1171 - 1

(Adopted August 2, 1991)(Amended May 12, 1995)(Amended September 13, 1996)

(Amended June 13, 1997)(Amended October 8, 1999)(Amended August 2, 2002)

(Amended November 7, 2003)(Amended May 6, 2005)(Amended July 14, 2006) 

(Amended February 1, 2008)

RULE 1171. SOLVENT CLEANING OPERATIONS 

(a) Purpose and Applicability 

 The purpose of this rule is to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds 

(VOCs), toxic air contaminants, and stratospheric ozone-depleting or globalwarming compounds from the use, storage and disposal of solvent cleaning 

materials in solvent cleaning operations and activities. A solvent cleaning 

operation is solvent cleaning conducted as part of a business. This rule applies to: 

all persons who use these solvent materials in solvent cleaning operations during 

the production, repair, maintenance, or servicing of parts, products, tools, 

machinery, equipment, or general work areas; all persons who store and dispose of 

these materials used in solvent cleaning operations; and all solvent suppliers who 

supply, sell, or offer for sale solvent cleaning materials for use in solvent cleaning 

operations. 

(b) Definitions 

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

 (1) AEROSOL PRODUCT is a hand-held, non-refillable container which 

expels pressurized product by means of a propellant-induced force. 

 (2) APPLICATION EQUIPMENT is a device used to apply adhesive, coating, 

ink, or polyester resin materials. 

 (3) APPLICATION LINE is that portion of a motor vehicle assembly 

production line which applies surface and other coatings to motor vehicle 

bodies, hoods, fenders, cargo boxes, doors, and grill opening panels. 

 (4) ARCHITECTURAL COATING is any coating applied to stationary 

structures and their appurtenances, to mobile homes, to pavements, or to 

curbs. 

 (5) BLANKET is a synthetic rubber mat used in offset-lithography to transfer 

or “offset” an image from a planographic printing plate to the paper or 

other substrate. 

 (6) BLANKET WASH is a solvent used to remove ink from the blanket of a 

press. 
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1171 - 2

 (7) CLEAN AIR SOLVENT is as defined in Rule 102. 

 (8) CLEAN AIR SOLVENT CERTIFICATE is a certificate issued by the 

District to a manufacturer, distributor, or person for a specific product or 

class of products that meets the criteria for a Clean Air Solvent. 

 (9) CURED COATING, CURED INK, OR CURED ADHESIVE is a coating, 

ink, or adhesive, which is dry to the touch. 

 (10) ELECTRICAL APPARATUS COMPONENTS is an internal component 

such as wires, windings, stators, rotors, magnets, contacts, relays, 

energizers, and connections in an apparatus that generates or transmits 

electrical energy including, but not limited to: alternators, generators, 

transformers, electric motors, cables, and circuit breakers, except for the 

actual cabinet in which the components are housed. Electrical components 

of graphic arts application equipment and hot-line tools are also included 

in this category. 

 (11) ELECTRON BEAM INK is an ink that dries by chemical reaction caused 

by high energy electrons. 

 (12) ELECTRONIC COMPONENT is that portion of an assembly, including 

circuit card assemblies, printed wire assemblies, printed circuit boards, 

soldered joints, ground wires, bus bars, and other electrical fixtures, except 

for the actual cabinet in which the components are housed. 

 (13) EXEMPT COMPOUND is as defined in Rule 102. 

 (14) FACILITY means a business or businesses engaged in solvent cleaning 

operations which are owned or operated by the same person or persons and 

are located on the same or contiguous parcels. 

 (15) FLEXOGRAPHIC PRINTING is the method in which the image area is 

raised relative to the non-image area and utilizes flexible rubber or other 

elastomeric plate and rapid drying liquid inks. 

 (16) FULL SERVICE SOLVENT PROVIDER is any person that provides both 

solvents and services to a solvent cleaning operation. Such services may 

include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: filling or 

refilling solvent cleaning equipment with solvent, collection or pick up of 

customer’s solvent-related waste stream, or cleaning equipment sales or 

rental. 

 (17) GENERAL WORK SURFACE is an area of a medical device or 

pharmaceutical facility where solvent cleaning is performed on work 

surfaces including, but not limited to, tables, countertops, and laboratory 
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benches. General work surface shall not include items defined under 

janitorial cleaning. 

 (18) 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 W W s w e s − −

V m

 Where: Ws = Weight of volatile compounds in gram s 

 Ww = Weight of water in grams 

 Wes = Weight of exempt compounds in grams 

 Vm = Volume of material in liters 

 (19) GRAPHIC ARTS are all gravure, letterpress, flexographic, and 

lithographic printing processes. 

 (20) GRAVURE PRINTING is an intaglio process in which the ink is carried 

in minute etched or engraved wells on a roll or cylinder. The excess ink is 

removed from the surface by a doctor blade. 

 (21) HIGH PRECISION OPTIC is an optical element used in an electro-optical 

device and is designed to sense, detect, or transmit light energy, including 

specific wavelengths of light energy and changes in light energy levels. 

 (22) HOT-LINE TOOL is a specialized tool used primarily on the transmission 

systems, sub-transmission systems and distribution systems for replacing 

and repairing circuit components or for other types of work with 

electrically energized circuits. 

 (23) INKJET PRINTING is a printing process in which images are formed by 

the precise placement of small (picoliter-sized) droplets of ink fired at high 

speeds from the nozzle(s) of computer-controlled printheads. 

 (24) JANITORIAL CLEANING is the cleaning of building or facility 

components including, but not limited to, floors, ceilings, walls, windows, 

doors, stairs, bathrooms, furnishings, and exterior surfaces of office 

equipment, and excludes the cleaning of work areas where manufacturing 

or repair activity is performed. 
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 (25) LETTERPRESS PRINTING is the method in which the image area is 

raised relative to the non-image area and the ink is transferred to the paper 

directly from the image surface. 

 (26) LIQUID LEAK is the visible liquid solvent leak from the container at a 

rate of more than three (3) drops per minute, or a visible liquid mist.

 (27) LIQUID-TIGHT FOOD CONTAINER is a paperboard container that can 

hold liquid food and food products without leaking even when it is held 

upside-down. 

 (28) LITHOGRAPHIC PRINTING is a plane-o-graphic method in which the 

image and non-image areas are on the same plane. 

 (29) MAINTENANCE CLEANING is a solvent cleaning operation or activity 

carried out to keep clean general work areas where manufacturing or repair 

activity is performed, to clean tools, machinery, molds, forms, jigs, and 

equipment. This definition does not include the cleaning of coatings, 

adhesives, or ink application equipment. 

 (30) MANUFACTURING PROCESS is the process of making goods or 

articles by hand or by machinery. 

 (31) MEDICAL DEVICE is an instrument, apparatus, implement, machine, 

contrivance, implant, in vitro reagent or other similar article, including any 

component or accessory, that meets one of the following conditions: 

 (A) it is intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions, 

or in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease; or 

 (B) it is intended to affect the structure or any function of the body; or 

 (C) it is defined in the National Formulary or the United States 

Pharmacopeia, or any supplement to them. 

 (32) NEWSPRINT is uncoated paper used mainly for printing newspapers, 

flyers, and other printed materials intended for mass distribution. 

(33) NON-ABSORBENT CONTAINER is a container made of nonporous 

material, which does not allow the migration of the liquid solvent through 

it. 

 (34) NON-ATOMIZED SOLVENT FLOW is the use of a solvent in the form 

of a liquid stream without atomization to remove uncured adhesives, 

uncured inks, uncured coatings, and contaminants from an article. 

 (35) NON-LEAKING CONTAINER is a container without liquid leak. 

 (36) ON-PRESS COMPONENT is a part, component, or accessory of a press 

that is cleaned while still being physically attached to the press. 
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 (37) ON-PRESS SCREEN CLEANING is a solvent cleaning activity carried 

out during press runs in screen printing operation to remove excess inks 

and contaminants from a screen that is still attached to the press. 

 (38) PACKAGING PRINTING is any lithographic, flexographic, gravure, or 

letterpress printing that results in identifying or beautifying paper, 

paperboard, or cardboard products to be used as containers, enclosures, 

wrappings, or boxes. 

 (39) PERSON is any firm, business establishment, association, partnership, 

corporation or individual, whether acting as principal, agent, employee, or 

other capacity including any governmental entity or charitable 

organization. 

 (40) PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCT is a preparation or compound of 

medicinal drugs including, but not limited to, a prescription drug, 

analgesic, decongestant, antihistamine, cough suppressant, vitamin, 

mineral and herb, and is used by humans for consumption to enhance 

personal health. 

 (41) PHOTOCURABLE RESIN is a chemical material that solidifies upon 

exposure to light. 

 (42) PRINTING, in the graphic arts, is any operation that imparts color, design, 

alphabet, or numerals on a substrate. 

 (43) RADIATION-EFFECT COATING is a material that prevents radar 

detection. 

 (44) REMOTE RESERVOIR CLEANER is a cleaning device in which liquid 

solvent is pumped from a solvent container to a sink-like work area and 

the solvent from the sink-like area drains into an enclosed solvent 

container while parts are being cleaned. 

 (45) REMOVABLE PRESS COMPONENT is a part, component, or accessory 

of a press that is physically attached to the press but is disassembled and 

removed from the press prior to being cleaned. Rollers, blankets, metering 

rollers, dampening rollers, ink trays, printing plates, fountains, impression 

cylinders and plates shall not be considered as removable press 

components. 

 (46) REPAIR CLEANING is a solvent cleaning operation or activity carried 

out during a repair process. 

 (47) REPAIR PROCESS is the process of returning a damaged object or an 

object not operating properly to good condition. 
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 (48) ROLLER WASH is a solvent used to remove ink from the rollers of a 

press. 

 (49) SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENT is an instrument (including the components, 

assemblies, and subassemblies used in their manufacture) and associated 

accessories and reagents that is used for the detection, measurement, 

analysis, separation, synthesis, or sequencing of various compounds. 

 (50) SCREEN PRINTING is a process in which the printing ink passes through 

a web or a fabric to which a refined form of stencil has been applied. The 

stencil openings determine the form and dimensions of the imprint. 

 (51) SCREEN RECLAMATION is a solvent cleaning activity carried out in 

screen printing operation where the screen is completely cleaned for 

recycling or reuse of the screen for other production runs. 

 (52) SOLVENT is a VOC-containing liquid used to perform solvent cleaning. 

 (53) SOLVENT CLEANING is the removal of loosely held uncured adhesives, 

uncured inks, uncured coatings, and contaminants which include, but are 

not limited to, dirt, soil, and grease from parts, products, tools, machinery, 

equipment, and general work areas. Each distinct method of cleaning in a 

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

constitute a separate solvent cleaning operation. 

 (54) SOLVENT FLUSHING is the use of a solvent to remove uncured 

adhesives, uncured inks, uncured coatings, or contaminants from the 

internal surfaces and passages of the equipment by flushing solvent 

through the equipment. 

 (55) SOLVENT SUPPLIER is any person who sells and delivers or arranges to 

deliver solvent cleaning materials to a solvent cleaning operation subject 

to this regulation. 

 (55) STEREOLITHOGRAPHY is a type of printing process that employs a 

system using a light to solidify photocurable resins in a desired 

configuration in order to produce a 3-dimensional object. 

 (57) SPECIALTY FLEXOGRAPHIC PRINTING is flexographic printing on 

polyethylene or polypropylene food packaging, fertilizer bags, or liquidtight food containers. 

 (58) STERILIZATION INDICATING INK is an ink that changes color to 

indicate that sterilization has occurred. Such ink is used to monitor the 

sterilization of medical instruments, autoclave efficiency, and the thermal 

processing of foods for prevention of spoilage. 
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 (59) STRIPPING is the removal of cured coatings, cured inks, or cured 

adhesives. 

 (60) SURFACE PREPARATION is the removal of contaminants such as dust, 

soil, oil, grease, etc., prior to coating, adhesive, or ink applications. 

 (61) ULTRAVIOLET INK is an ink that dries by polymerization reaction 

induced by ultraviolet energy. 

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

 (63) WIPE CLEANING is the method of cleaning a surface by physically 

rubbing it with a material such as a rag, paper, sponge or a cotton swab 

moistened with a solvent. 

(c) Requirements 

 (1) Solvent Requirements 

 A person shall not use a solvent to perform solvent cleaning operations 

unless the solvent complies with the applicable requirements set forth 

below: 

 

CURRENT 

LIMITS* 

EFFECTIVE 

1/1/2008* 

EFFECTIVE

1/1/2009 

SOLVENT CLEANING ACTIVITY 

VOC 

g/l 

(lb/gal) 

VOC 

g/l 

(lb/gal) 

VOC 

g/l 

(lb/gal) 

(A) Product Cleaning During Manufacturing 

Process Or Surface Preparation For 

Coating, Adhesive, Or Ink Application 

 

(i) General 25 

(0.21) 

 

(ii) Electrical Apparatus Components & 

Electronic Components 

 100 

(0.83) 

 

(iii) Medical Devices & Pharmaceuticals 800 

(6.7) 

 

(B) Repair and Maintenance Cleaning 

 

(i) General 25 

(0.21) 

 

(ii) Electrical Apparatus Components & 

Electronic Components 

100 

(0.83) 

 

(iii) Medical Devices & Pharmaceuticals 

(A) Tools, Equipment, & Machinery 800 

(6.7) 

 

(B) General Work Surfaces 600 

(5.0) 

 
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1171 - 8

CURRENT 

LIMITS* 

EFFECTIVE 

1/1/2008* 

EFFECTIVE

1/1/2009 

SOLVENT CLEANING ACTIVITY 

(cont.) 

VOC 

g/l 

(lb/gal) 

VOC 

g/l 

(lb/gal) 

VOC 

g/l 

(lb/gal) 

(C) Cleaning of Coatings or Adhesives 

Application Equipment 

25 

(0.21) 

 

(D) Cleaning of Ink Application Equipment 

(i) General 25 

(0.21) 

 

(ii) Flexographic Printing 25 

(0.21) 

 

(iii) Gravure Printing 

(A) Publication 100 

(0.83) 

 

(B) Packaging 25 

(0.21) 

 

(iv) Lithographic (Offset) or Letter Press 

Printing 

 

 (A) Roller Wash, Blanket Wash, 

 & On-Press Components 

 

 (I) Newsprint 100 

(0.83) 

 

 (II) Other Substrates 500 

(4.2) 

100 

(0.83) 

(B) Removable Press Components 25 

(0.21) 

 

(v) Screen Printing 500 

(4.2) 

100 

(0.83) 

(vi) Ultraviolet Ink/ Electron Beam Ink 

Application Equipment (except screen 

printing) 

650 

(5.4) 

650 

(5.4) 

100 

(0.83) 

(vii) Specialty Flexographic Printing 100 

(0.83) 

 

(E) Cleaning of Polyester Resin Application 

Equipment 

25 

(0.21) 

 

* The specified limits remain in effect unless revised limits are listed in subsequent columns. 

 (2) Cleaning Devices and Methods Requirements 

 A person shall not perform solvent cleaning unless one of the following 

cleaning devices or methods is used: 

 (A) Wipe cleaning; 

 (B) Closed containers or hand held spray bottles from which solvents 

are applied without a propellant-induced force; 

 (C) Cleaning equipment which has a solvent container that can be, and 

is closed during cleaning operations, except when depositing and 
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1171 - 9

removing objects to be cleaned, and is closed during non-operation 

with the exception of maintenance and repair to the cleaning 

equipment itself; 

 (D) Cleaning device which is listed in the Office of Operations' manual 

"Alternative Devices for Rule 1171 Compliance" dated July 1, 

1991. The Executive Officer shall periodically update the manual 

to identify any additional cleaning devices determined by the 

Executive Officer to result in equivalent or lower emissions; 

 (E) Remote reservoir cleaner used pursuant to the provisions of 

paragraph (c)(3); 

 (F) Non-atomized solvent flow method where the cleaning solvent is 

collected in a container or a collection system which is closed 

except for solvent collection openings and, if necessary, openings 

to avoid excessive pressure build-up inside the container; or 

 (G) Solvent flushing method where the cleaning solvent is discharged 

into a container which is closed except for solvent collection 

openings and, if necessary, openings to avoid excessive pressure 

build-up inside the container. The discharged solvent from the 

equipment must be collected into containers without atomizing into 

the open air. The solvent may be flushed through the system by air 

or hydraulic pressure, or by pumping. 

 (3) Remote Reservoir Cleaners 

 Any person owning or operating a remote reservoir cleaner shall comply 

with all of the following requirements in addition to the applicable VOC 

limits specified in paragraph (c)(1): 

 (A) Prevent solvent vapors from escaping from the solvent container by 

using such devices as a cover or a valve when the remote reservoir 

is not being used, cleaned, or repaired; 

 (B) Direct solvent flow in a manner that will prevent liquid solvent 

from splashing outside of the remote reservoir cleaner; 

 (C) Do not clean porous or absorbent materials, such as cloth, leather, 

wood, or rope; and 

 (D) Use only solvent containers free of all liquid leaks. Auxiliary 

equipment, such as pumps, pipelines, or flanges, shall not have any 

liquid leaks, visible tears, or cracks. Any liquid leak, visible tear, 

or crack detected shall be repaired within one (1) calendar day, or 
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1171 - 10

the leaking section of the remote reservoir cold cleaner shall be 

drained of all solvent and shut down until it is replaced or repaired. 

 (4) Storage and Disposal 

 All VOC-containing solvents used in solvent cleaning operations shall be 

stored in non-absorbent, non-leaking containers which shall be kept closed 

at all times except when filling or emptying. It is recommended that cloth 

and paper moistened with VOC-containing solvents be stored in closed, 

non-absorbent, non-leaking containers. 

 (5) Control Equipment 

 In lieu of complying with the requirements in paragraphs (c)(1) or (c)(2), a 

person may comply by using a VOC emission collection and control 

system in association with the solvent cleaning operation provided: 

 (A) the emission control system shall collect at least 90 percent, by 

weight, of the emissions generated by the solvent cleaning 

operation and 

 (i) have a destruction efficiency of at least 95 percent, by 

weight, or 

 (ii) have an output of less than 50 parts per million (PPM) 

calculated as carbon with no dilution; or 

 (B) the emission control system meets the requirements of the 

applicable source specific rule of the District's Regulation XI. The 

collection system for cleaning in graphic arts and screen printing 

and cleaning of application equipment used for graphic arts 

materials and screen printing materials, shall collect at least 70 

percent, by weight, of the emissions generated. This control 

system shall reduce emissions from the emission collection system 

by at least 95 percent. 

 (6) Recordkeeping Requirements 

 Records shall be maintained pursuant to Rule 109 for all applications 

subject to this rule, including those exempted under paragraphs (g)(3) 

through (g)(11), except facilities required to keep records of VOC used 

pursuant to any other Regulation XI rules. 

 (7) Effective September 1, 2008, any solvent supplier supplying solvent 

cleaning material for use by a solvent cleaning operation in the District, 

shall upon request by the Executive Officer, provide in a District-approved 

electronic format, the following information: product name of the supplied 
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1171 - 11

solvent cleaning material; the name and address of the solvent cleaning 

operation that the product was supplied to; dates and quantities in which 

the product was supplied during the time period specified by the Executive 

Officer; and the VOC content of the product as supplied. The solvent 

supplier shall maintain records necessary to provide this required 

information for three (3) years. 

 (8) Effective September 1, 2008, the operator shall maintain at all times, and 

make available to the Executive officer upon request, the correct written 

dilution instructions for each solvent cleaning material if dilution is 

necessary to meet the applicable VOC limits in this rule. A solvent 

supplier providing solvent cleaning material for use by a solvent cleaning 

operation in the District shall supply to the operator, upon the operator’s 

request, the correct written dilution instructions for each supplied solvent 

cleaning material. 

 (9) Any person who sells or offers for sale solvent cleaning materials for use 

in the District shall comply with the provisions of Rule 443.1 – Labeling 

of Materials Containing Organic Solvents. 

(d) General Prohibitions 

 (1) A person shall not atomize any solvent unless it is vented to an air 

pollution control equipment, which meets the requirements of paragraph 

(c)(5). 

 (2) A person shall not specify or require any person to use solvent or 

equipment subject to the provisions of this rule that does not meet the 

requirements of this rule. 

 (3) A person shall not perform solvent cleaning activities or operations subject 

to the provisions of this rule with any material which contains Group II 

exempt compounds listed in Rule 102 except cyclic, branched, or linear, 

completely methylated siloxanes (VMS). 

 (4) Any person subject to the Airborne Toxic Control Measure for Emissions 

of Chlorinated Toxic Air Contaminants from Automotive Maintenance 

and Repair Activities - Title 17, California Code of Regulations, section 

93111, shall comply with its provisions. 

 (5) No full service solvent provider shall aid, abet or assist a solvent cleaning 

operation to use a supplied solvent in a non-compliant manner. 
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1171 - 12

(e) Test Methods 

 For the purpose of this rule, the following test methods shall be used. Other test 

methods determined to be equivalent after review by the staffs of the District, the 

Air Resources Board, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency, 

and approved in writing by the District Executive Officer may also be used. 

 (1) Determination of VOC Content 

 The VOC content of materials subject to the provisions of this rule shall be 

determined by the following methods: 

 (A) United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) 

Reference Method 24 (Code of Federal Regulations, Title 40, 

Part 60, Appendix A). The exempt compounds' content shall be 

determined by the South Coast Air Quality Management District's 

(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 solvent formulation and identify the 

United States Environmental Protection Agency, California Air 

Resources Board, and the District approved test methods used to 

quantify the amount of each exempt compound. 
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1171 - 13

 (2) Determination of Presence of VOC in Cleaning Materials 

 The presence of VOC in the headspace over the cleaning material shall be 

determined by SCAQMD Method 313 [Determination of Presence of 

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) in a Headspace] contained in the 

SCAQMD "Laboratory Methods of Analysis for Enforcement Samples" 

manual. 

 The presence of VOC in liquid cleaning materials shall be determined by 

SCAQMD Method 308 (Quantitation of Compounds by Gas

Chromatography) contained in the SCAQMD "Laboratory Methods of 

Analysis for Enforcement Samples" manual. 

 (3) Determination of Efficiency of Emission Control System 

 (A) The capture efficiency of an emission control system as specified 

in subparagraph (c)(5)(A) shall be determined by verifying the use 

of a Permanent Total Enclosure (PTE) and 100% 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 Determining 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, June 4, 1997; or 

 (ii) The District “Protocol for Determination of Volatile 

Organic Compounds (VOC) Capture Efficiency,” May 

1995. 

 (B) The control equipment efficiency of an emission control system as 

specified in subparagraph (c)(5)(A), on a mass emissions basis, and 

the VOC concentrations in the exhaust gases, measured and 

calculated as carbon, shall be determined by USEPA Test Methods 

25, 25A, SCAQMD 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 
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1171 - 14

Combustion Sources), as applicable. USEPA Test Method 18, or 

ARB Method 422 shall be used to determine emissions of exempt 

compounds. 

 (4) Multiple Test Methods 

 When more than one test method or set of test methods is 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 solvent, solvent cleaning activity, solvent cleaning unit operation, or person, 

which is exempt from all or a portion of this rule except paragraph (c)(6), shall be 

subject to the applicable requirements of the applicable Regulation XI source 

specific rule or Rule 442 - Usage of Solvent. 

(g) Exemptions 

 (1) The provisions of this rule, except (c)(1), Solvent Requirements, shall not 

apply to cleaning operations using a solvent containing no more than 25 

grams of VOC per liter of material, provided that, if the Executive Officer 

determines that a person has violated any provision of paragraph (c)(1), 

Solvent Requirements, then for a period of three years following such 

violation, paragraph (c)(6), Recordkeeping Requirements, shall apply to 

the facility at which the violation occurred. 

 (2) The following solvent cleaning operations or activities are not subject to 

any provision of this rule: 

 (A) Cleaning carried out in batch loaded cold cleaners, vapor 

degreasers, conveyorized degreasers, or motion picture film 

cleaning equipment. 

 (B) Cleaning operations subject to Rule 1102 – Petroleum Solvent Dry 

Cleaners, and Rule 1421 – Control of Perchloroethylene Emissions 

from Dry Cleaning Operations. 

 (C) Cleaning operations subject to Rule 1164 – Semiconductor 

Manufacturing. 
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1171 - 15

 (D) Cleaning operations subject to Rule 1124 – Aerospace Assembly 

and Component Manufacturing Operations, except coating 

application equipment cleaning, and storage and disposal of VOCcontaining materials used in solvent cleaning operations. 

 (E) Cleaning operations subject to Rule 1141 – Control of Volatile 

Organic Compound Emissions from Resin Manufacturing, and 

Rule 1141.1 – Coatings and Ink Manufacturing. 

 (F) Janitorial cleaning, including graffiti removal. 

 (G) Stripping of cured coatings, cured ink, or cured adhesives. 

 (3) Provisions of paragraph (c)(1) shall not apply to the following 

applications: 

 (A) Cleaning of solar cells, laser hardware, scientific instruments, and 

high-precision optics. 

 (B) Cleaning conducted with: performance laboratory tests on coatings, 

adhesives, or inks; research and development programs; and 

laboratory tests in quality assurance laboratories.

 (C) Cleaning of motor vehicles on application lines subject to 

Rule 1115 - Motor Vehicle Assembly Line Coating Operations. 

 (D) Cleaning of paper-based gaskets, and clutch assemblies where 

rubber is bonded to metal by means of an adhesive. 

 (E) Cleaning of cotton swabs to remove cottonseed oil before cleaning 

of high-precision optics. 

 (F) Medical device and pharmaceutical facilities using up to 1.5 

gallons per day of solvents. 

 (G) Until December 31, 2008, the cleaning of photocurable resins from 

stereolithography equipment and models. 

 (H) Until January 1, 2009, the cleaning of ultraviolet or electron beam 

lamps and reflectors used for the curing of ultraviolet or electron 

beam ink or coatings. 

 (I) Cleaning of adhesive application equipment used for thin metal 

laminating operations provided the clean-up solvent used contains 

no more than 950 grams of VOC per liter. 

 (J) Cleaning of electronic or electrical cables provided the clean-up 

solvent used contains no more than 400 grams of VOC per liter. 

 (K) Touch up cleaning performed on printed circuit boards where 

surface mounted devices have already been attached provided that 
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1171 - 16

the solvent used contains no more than 800 grams of VOC per 

liter. 

 (4) Cleaning with aerosol products shall not be subject to the provisions of 

paragraph (c)(1) and paragraph (d)(1) if 160 fluid ounces or less of noncompliant aerosol products are used per day, per facility. The use of such 

product shall comply with CARB regulations. 

 (5) The provisions of subparagraph (c)(1)(C) shall not apply to the following 

applications: 

 (A) Cleaning of coating and adhesive application processes utilized to 

manufacture transdermal drug delivery product using less than 3 

gallons per day of ethyl acetate averaged over a 30 calendar day 

period. 

 (B) Cleaning of application equipment used to apply coatings on 

satellites and radiation effect coatings. 

 (C) The cleaning of application equipment used to apply solvent-borne 

fluoropolymer coatings until December 31, 2008, provided the 

clean-up solvent used for such cleaning contains no more than 900 

grams of VOC per liter. 

 (6) The provisions of subparagraph (c)(1)(D) shall not apply to persons or 

facilities using less than 1.5 gallons per day of solvents to clean 

sterilization indicating ink application equipment.

 (7) Until December 31, 2007, the provisions of subparagraph (c)(1)(D) shall 

not apply to the cleaning of metering rollers, dampening rollers and 

printing plates, provided the clean-up solvent used for such cleaning 

contains no more than 800 grams of VOC per liter. 

 (8) Until December 31, 2007, the provisions of (c)(1)(D)(iv)(A)(II) shall not 

apply to automatic roller and blanket cleaning systems, provided the 

solvent used for such cleaning contains no more than 650 grams of VOC 

per liter. 

 (9) Until January 1, 2009, the provisions of (c)(1)(D)(v) shall not apply to onpress cleaning of screens and automatic cleaning equipment used in screen 

reclamation provided the clean up solvent used for such cleaning activities 

contains no more than 500 grams of VOC per liter. 

 (10) Until January 1, 2009, the provisions of (c)(1)(D)(vi) shall not apply to the 

cleaning of metering rollers, dampening rollers and printing plates in 
Rule 1171 (Cont.) (Amended February 1, 2008)

1171 - 17

UV/EB ink application equipment, provided the clean-up solvent used for 

such cleaning contains no more than 800 grams of VOC per liter. 

 (11) Provisions of paragraph (d)(1) shall not apply to the following: 

 (A) Cleaning of the nozzle tips of automated spray equipment systems, 

except for robotic systems. 

 (B) Cleaning with spray bottles or containers described in 

subparagraph (c)(2)(B). 

 (C) Printing operations where the roller or blanket wash is applied 

 automatically. 

 (12) The provisions of this rule shall not apply to cleaning operations in 

printing pre-press or graphic arts pre-press areas, including the cleaning of 

film processors, color scanners, plate processors, film cleaning, and plate 

cleaning.