1145-1 

(Adopted July 8, 1983)(Amended December 5, 1986)(Amended February 6, 1987) 

(Amended April 3, 1987)(Amended August 7, 1987)(Amended December 2, 1988) 

(Amended February 3, 1989)(Amended April 7, 1989)(Amended March 2, 1990) 

(Amended November 2, 1990)(Amended December 7, 1990)(Amended August 2, 1991) 

(Amended January 10, 1992) (Amended March 8, 1996)(Amended February 14, 1997)

(Amended December 3, 2004)(Amended December 4, 2009) 

RULE 1145. PLASTIC, RUBBER, LEATHER, AND GLASS COATINGS 

(a) Purpose and Applicability 

The purpose of Rule 1145 is to reduce volatile organic compounds (VOC) 

emissions from the application of coatings to any plastic, rubber, leather, or glass 

products. 

(b) Definitions 

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

(1) AEROSOL COATING PRODUCT is a pressurized coating product 

containing pigments or resins that dispenses product ingredients by means 

of a propellant, and is packaged in a disposable can for hand-held 

application, or for use in specialized equipment for ground traffic/marking 

applications. 

(2) AIR BRUSH OPERATIONS are conducted with a type of coating 

application equipment that operates at air pressures between 25 psi and 

116 psi and an air volume of 0.7 cfm and 1.75 cfm respectively. These 

operations apply a very thin film of coating to a substrate from a paint 

reservoir of eight ounces or less. 

(3) CLEAR COATING is a colorless coating which contains binders, but no 

pigment, and is formulated to form a transparent film. 

(4) COATING means a layer of material applied on a substrate that forms a 

decorative and/or protective film. 

(5) COATING APPLICATION EQUIPMENT is any equipment used to apply 

coating to a substrate. Coating application equipment includes coating 

distribution lines, coating hoses, pressure-pots, spray guns, and handapplication equipment. 
1145-2 

(6) DIP COATER is a type of application equipment that coats an object by 

submerging the object in a vat of coating, and subsequently withdrawing 

the object and draining off the excess coating. 

(7) ELECTRIC DISSIPATING COATING is a coating that rapidly dissipates 

a high-voltage electric charge. 

(8) ELECTROSTATIC APPLICATION is a method of applying coating 

whereby atomized paint droplets are charged and subsequently deposited 

on the substrate by electrostatic attraction. 

(9) EXTREME PERFORMANCE COATING is a coating applied to plastic, 

rubber, leather, or glass where the coated surface is, in its intended use, 

subject to the following: (A) Chronic exposure to corrosive, caustic or 

acidic agents, chemicals, chemical fumes, chemical mixtures or solutions; 

or, (B) Repeated exposure to temperatures in excess of 250o

F; or, (C) 

Repeated heavy abrasion including mechanical wear and repeated 

scrubbings with industrial grade solvents, cleaners or scouring agents. 

(10) EMI/RFI SHIELDING is a coating used on electrical or electronic 

equipment to provide shielding against electromagnetic interference, radio 

frequency interference, or static discharge. 

(11) EXEMPT COMPOUNDS (See Rule 102-Definition of Terms). 

(12) FLOW COATER is a type of coating application equipment that coats an 

object by flowing a stream of coating over the object and draining off any 

excess coating. 

(13) 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 =

Ws Ww Wes

Vm Vw Ves

− −

− −

Where: 

Ws = weight of volatile compounds in grams 

Ww = weight of water in grams 
Rule 1145 (cont.) (Amended December 4, 2009) 

1145-3 

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 

(14) 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 = W s W w W es

V m

− −

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 

(15) HAND-APPLICATION METHODS are the methods used to apply 

coating to substrate by manually held, non-mechanically operated 

equipment. Such equipment includes paint brushes, hand rollers, caulking 

guns, trowels, spatulas, syringe daubers, rags, and sponges. 

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

application system which is operated at air pressures between 0.1 and 10 

pounds per square inch gauge (psig) measured dynamically at the center of 

the air cap and at the air horns. 

(17) HIGHWAY CONES are cones used to regulate traffic. 

(18) INK is a fluid that contains dyes and/or colorants, and is used to make 

markings but not to protect surfaces. 

(19) LEATHER ANTIQUE COATING is a coating applied to a leather 

substrate over a leather sealer coating and before a leather top coating to 

create an antique leather appearance. 

(20) LEATHER COLOR COATING is a coating applied to a leather substrate 

over a leather sealer coating and before a leather top coating to provide 

color to the leather substrate. 
Rule 1145 (cont.) (Amended December 4, 2009) 

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(21) LEATHER SEALER COATING is a coating applied directly to a leather 

substrate to seal the porous leather substrate. 

(22) LEATHER STAIN COATING is an opaque or semi-transparent coating 

which is formulated to change the color but not to conceal the grain 

pattern or texture of the leather substrate. Leather stain coatings may be 

applied as a single coating to the leather substrate or followed by a leather 

top coating. 

(23) LEATHER TOP COATING is a two-component clear coating that is 

applied to a leather substrate following the application of a leather sealer, 

leather stain or antique or color coatings. 

(24) MASK COATING is thin film coating applied through a template to coat 

a small portion of a substrate. 

(25) METALLIC COATING is a coating which contains more than 5 grams of 

metal particles per liter of coating as applied. 

(26) METAL PARTICLES are pieces of a pure elemental metal or a 

combination of elemental metals. 

(27) MILITARY SPECIFICATION COATING is a coating which has a 

formulation approved by the United States Military Agency for use on 

military equipment. 

(28) MIRROR BACKING is the coating applied over the silvered surface of a 

mirror. 

(29) MOLD SEAL COATING is the initial coating applied to a new mold or a 

repaired mold to provide a smooth surface which, when coated with a 

mold release coating, prevents products from sticking to the mold. 

(30) MOTOR VEHICLE is a passenger car, light-duty truck, medium-duty 

vehicle, or heavy-duty vehicle as defined in Section 1900, Title 13, 

California Administrative Code. 

(31) MULTI-COLOR COATING is a coating which exhibits more than one 

color when applied, and which is packaged in a single container and 

applied in a single coat. 
Rule 1145 (cont.) (Amended December 4, 2009) 

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(32) ONE-COMPONENT COATING is a coating that is ready for application 

as it comes out of its container to form an acceptable dry film. A thinner 

necessary to reduce the viscosity is not considered a component. 

(33) OPTICAL COATING is a coating applied to an optical lens. 

(34) REFRIGERATED GLASS DOOR COATING is a two-component 

coating or ink used for the manufacturing of refrigerated glass doors that 

forms a decorative or protective film and provides a substrate for bonding 

materials such as seals, spacers, and sealants.

(3435) REPAIR COATING is a coating used to re-coat portions of a previously 

coated product which has sustained mechanical damage to the coating 

following normal coating operations. 

(3536) ROLL COATER is a type of coating application equipment that utilizes a 

series of mechanical rollers to form a thin coating film on the surface of a 

roller, which is then applied to a substrate by moving the substrate 

underneath the roller. 

(3637) SHOCK-FREE COATING is a coating applied to electrical components to 

protect the user from electric shock. The coating has characteristics of 

being of low capacitance and high resistance, and having resistance to 

breaking down under high voltage. 

(3738) STENCIL COATING is an ink or a pigmented coating which is rolled or 

brushed onto a template or stamp in order to add identifying letters, 

symbols and/or numbers. 

(3839) TOUCH-UP COATING is a coating used to cover minor imperfections 

appearing after the main coating operation. 

(3940) TRANSFER EFFICIENCY is the ratio of the weight or volume of coating 

solids adhering to an object to the total weight or volume, respectively, of 

coating solids used in the application process, expressed as a percentage. 

(4041) TRANSLUCENT COATING is a coating which contains binders and 

pigment, and is formulated to form a colored, but not opaque, film. 

(4142) TWO-COMPONENT COATING is a coating requiring the addition of a 

separate reactive resin, commonly known as a catalyst, before application 

to form an acceptable dry film. 
Rule 1145 (cont.) (Amended December 4, 2009) 

1145-6 

(4243) VACUUM METALIZING/PHYSICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION (PVD) is 

the process whereby metal is vaporized and deposited on a substrate in a 

vacuum chamber. 

(4344) VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUND (VOC) is as defined in Rule 102. 

(c) Requirements 

(1) A No person shall not apply on plastics, rubberplastics, leather, or 

gglass, leather, or rubber any coatings which are applied with a VOC content in 

excess of the limits specifiedlisted belowin the Table of Standards:.

TABLE OF STANDARDS

VOC LIMITS

LESS WATER AND LESS EXEMPT COMPOUNDS

COATING CATEGORIES g/L lbs/gal

 Electrical dissipating and shock free coatings 360 3.0

 Extreme performance two-component coatings 420 3.5

 General one-component coatings 120 1.0

 General two-component coatings 120 1.0

 Leather antique coatings 156 1.3

 Leather color coatings 60 0.5

 Leather sealer coatings 60 0.5

 Leather stain coatings 216 1.8

 Leather top coatings 120 1.0

 Metallic coatings 420 3.5

 Military specification one-component coatings 340 2.8

 Military specification two-component coatings 420 3.5

 Mirror backing curtain coated coatings 500 4.2

 Mirror backing rolled coated coatings 312 2.6

 Mold seal coatings 750 6.3

 Multi-color coatings 680 5.7

 Refrigerated glass door coatings 480 4.0

 Optical coatings 500 0.4

 Vacuum metalizing coatings 800 6.7
Rule 1145 (cont.) (Amended December 4, 2009) 

1145-7 

VOC Limits

Less Water and Less Exempt Compounds

Current Jan 1, 2005 Jan 1, 2006 Jan 1, 2007 Jan 1, 2008

COATING CATEGORIES g/L lbs/gal g/L lbs/gal g/L lbs/gal g/L lbs/gal g/L lbs/gal

Electrical dissipating and 

shock free coatings

360 3.0

Extreme performance twocomponent coatingsNot 

Applicable

Not 

Applicable

420 3.5

General one-component 

coatings

275 2.3 120 1.0

General two-component 

coatings

420 3.5 300 2.5 120 1.0

Leather antique coatings 156 1.3 156 1.3

Leather color coatings 60 0.5 60 0.5

Leather sealer coatings 60 0.5 60 0.5

Leather stain coatings 216 1.8 216 1.8

Leather top coatings 120 1.0 120 1.0

Metallic coatings 420 3.5

Military specification onecomponent coatings

340 2.8

Military specification twocomponent coatings

420 3.5

Mirror backing curtain 

coated coatings

500 4.2

Mirror backing rolled 

coated coatings

430 3.6 312 2.6

Mold seal coatings 750 6.3

Multi-colored coatings 685 5.7

Refrigerated commercial 

glass door coatings

480 4.0

Optical coatings 800 6.7 50 0.4

Vacuum metalizing 

coatings

800 6.7

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

Materials. Solvent cleaning operations and the storage and disposal of 

VOC-containing materials are subject to the provisions of Rule 1171 - 

Solvent Cleaning Operations. 

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (c)(1), a person shall not 

apply on plastics, rubber, leather, or glass any automotive coating used to 

match the existing coating of motor vehicles, including any VOCcontaining materials added to the original coating as supplied by the 

manufacturer, in excess of the limits specified in Table 1 of subparagraph 

(c)(1)(A) of Rule 1151 for parts to be used on Group I Vehicles, as 

defined in Rule 1151, and in Table 2 of subparagraph (c)(1)(B) of Rule 

1151 for parts to be used on Group II Vehicles, as defined in Rule 1151.

The provisions of this paragraph shall apply provided that the applicator 

submits a petition, in writing, to the Executive Officer which demonstrates 
Rule 1145 (cont.) (Amended December 4, 2009) 

1145-8 

the need to apply such coatings and receives written approval from the 

Executive Officer prior to the application of such coatings.

(43) Transfer Efficiency 

A person shall not apply coatings unless the coating is applied with 

equipment operated according to the manufacturer's specifications, and by 

the use of one of the following methods: 

(A) Electrostatic application; or 

(B) Flow coater; or 

(C) Roll coater; or 

(D) Dip coater; or 

(E) Hand application methods; or 

(F) High-volume, low-pressure (HVLP) spray; or 

(G) Such other coating application methods as are demonstrated to the 

Executive Officer to be capable of achieving at least equivalent or 

better transfer efficiency to the method listed in subparagraph 

(c)(43)(F), using District approved procedures and for which 

written approval of the Executive Officer has been obtained. 

(54) Air Pollution Control Equipment 

A person may comply with the provisions of paragraph (c)(1), (c)(2), or 

(c)(43) by using air pollution control equipment, provided that the VOC 

emissions from such operations or materials are reduced in accordance 

with provisions of (A) and (B) below: 

(A) The control device shall reduce VOC emissions from an emission 

collection system by at least 95 percent, by weight, or the 

concentration of VOC in the output of the air pollution control 

device shall be less than 50 PPM calculated as carbon with no 

dilution. 

(B) The owner/operator demonstrates that the system collects at least 

90 percent, by weight, of the VOC emissions generated by the 

sources of emissions. 

(65) Qualification for Classification as Extreme Performance Coating 

A coating may be classified as an extreme performance coating provided 

that the applicator requests and receives written approval of such 

classification from the Executive Officer prior to application of such 

coating and provided the applicator demonstrates that the intended use of 
Rule 1145 (cont.) (Amended December 4, 2009) 

1145-9 

each coated object would require coatings with an extreme performance 

coating. 

(d) Recordkeeping Requirements 

Records shall be maintained pursuant to Rule 109. 

(e) Compliance Test Methods 

The following test methods and procedures shall be used to determine compliance 

with this rule. Alternative test methods may be used if they are determined to be 

equivalent and approved in writing by the Executive Officer, the California Air 

Resources Board (CARB) and the United States Environmental Protection 

Agency (USEPA). 

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

be determined by: 

(A) The USEPA Reference Method 24 (Determination of Volatile 

Matter Content, Water Content, Density, Volume Solids, and 

Weight Solids of Surface Coatings, Code of Federal Regulations 

Title 40, Part 60, Appendix A). The exempt compounds’ content 

shall be determined by SCAQMD Laboratory Methods 302 

(Distillation of Solvents from Paints, Coatings and Inks) and 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’s) 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 

paragraph subdivision (c), only at such time as manufacturers 
Rule 1145 (cont.) (Amended December 4, 2009) 

1145-10 

specify which individual compounds are used in the coating 

formulations and identify the USEPA, CARB, 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 capture efficiency of an emission control system shall be 

determined by verifying the use of a Permanent Total Enclosure 

(PTE) and 100 percent capture efficiency as defined by USEPA 

Method 204 “Criteria for and Verification of a Permanent or 

Temporary Total Enclosure.” Alternatively, if a USEPA Method 

204 defined PTE is not employed, capture efficiency shall be 

determined using a minimum of three sampling runs subject to data 

quality criteria presented in the USEPA technical guidance 

document “Guidelines for Determination Capture Efficiency, 

January 9, 1995.” Individual capture efficiency test runs subject to 

the USEPA technical guidelines shall be determined by: 

(i) the Temporary Total Enclosure (TTE) approach of USEPA 

Methods 204 through 204F; or 

(ii) the SCAQMD “Protocol for Determination of Volatile 

Organic Compounds (VOC) Capture Efficiency.” 

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

as specified in paragraph (c)(54) and the VOC content in the 

control device exhaust gases, measured and calculated as carbon, 

shall be determined by the USEPA Test Method 25, 25A, or 

SCAQMD Method 25.1 (Determination of Total Gaseous NonMethane Organic Emissions as Carbon) as applicable. USEPA 

Test Method 18, or CARB Method 422 shall be used to determine 

emissions of exempt compounds. 

(C) The overall efficiency of an emission control system shall be 

determined using the following equation: 

Overall Efficiency = (Capture Efficiency) x (Control Equipment 

Efficiency)/100 

(3) Multiple Test Methods 

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

testing, a violation of any requirement of this rule established by any one 
Rule 1145 (cont.) (Amended December 4, 2009) 

1145-11 

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

violation of the rule. 

(4) Demonstration of transfer efficiency shall be conducted in accordance 

with SCAQMD method "Spray Equipment Transfer Efficiency Test 

Procedure for Equipment User, May 24, 1989." 

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

approved version. 

(f) Alternative Emission Control 

A person may achieve compliance with paragraph (c)(1) or (c)(3) by means of an 

Alternative Emission Control Plan pursuant to Rule 108.

(g) Prohibition of Specification and Sales 

(1) A person shall not specify the use, in the SCAQMD, of any coating to be 

applied to any plastic, rubber, leather, or glass, subject to the provisions of 

this rule that does not meet the limits and requirements of this rule. The 

requirements of this paragraph shall apply to all written and oral contracts. 

(2) Except as provided in subdivision (i), a person shall not apply, sell, or 

offer for sale, manufacture, formulate, or repackage any plastic, rubber, 

leather or glass coating materials for the use in the SCAQMD that at the 

time of sale exceeds the applicable VOC content specified in paragraphs

(c)(1) and (c)(3). 

The prohibition of specifications and sales shall not apply to plastic, rubber, 

leather, or glass coating materials shipped, supplied or sold to a person for use 

outside the SCAQMD or to coatings used exclusively in air pollution control 

equipment that complies with the requirements of paragraph (c)( 54). 

(h) Rule 442 Applicability 

Any coating, coating operation, or facility which is exempt from all or a portion 

of this rule shall comply with the provisions of Rule 442. 

(i) Exemptions 

(1) The provisions of paragraph (c)(1) shall not apply to the following: 

(A) Touch-up and repair coatings; 

(B) Stencil coatings applied on clear or transparent substrates; 

(C) Clear or translucent coatings;, except for those subject to 

paragraph (c)(3);
Rule 1145 (cont.) (Amended December 4, 2009) 

1145-12 

(D) Coatings applied at a paint manufacturing facility while 

conducting performance tests on the coatings; 

(E) Any individual coating category used in volumes less than 50 

gallons in any one year, if substitute compliant coatings are not 

available, provided that the total usage of all such coatings does 

not exceed 200 gallons per year, per facility, and for which written 

approval of the Executive Officer has been obtained; 

(F) Reflective coating applied to highway cones; 

(G) Mask coatings 

(i) Coatings that are less than 0.5 millimeter thick (dried) and 

the area coated is less than 25 square inches; or 

(ii) Coatings that are less than 0.5 millimeter thick (dried) 

and/or the area coated is more than 25 square inches, 

provided that a written petition that demonstrates compliant 

coatings are not available is submitted to and written 

approval is granted by the Executive Officer. 

(H) EMI/RFI shielding coatings; and 

(I) Heparin-benzalkonium chloride (HBAC)-containing coatings 

applied to medical devices, provided that the total usage of all such 

coatings does not exceed 100 gallons per year, per facility. 

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

(3) The provisions of paragraph (c)(43) shall not apply to airbrush operations 

using 5 gallons or less per year. 

(4) The VOC limit for the general one-component coating category in 

paragraph (c)(1) shall not apply to polyurethane shoe sole coating 

operations provided that: 

(A) the VOC limit of all coatings used for polyurethane shoe sole 

coating operations does not exceed 800 grams per litter or 6.7 

pounds per gallon; 

(B) the operation does not use more than 160 gallons per month 

averaged over a consecutive 12 month period;,

(C) the operation does not use more than 200 gallons per month during 

any one month; and, 

(D) records are maintained for at least three years demonstrating 

compliance with subparagraphs (i)(4)(A), (i)(4)(B) and (i)(4)(C) 

and made available to the Executive Officer upon request.