(Adopted April 6, 1979)(Amended January 8, 1982)(Amended December 7, 1984) 

(Amended January 10, 1986)(Amended May 5, 1989)(Amended December 1, 1989) 

(Amended March 2, 1990)(Amended November 2, 1990)(Amended December 7, 1990) 

(Amended August 2, 1991)(Amended January 13, 1995)(March 7, 2008) 

RULE 1125. METAL CONTAINER, CLOSURE, AND COIL COATING 

OPERATIONS 

(a) Applicability 

This rule applies to all coating operations in the manufacturing and/or 

reconditioning of metal cans, drums, pails, lids, and closures. It also includes 

coating of the surface of flat metal sheets, strips, rolls, or coils during the 

manufacturing and/or reconditioning of metal containers, closures, and coils. 

(b) Definitions 

For the purpose of this rule, the following definitions shall apply: 

(1) AEROSOL COATING PRODUCT is a pressurized coating product 

containing pigments or resins that are dispensed by means of a propellant, 

and are packaged in a disposable can for hand-held application. 

(2) CLOSURE is any component which is used to close or seal a filled can, 

jar, or bottle. 

(3) COATING APPLICATOR is any apparatus used to apply a surface 

coating. 

(4) COATING LINE is any operation or process for applying, drying, or 

baking and/or curing surface coatings, together with associated equipment, 

such as a coating applicator, flash-off area, and oven. 

(5) COIL is any flat metal sheet or strip that is rolled or wound in concentric 

rings. 

(6) DRUM is any cylindrical metal shipping container larger than 12 gallons 

capacity but no larger than 110 gallons capacity. 

(7) END SEALING COMPOUND is any compound which is applied to the 

can ends of a metal container and/or cover, and which functions as a 

gasket when the end is assembled. 

(8) EXEMPT COMPOUNDS: are as defined in Rule 102-Definition of 

Terms. 

(9) EXTERIOR BASE COATING is any coating applied to the exterior of a 

can body, end, or flat sheet to provide protection to the metal or to provide 

background for any subsequent printing operation. 

(10) EXTERIOR END COATING is a coating applied to the exterior end of a 

can to provide protection to the metal. 

1125 - 1 
Rule 1125 (Cont.) (Amended March 7, 2008) 

(11) FOOD/BEVERAGE CAN is any metal container intended for packaging 

food or beverages. 

(12) GRAMS OF VOC PER LITER OF COATING, LESS WATER AND 

LESS EXEMPT COMPOUNDS is the weight of VOC per combined 

volume of VOC and coating solids and can be calculated by the following 

equation: 

Grams of VOC per Liter of Coating, Less Water and Less Exempt 

Compounds = 

eswm

ws es

V - V - V

 W- W- W

Where: 

Ws = weight of volatile compounds in grams 

Ww = weight of water in grams 

Wes = weight of exempt compounds in grams 

Vm = volume of material in liters 

Vw = volume of water in liters 

Ves = volume of exempt compounds in liters 

(13) GRAMS OF VOC PER LITER OF MATERIAL is the weight of VOC per 

volume of material and can be calculated by the following equation: 

Grams of VOC per Liter of Material 

m

esws

V

W-W-W=

Where: Ws = weight of volatile compounds in grams 

Ww = weight of water in grams 

Wes = weight of exempt compounds in grams 

Vm = volume of material in liters 

(14) HAND APPLICATION METHOD is the application of coatings using 

manually held, non-automatic equipment. Examples of this method 

include, but are not limited to, application by paint brush, hand roller, 

trowel, spatula, dauber, rag, and sponge. 

(15) HIGH-VOLUME, LOW-PRESSURE (HVLP) SPRAY is a coating 

application system which is designed to be operated at air pressures 

between 0.1 and 10.0 pounds per square inch gauge (psig) at the air cap of 

the spray gun. 

1125 - 2 
Rule 1125 (Cont.) (Amended March 7, 2008) 

(16) INK is any coating used in any operation that imparts color, design, 

alphabet, or numerals on an exterior surface of a metal container, closure, 

or coil. 

(17) INKJET INKS are inks used in conjunction with a printing process where 

images are formed by the precise placement of small (picoliter-sized) 

droplets of ink fired at high speeds from the nozzle(s) of computercontrolled printheads. For the purposes of this rule, inks used with 

modular electric spray ink dot equipment shall also be considered as inkjet 

inks. 

(18) INKJET MAKE-UP SOLVENT is a solvent that is added to an inkjet ink 

after it has been recirculated in a continuous inkjet printing process. 

(19) INTERIOR BASE COATING is any coating applied to the interior of a 

can body, end, or flat sheet to provide a protective lining between the 

product and the can. 

(20) INTERIOR BODY SPRAY is any coating sprayed on the interior of the 

can body to provide a protective film between the product and the can. 

(21) METAL CONTAINER, CLOSURE, AND COIL COATING is any VOCcontaining coating applied to the surfaces of metal cans, drums, pails, lids, 

closures, or to the surface of flat metal sheets, strips, rolls, or coils during 

the manufacturing and/or reconditioning process. 

(22) NECKER LUBRICANT is any fluid or solid lubricant applied to a can 

forming tool to reduce friction while reducing the can diameter to form a 

neck. 

(23) OVERVARNISH is any coating applied directly over a design coating to 

reduce the coefficient of friction, to provide gloss, and to protect the finish 

against abrasion and corrosion. 

(24) PAIL is any cylindrical metal shipping container of from 1-gallon to 12-

gallon capacity and constructed of 29 gauge or heavier material. 

(25) SOLVENT CLEANING OPERATION is the removal of loosely held 

uncured adhesives, uncured inks, uncured coatings, and contaminants 

from parts, products, tools, machinery, equipment, and general work areas. 

Contaminants include, but are not limited to, dirt, soil, and grease. In a 

cleaning process which consists of a series of cleaning methods, each 

distinct method shall constitute a separate solvent cleaning operation. 

(26) THERMOCHROMIC INK is an ink that changes color when subject to a 

temperature change. 

1125 - 3 
Rule 1125 (Cont.) (Amended March 7, 2008) 

(27) THREE-PIECE CAN SIDE SEAM SPRAY is any coating sprayed on a 

welded, cemented, or soldered seam to protect the exposed metal. 

(28) VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUND (VOC) is as defined in Rule 102-

Definition of Terms. 

(c) Requirements 

 (1) Any person shall not use or apply any coating on any coating line of the 

type designated below which contains any volatile organic compound in 

excess of the following limits, expressed as grams of VOC per liter of 

coating or pounds per gallon of coating, less water and less exempt 

compounds, except for inkjet inks and inkjet make-up solvents, where the 

referenced VOC limit is expressed as grams of VOC per liter of material 

or pounds per gallon of material: 

VOC LIMITS 

COATING CATEGORY 

g/L Lb/gal 

Can Coatings 

Three-Piece Can Sheet Basecoat 

(Exterior and Interior 

Overvarnish) 

225 1.9 

Two-Piece Can Exterior Basecoat 

and Overvarnish 250 2.1 

Can Interior Body Spray 

Two-Piece Can 440 3.7 

Three-Piece Can 510 4.2 

Three-Piece Can Side Seam 

Spray 660 5.5 

Drums, Pails, and Lids Coatings 

New 

Exterior 340 2.8 

Interior 420 3.5 

Reconditioned 

Exterior 420 3.5 

Interior 510 4.2 

Coil Coatings

Coatings 200 1.7 

1125 - 4 
Rule 1125 (Cont.) (Amended March 7, 2008) 

All Operations 

Necker Lubricants 100 0.8 

End Sealing Compounds 

Food/Beverage Cans 

Effective 7-1-08

440 

20 

3.7 

0.17 

Non-Food Containers 0 0 

Inks 

Other than Inkjet 300 2.5 

Inkjet 250* 2.1* 

Thermochromic Inkjet 700* 5.8* 

Inkjet Make-Up Solvents 

General Inkjet 250* 2.1* 

Thermochromic Inkjet 800* 5.8* 

* Different VOC determination method 

(2) Any person may comply with the provisions of paragraph (c)(1), and/or (c)(5) by 

using an emission control system, for reducing VOC emissions which has been 

approved in writing by the Executive Officer. 

(A) The emission control system shall collect at least 90 percent by weight of 

the emissions generated using USEPA, ARB, and District methods 

specified in subparagraph (e)(2)(A) and have a destruction efficiency of at 

least 95 percent by weight, or 

(B) The approved system shall reduce the VOC emissions when using noncompliant coatings to an equivalent or greater level that would be 

achieved by the provisions in paragraph (c)(1). The required efficiency of 

an emission control system at which an equivalent or greater level of VOC 

reduction will be achieved shall be calculated by the following equation: 

( )

( ) 100

D

VOC -1

D

VOC 1

VOC

VOC -1 C.E.

c

LWc

Maxn 

MaxLWn 

MaxLWn 

LWc ×

⎥

⎥

⎥

⎥

⎥

⎦

⎤

⎢

⎢

⎢

⎢

⎢

⎣

⎡

⎪

⎪

⎭

⎪

⎪

⎬

⎫

⎪

⎪

⎩

⎪

⎪

⎨

⎧

⎟

⎟

⎠

⎞

⎜

⎜

⎝

⎛

⎟

⎟

⎠

⎞

⎜

⎜

⎝

⎛ −

= ×

1125 - 5 
Rule 1125 (Cont.) (Amended March 7, 2008) 

Where: 

C.E. = Control Efficiency, percent 

VOCLWc = VOC Limit of Rule 1125, less water and less exempt 

compounds, 

pursuant to subdivision (c) 

VOCLWn Max = Maximum VOC content of non-compliant coating used in 

conjunction with a control device, less water and less exempt 

compounds 

Dn Max = Density of solvent, reducer, or thinner contained in the noncompliant coating, containing the maximum VOC content of 

the multicomponent coating 

Dc = Density of corresponding solvent, reducer, or thinner used in 

the compliant coating system = 880g/L 

(3) Alternative Emission Control Plan 

Owners and/or operators may comply with the provisions of paragraph (c)(1) by 

means of an Alternative Emission Control Plan pursuant to Rule 108. 

(4) Transfer Efficiency 

A person or facility shall not apply any coating subject to the provisions of this 

rule unless the coating is applied with properly operating equipment according to 

operating procedures specified by the equipment manufacturer or the Executive 

Officer or his designee, and by the use of one of the following methods: 

(A) electrostatic application; or 

(B) flow coat; or 

(C) roll coat; or 

(D) dip coat; or 

(E) high-volume, low-pressure (HVLP) spray; or 

(F) hand application methods; or 

(G) printing techniques, such as inkjet printing; or 

(H) such other coating application methods as are demonstrated to the 

Executive Officer to be capable of achieving a transfer efficiency 

equivalent or better to the method listed in subparagraph (c)(4)(E) 

and for which written approval of the Executive Officer has been 

obtained. 

(5) Solvent Cleaning Operations; Storage and Disposal of VOC-containing 

Materials 

All solvent cleaning operations and the storage and disposal of VOCcontaining materials used in solvent cleaning operations shall be carried 

out pursuant to Rule 1171 - Solvent Cleaning Operations. 

1125 - 6 
Rule 1125 (Cont.) (Amended March 7, 2008) 

(6) Recordkeeping 

Notwithstanding provisions of subdivision (g), records shall be maintained 

pursuant to Rule 109, except that usage records for complying inks may be 

grouped by ink categories and each category constitutes a different VOC 

content. 

(d) Prohibition of Specification and Sale 

(1) A person shall not solicit or require any other person to use, in the District, 

any coating or combination of coatings to be applied to any metal 

container, closure, or coil subject to the provisions of this rule that does 

not meet the limits and requirements of this rule, or of an Alternative 

Emission Control Plan (AECP) approved pursuant to the provisions of 

paragraph (c)(3) of this rule. 

(2) The requirements of paragraph (d)(1) shall apply to all written or oral 

agreements executed, entered into, or renewed including options after 

December 1, 1989. 

(3) A person shall not sell, offer for sale, use, or apply any coating within the 

district, applied to any metal container, closure, or coil subject to the 

provisions of this rule, containing the following exempt compounds: 

methylene chloride, 

trifluoromethane (FC-23), 

trichlorotrifluoroethane (CFC-113), 

dichlorodifluoromethane (CFC-12), 

trichlorofluoromethane (CFC-11), 

dichlorotetrafluoroethane (CFC-114), and 

chloropentafluoroethane (CFC-115). 

(4) A person shall not sell or offer for sale for use within the District any 

coating which contains volatile organic compounds in excess of the limits 

specified in this rule for any application governed by this rule unless the 

label on the product or the data sheets for the product clearly bear the 

warning that the coating shall not be used unless compliance with the rule 

can be achieved. 

(e) Methods of Analysis 

All applicable methods of analysis shall be as cited in paragraphs (e)(1) through 

(e)(5) below, or any other applicable method approved in writing by the 

Executive Officer, United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), 

1125 - 7 
Rule 1125 (Cont.) (Amended March 7, 2008) 

and the California Air Resources Board (CARB), provided the approved 

alternative method is equivalent to those listed below. 

(1) The VOC content of coatings subject to the provisions of this rule shall be 

determined by the following methods: 

(A) United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) 

Reference Method 24 (Code of Federal Regulations Title 40 Part 

60, Appendix A,). The exempt compound content shall be 

determined by SCAQMD Method 303 (Determination of Exempt 

Compounds) contained in the SCAQMD "Laboratory Methods of 

Analysis for Enforcement Samples" manual; or, 

(B) SCAQMD Method 304 [Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds 

(VOC) in Various Materials] contained in the SCAQMD "Laboratory 

Methods of Analysis for Enforcement Samples" manual. 

(C) Exempt Perfluorocarbon Compounds 

The following classes of compounds: 

cyclic, branched, or linear, completely fluorinated alkanes; 

cyclic, branched, or linear, completely fluorinated ethers with no 

unsaturations; 

cyclic, branched, or linear, completely fluorinated tertiary amines with no 

unsaturations; and 

sulfur-containing perfluorocarbons with no unsaturations and with sulfur 

bonds only to carbon and fluorine, 

will be analyzed as exempt compounds for compliance with subdivision 

(c), only when manufacturers specify which individual compounds are 

used in the coating formulation. In addition, the manufacturers must 

identify the U.S. EPA, California Air Resources Board, and the SCAQMD 

approved test methods used to quantify the amount of each exempt 

compound. 

(2) Determination of Efficiency of Emission Control System 

(A) The efficiency of the collection device of the emission control 

system as specified in paragraph (c)(2) shall be determined by the 

procedures presented in the U.S. EPA technical guidance 

document, "Guidelines for Determining Capture Efficiency, 

January 9, 1995." Notwithstanding the test methods specified by 

the Guidelines, any other method may be substituted if approved 

by the Executive Officer, U.S. EPA, and CARB. 

1125 - 8 
Rule 1125 (Cont.) (Amended March 7, 2008) 

(B) The efficiency of the control device of the emission control system 

as specified in paragraph (c)(2) and the VOC content in the control 

device exhaust gases, measured and calculated as carbon, shall be 

determined by U.S. EPA Test Methods 25, 25A, or SCAQMD Test 

Method 25.1 (Determination of Total Gaseous Non-Methane 

Organic Emissions as Carbon) or SCAQMD Method 25.3 

(Determination of Low Concentration Non-Methane Non-Ethane 

Organic Compound Emissions from Clean Fueled Combustion 

Sources) as applicable. U.S. EPA Test Method 18, or CARB 

Method 422 shall be used to determine emissions of exempt 

compounds. 

(3) The transfer efficiency of alternative coating application methods shall be 

determined in accordance with the SCAQMD method "Spray Equipment 

Transfer Efficiency Test Procedure for Equipment User, May 24, 1989". 

(4) Multiple Test Methods 

When more than one test method or set of test methods are specified for 

any testing, a violation of any requirement of this rule established by any 

one of the specified test methods or set of test methods shall constitute a 

violation of this rule. 

(5) All test methods referenced in this section shall be the most recently 

approved version. 

(f) Rule 442 Applicability 

Any metal container, closure, or coil coating operation or facility which is exempt 

from all or a portion of this rule shall comply with the provisions of Rule 442. 

(g) Exemptions 

(1) The provisions of this rule shall not apply to the spray coating of one 

gallon per day or less of coatings at a single facility. 

(2) The provisions of this rule shall not apply to aerosol coating products. 

1125 - 9