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| Sustainable Building Sourcebook | ||
| Chapter: Health and Safety | ||
| Paints and Primers | ||
| CSI Numbers: 09900 Painting | ||
| Introduction: | ||
This section addresses paints and primers (architectural coatings) that can be applied to a building's interior surfaces on-site. Most paints and primers contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are common organic substances that readily evaporate (usually at room temperature). VOCs hold the paint in a liquid form, and, once applied, aid the paint in rapidly drying from a liquid to a solid by an evaporation process known as off-gassing. Off-gassing adversely affects indoor air quality, and may continue for months or even years even though the paint or primer has dried. A primary goal in the creation of healthy buildings is to generally reduce the overall amount of VOCs. These coatings are of particular concern in urban areas because VOCs react in the presence of sunlight to form smog and ground level ozone. Austin has recently failed the Environmental Protection Agency's test for ground level ozone, and may soon be declared an air quality non-attainment area for exceeding the level of air pollution that is considered harmful to the public's health. If this occurs, Austin will lose its rights to all federal highway money that was previously appropriated for the city. Low and no VOC paints are especially important in areas deemed non-attainment for air quality by the Environmental Protection Agency. See, also in this Sourcebook, sections on Finishes and Adhesives , Floor Coverings , Structural Wall Panels , Insulation , and Cabinets for other common sources of VOCs. Also see the Green Building Factsheets for introductions to this and other green building topics. Also of concern in paints and primers is the addition of biocides. Biocides include pesticides, poisonous heavy metals, and other preservatives that prevent paints from spoiling. Some biocides may off-gas just as VOCs do, and can cause reactions in chemically sensitive people. A few latex paint manufacturers offer paints with non-poisonous, non-pesticide, or minute amounts of biocides. Paints and Finishes, Fig. 1
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| At-A-Glance Notes: | ||
| Technology: | ||
| Latex-based paints have undergone a revolution in the last decade, and now perform equal to, if not better than oil-based paints. The low and no VOC coatings discussed in this section most often perform as well as the best latex coatings offered by their respective manufacturer. These coatings have made it more possible for application to occur in occupied buildings -- particularly healthcare facilities | ||
| Suppliers: | ||
| Low and no-VOC paints and primers are readily available from major paint manufacturers and can be obtained locally. Non-toxic, low biocide, and natural coatings have fewer distributors nationwide, and frequently must be ordered. | ||
| Cost: | ||
| Body Copy Low and no VOC paints and primers are slightly higher priced than the highest quality paints offered by the same manufacturer. However, low/no VOC paints and primers offer slightly more coverage area per gallon than higher VOC finishes because low/no VOC paints/primers contain more of the finished product that stays on the wall, and less of the solvent that evaporates off. The higher the solids content of the paint, the more finished product it contains. The use of low and no VOC coatings can mean big savings if vacating is not necessary and/or if applicators can work during normal business hours. Non-toxic, low biocide, and natural paints are significantly more expensive. Note that the cost of labor far exceeds the cost of paint for the typical job. Also, the added cost of using one of these recommended paints is insignificant in comparison to the overall cost of the house. | ||
| Public Acceptance: | ||
| Materials that are considered more healthful have a broad-based appeal. Chemically sensitive and other concerned individuals may consider using products that are non-toxic and or low in biocides. One reason for the popularity of natural-based paints is that the raw materials used to create the coatings are renewable resources (ideally sustainably harvested). | ||
| Regulatory: | ||
| The state of Texas recently eliminated the regulation of VOC levels in paints due to the "paperwork and labor strain." The nationwide regulated limit for VOC content is currently 250 grams per liter less water (g/l less water) for flat paints, 380 g/l less water for non-flat paints, and 350 g/l less water for primers. Lead is no longer allowed in interior paints. Though less is always better, chemicals such as dioxin are not safe in any quantity. In short, the issues and risks are not well researched, documented, or understood. | ||
| Considerations: | ||
Oil based paints are inherently higher in VOCs than latex paints. The chemical make-up of latex paints permits the use of water in addition to or instead of VOCs. Most resins used in latex paints include acrylic, polyvinyl acetate (PVA), or a combination of the two. Acrylic is widely accepted as the best resin, and is used in most low and no VOC paints and primers. Low and no VOC paints and primers behave essentially the same as typical, mainstream latex paints. These coatings are slightly thicker than standard coatings because low/no VOC coatings have more solids and fewer solvents. Due to their high solids content, low and no VOC coatings offer the best hidability available (the ability to hide a stain or change in color on the surface to which the coating is applied). A painter may want to adjust the pressure setting on their sprayer. Many painters are already using low or no VOC paints, and don't even know it. Non-toxic and/or hypoallergenic paints are often touted as "human-safe" in addition to earth-safe. Included in this category are low biocide and safer biocide paints and primers. Paints can be thought of as food. Without additives, paint will spoil in a matter of days. Various additives can be employed to prevent spoilage, which is caused by biological contaminants such as molds, yeasts, and mildew. Pesticides, including fungicide and mildewcide, and poisons, such as heavy metals, all kill these contaminants. These additives are considered harmful to indoor air quality and human health, and are specifically avoided by environmentally sensitive persons. At least one manufacturer uses a protein inhibitor instead, which simply prevents the reproduction of biological contaminants. Latex coatings are more susceptible to spoilage while in a liquid state. For this reason, low biocide latex coatings are often made in small batches, or custom made to order, to ensure a shorter shelf life. Natural coatings are made either mostly or entirely from plant-derived sources. All-natural coatings are not necessarily non-toxic, and both all-natural and non-toxic coatings are not necessarily low in VOC content. Natural, non-toxic, and low biocide coatings often have not been tested to the extent that low or no VOC coatings have. Check for warranties and/or guarantees with all products. Understanding VOC Levels Low VOC and no VOC products are now readily available from many companies. A retailer may claim, "They are all low VOC." when describing their paints, because the VOC levels of some paints have been lowered slightly to meet federal regulations, and all paints are now below these regulated levels. However, these levels are the first step in a series of VOC level reductions, and are insufficiently low. The Green Building Program recommends no VOC paint, and has set its own levels for what the program considers a low VOC paint. All latex coatings contain water. Some coatings are more watered down than others are. Obviously, the more watered down a coating is, the less it will contain of everything else. Thus, more water in a coating equates to less VOCs per given volume. In order to be able to compare the VOC levels of coatings as per actual amount of end product after application, the EPA has developed Reference Test Method 24. This test measures the VOC level of a coating in grams per liter of total coating without water, and lists results as g/l minus water. Some manufacturers report VOC levels with and without water, listing both in terms of g/l. In this case, the higher of the two numbers corresponds to Method 24, g/l minus water. Unless a paint is marketed specifically as a low VOC product, manufacturers usually don't test latex paints for VOC levels. Manufacturers calculate VOC content figures by adding up the known VOCs of all the raw ingredients in the standard recipe for each type of paint. After the standard recipe is mixed, each individual batch is tested for color, texture, and sheen. Raw ingredients are added once again in order to adjust the batch to achieve all the desired final characteristics. Although this adjustment may raise or lower the VOC content of the paint, the VOC content for the standard recipe is printed on the can. Often a manufacturer will state the maximum allowed VOC content for that type of paint, knowing that it varies, yet stays well below the limit. In an Aberdeen Proving Grounds study in which 107 paints were tested for VOC content, it was reported that, "Only 19 percent were within 10 percent of their reported levels." (Painting the Town Green, EPA Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Program, pp. 13) The VOC content of a paint is often stated as the content for a base paint, to which pigments are added by the retailer in order to create the color you desire. Note that pigments, depending on the type used, can add VOC's and other potentially harmful substances. Dark and bright colored pigments are both higher in VOC content than light colored pigments. Health ConsiderationsNearly 100,000 synthetic organic compounds are available to the building industry (all of these produce VOCs). When airborne, they can be inhaled and enter the bloodstream through the lungs or they can be absorbed through the skin directly into blood vessels. Liquids that contain VOCs, such as finishes and adhesives, have an even easier time entering our bodies than VOCs from solids. Once in the bloodstream, these toxins (from the VOCs) can affect every organ in the human body, particularly the nervous system. Symptoms resulting from exposure can include, but are not limited to, headaches, eye and throat irritation, rashes, muscle and joint pain, concentration and memory impairment, various allergies, fatigue, anxiety, and depression. Symptoms can be chronic or acute depending on length and level of exposure and individual tolerances. Most materials that out-gas from paints and primers are synthetic and are made from petrochemicals such as oil, natural gas, and coal. These include benzene, xylene, propane, butane, paraffins, toluene, and styrene. The long-term affects of these VOCs on human health are not well understood, however an increasing number of people (particularly children) are experiencing a much higher incidence of asthma and other allergic-like reactions. Even less is known about the effects of exposures (long or short-term) to various mixtures of these substances. Some VOCs can be released from natural materials, such as terpenes from various woods. The naturally occurring VOCs are usually not of concern, except to very chemically sensitive people. These individuals should test reactions to any materials before use in their home and/or work environment. Investigating for YourselfEvery manufacturer and vendor of an architectural coating, by law, must provide customers with a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) upon request. MSDSs provide information about the coating including hazardous ingredients, physical data, health hazards, etc. A manufacturer may choose to disclose their VOC content for a coating either in the MSDS, or product data sheets, which can be obtained from the manufacturer or vendor as well. A list of a few of the many specific items that can be found in MSDSs includes:
Note that most of the previously mentioned substances must be reported only if they are present in the coating at a level equal to or above their respective regulated levels. Lead Paint RemovalLead-based paints were outlawed in 1974 for home use, but it is said that this law was not well enforced for several years. Also, some people may have painted a home with a phased out lead-based paint that they had stored for several years. Any home that was painted before 1980 should be treated as though it has a lead-based paint. For removal of a lead-based paint:
Proper Application ConditionsThe following information can not be stressed enough:
RepaintingWhether the surface to be painted has been painted with an oil-based or latex-based paint is not important. The finish of the old coat of paint, however, is. Paint can be applied directly onto an old coat of flat or eggshell finish paint with another flat or eggshell finish paint, provided the surface is clean and dry. Semi-gloss and gloss finish paints will adhere to old coats of flat or eggshell paints as well, but in order to achieve an even gloss, a primer must be applied to the surface first. In order to paint on top of a semi-gloss or gloss finish paint, one of two things must be done in order to prepare the surface for good adhesion:
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| Guidelines: | ||
Water-based paints
Solvent-based paints
Low biocide finishesPesticides and preservatives are typically added to water based paints and should be in very low levels. Levels as low as 0.01 to 0.025% can be effective in preventing spoilage and not be adverse to health. No-biocide finishes are available. Avoid formulations with formaldehyde, a suspected carcinogen. |
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| Resources: | ||
| Professional Assistance: | ||
Canadian Housing Information Centre Ecologically Safe Homes/Healthy House Institute Environment Associates Clint Good H. E. Solutions Safe Environments |
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| Components/Materials/Systems: | ||
For low or no-VOC paints, contact businesses under "Paint - Retail" in Yellow Pages and request VOC information on specific brands. Paints and FinishesAFM Enterprises AGLAIA Natural paints (Germany) Auro USA Basic Coatings Benjamin-Moore & Co. BonaKemi USA Inc. Chem-Safe Products City of Austin Compliant Spray Systems Devoe Paint Dutch Boy Paints Earth-Tech Eco Design Co. Eco-Wise Gloucester Co. Inc. ICI/Dulux Kelly-Moore Paint Co. The Living Source MAB Paints Miller Paint Co. Osterman & Schweiwe USA Pace-Chem Perma-Chink Systems -- Eastern division PPG/Pittsburgh Paints Republic Paints Sherwin-Williams Southern Diversified Products Southern Diversified Products, LLC Sutherland Welles Ltd. The Old Fashioned Milk Paint Co. Timber-Tek UV True Value Velvit Products AdhesivesAFM Enterprises Designer Floors of Texas Eco-Wise Environmental Home Center Franklin International Hendricksen Naturlich Flooring Lutz File and Tool Company OSI Sealants Inc. United McGill W.W. Henry Company Strippers/Solvents3M Do-It-Yourself Division Bix Man S. Co. Diedrich Technologies Dumond Chemicals Inc. Eco Design Co. (Bio-Shield products) Franmar Chemical Interchem Environmental, Inc. Klean-Strip Specialty Environmental Tech. Sterling Eco-Solve TakeOff Other ProductsMurco Palmer Industries |
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| General Assistance: | ||
Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) EPA - Indoor Air Quality Hotline Environmental Health Center of the National Safety Council U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission |
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