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What is V.O.C.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Conventional paints contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), which are
petroleum-based solvents that evaporate from paint films while the paint is
drying. These compounds are the unpleasant solvent fumes that may trigger
respiratory reactions including asthma, and breathing discomfort, when using
conventional paints.
Conventional water-borne paints have a solvent level of around 7%, so obviously
using water-borne paints is a far more environmentally responsible option.
Additives classified as VOCs are normally included in conventional paint for a
number of reasons, such as:
Basic “carrier” or solvent in enamels, supporting the resins and pigments in the
paint formula, and allowing these to be transferred from the can to the
substrate.
improving “wet edge” by prolonging evaporation long enough to allow the paint to
flow out,
improving coalescence of the latex particles in water based paints as the water
evaporates
Preventing “in-can” corrosion.
It must be noted that all organic additives that evaporate from paint as it
dries are classified as VOC, regardless of relative potential for harm. In other
words, a particular additive may be harmless enough to be found in a range of
foodstuffs (such as soya oil or ethanol, the alcohol present in wines, beer and
spirits), or face creams, but as part of a paint formula, so long as it
evaporates from paint, it is considered a VOC!
It must also be noted that some VOCs are actually renewable raw materials, such
as ethanol, pine oil or wood turpentine. Tonnes of these naturally occurring
VOC’s evaporate from forests annually.
Maintenance is also an issue. Currently, there is no satisfactory waterborne
system for the protection of steel from corrosion, however there are some
excellent high-solids products available.
Nevertheless, it is the responsibility of every specifier to specify, wherever a
genuine choice exists, the paint with the lower VOC such as products in the Wash
& Wear Avance range of Products as well as Berger Breathe Easy Product range.
Volatile Organic Compounds fact sheet
NPI definition for
Volatile Organic Compounds
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