 1998, 23 TexReg3503; amended to be effective July 20, 2000, 25 TexReg 6752; amended to be effective May 16, 2002, 27 TexReg 4113; amended to be effective January 17, 2003, 28 TexReg 113; amended to be effective June 25, 2015, 40 TexReg 3907; amended to be effective March 26, 2020, 45 TexReg 2003