VOC Emission Reports

What are VOCs?

Volatile Organic Compounds are materials which evaporate readily from commonly occurring sources such as vehicle exhausts, cleaning agents, furniture polish and fabric softeners. These also include solvents used in coatings, as well as thinners and brush cleaners.

In the presence of sunlight, these VOCs can react with nitrogen oxides to create ground level ozone and photochemical smogs. These in turn can contribute to pollution of the atmosphere. The UK government and the coatings industry are committed to reducing VOC emissions under international conventions.

Although the impact of household coatings on atmospheric pollution is very small (less than 2% of the total amount of VOCs emitted), manufacturers believe the amount of VOC s in decorative coatings should be reduced and consumers given the choice of using lower VOC-containing products.

VOC reports

On request we can supply a detailed report showing all goods supplied within a set date period, whether this be an annual or quarterly report, this depends purely on your requirements.            All goods will have their DNA shown such as S.G (Relative Density), Solid content, VOC % and VOC Kg/lt which all help with the final calculations.

Total quantities will be given within the time frame requested given you a full indication of where you are with regards to your VOC emissions. An example of this report is available below.

Please use the form below to submit VOC report requests, stating your company details and time period to cover

https://isf.co.uk/technical-help

Reducing solvents in paint

Paints contain different levels of solvents, also known as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Solvent content can vary from negligible amounts to, in some cases, very high levels of solvent. Given that VOCs contribute to global warming the industry is committed to reducing the level of solvent in paints.

In response to this the industry has been introducing new and alternative products with lower VOCs for several years. In addition, a labelling system has been introduced to inform consumers of the VOC content of each decorative coating product, (there is a legal requirement for companies to label all decorative products with their VOC content, however this is for regulatory purposes and will not necessarily be obvious to consumers.)

The industry has already made good progress towards this goal, with water borne coatings accounting for 84% of decorative paints sold.

VOC reduction plans

Reduce your VOC output, become more environmentally friendly, with potential cost savings.

Solvent based coatings contain high levels of VOCs (Volatile Organise Compounds) which can have a harmful effect to the environment and your employees.  Traditionally solvent-borne coatings have been preferred as they ensured a hard and durable finish that resists scratches and abrasions. They were also being considered easier to apply as they often require fewer coats and can be more forgiving on contaminated surfaces. Solvent-based paints are flammable, and this places storage restrictions and additional regulations on your site.

Water-based finishes are increasingly becoming the go to solution for many end users.   In contrast to solvent-borne coatings, water-based paints produce far fewer VOCs which means they do not produce gases that can cause further damage to the ozone, making it a more sustainable and environmentally friendly solution and they are also much less harmful to your employees. 

Water-borne solutions aren’t flammable, meaning there is less need for extra equipment and fewer regulations on transportation and storage.  In most cases by using water-borne coatings this can also generate a cost saving to your business.

By making the transition to water-borne coatings this will help you to become more environmentally friendly.  It also aligns with government regulation which has become increasingly stricter on manufacturers and end users to reduce VOC emissions which is a solution in preparation for further legislation and also compliance with VOC Reduction schemes as part of site permits.

If you would like to find out more about the transition to water-borne coatings, contact one of the team today to discuss our solutions and potential costs savings this could generate for you.