Feather River AQMD 3.19 - 1

Rule 3.19 Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Coating Operations

(Adopted 8/6/98, Amended 8/1/2011) 

A. DEFINITIONS:

A.1 Active Solvent Losses: The active solvent losses are the 

emissions during all steps of a spray gun equipment cleaning 

operation and are expressed in units of grams of solvent loss

per cleaning cycle.

A.2 Antiglare/Safety Coating: A coating that does not reflect 

light.

A.3 Camouflage Coating: A coating applied on motor vehicles to 

conceal such vehicles from detection.

A.4 Catalyst: A substance whose presence initiates the reaction 

between chemical compounds.

A.5 Coating: A liquid, liquefiable or mastic composition which is 

converted to a solid protective, decorative, or functional 

adherent film after application as a thin layer.

A.6 Color Match: The ability of a repair coating to blend into an 

existing coating so that color difference is not visible.

A.7 Electrophoretic Dip: A coating application method where the 

coating is applied by dipping the component into a coating 

bath and an electrical potential difference exists between 

the component and the bath.

A.8 Electrostatic Application: A sufficient charging of atomized 

paint droplets to cause deposition principally by 

electrostatic attraction. This application shall be operated 

at a minimum of 60 kV power.

A.9 Exempt Compounds: As defined in District Rule 1.1.

A.10 Extreme Performance Coating: Any coating used on the surface 

of a vehicle, mobile equipment or their parts or components 

which is exposed to extreme environmental conditions such as 

high temperatures, corrosive or erosion environments, during 

the vehicle's principal use.

A.11 Four-Stage Coating System: A topcoat system composed of a 

ground coat portion, a pigmented basecoat portion, a semitransparent midcoat portion, and two transparent clearcoat 

portions. Four-stage coating systems' VOC content shall be 

calculated according to the following formula:

 

VOC T4-stage = VOCgc + VOCbc + VOCmc + (2 * VOCcc)

 5

Where:

VOC T4-stage = the average of the VOC content as applied in 
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the ground coat (gc), basecoat (bc), midcoat 

(mc), and clearcoat (cc) system.

VOCgc = the VOC content as applied of any given groundcoat.

VOCbc = the VOC content as applied in the basecoat.

VOCmc = the VOC content as applied of any given midcoat.

VOCcc = the VOC content as applied of any given clearcoat.

A.12 Grams of VOC Per Liter of Coating Less Water and Less Exempt 

Organic Compounds: 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 = Ws - Ww - Wes

 of Coating Less Water Vm - Vw - Ves

 and Less Exempt Compounds 

Where:

 Ws = Weight of volatile compounds (grams)

 Ww = Weight of water (grams)

 Wes = Weight of exempt organic compounds (grams)

 Vm = Volume of material (liters)

 Vw = Volume of water (liters)

 Ves = Volume of exempt organic compounds (liters)

A.13 Grams of VOC Per Liter of Material: The weight of VOC per 

volume of material and can be calculated by the following 

equation:

Grams of VOC per Liter = Ws - Ww - Wes

of Material Vm

Where:

 Ws = Weight of volatile compounds (grams)

 Ww = Weight of water (grams)

 Wes = Weight of exempt organic compounds (grams)

 Vm = Volume of material (liters)

A.14 Group I Vehicles: Passenger cars, large/heavy duty truck cabs 

and chassis, light and medium duty trucks and vans, and 

motorcycles.

A.15 Group II Vehicles: Those vehicles which are not Group I 

vehicles, and mobile equipment.

A.16 Gun Washer: Electrically or pneumatically operated system 

that is designed to clean spray application equipment while 

enclosed. A gun washer may also be considered a gun cleaning 

system that consists of spraying solvent into an enclosed 

container using a snug fitting.

A.17 Hand Application Methods: The application of coatings by non-
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mechanical hand-held equipment including but not limited to 

paint brushes, hand rollers, caulking guns, trowels, 

spatulas, syringe daubers, rags, and sponges.

A.18 High-Volume, Low-Pressure Application (HVLP): Spray equipment 

that uses a high volume of air delivered at pressures between

0.1 and 10 psig.

A.19 Low Emission Spray Gun Cleaner: Any properly used spray 

equipment clean-up device which has passive solvent losses of

no more than 0.6 grams per hour and has active solvent losses

of no more than 15 grams per operating cycle as defined by 

the test method in Subsection E.6.

A.20 Metallic/Iridescent Topcoat: Any topcoat which contains more 

than 5 g/l (.042 lb./gal) of iridescent particles, composed 

of metal as metallic particles or silicon as mica particles, 

as applied, where such particles are visible in the dried 

film.

A.21 Mobile Equipment: Any equipment, other than vehicles (as 

defined in this rule), which may be drawn or is capable of 

being driven on a roadway, including, but not limited to, 

truck trailers, camper shells, mobile cranes, bulldozers, 

concrete mixers, street cleaners, golf carts, all terrain 

vehicles, implements of husbandry, and hauling equipment used

inside and around airports, docks, depots, and industrial and

commercial plants, but excluding utility bodies.

A.22 Operating Cycle: An operating cycle consists of all steps 

carried out during a cleaning operation.

A.23 Passive Solvent Losses: The passive solvent losses are the 

emissions from spray gun cleaning equipment when the 

equipment sits idle between cleaning cycles and are a result 

of natural evaporation from the equipment.

A.24 Prep Station: Any spraying area that meets the requirements 

for a "Limited Spraying Area" pursuant to the Uniform Fire 

Code and that prevents the escape to the atmosphere of 

overspray particulate matter using properly maintained 

filters and mechanical ventilation.

A.25 Pretreatment Wash Primer: Any coating which contains a 

minimum of 0.5% acid by weight, is necessary to provide 

surface etching and is applied directly to bare metal 

surfaces to provide corrosion resistance and adhesion.

A.26 Primer: Any coating applied prior to the application of a 

topcoat for the purpose of corrosion resistance and adhesion 

of the topcoat. 

A.27 Primer Sealer: Any coating applied prior to the application 

of a topcoat for the purpose of corrosion resistance, 

adhesion of the topcoat, color uniformity, and to promote the

ability of an undercoat to resist penetration by the topcoat.
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A.28 Primer Surfacer: Any coating applied prior to the application 

of a topcoat for the purpose of corrosion resistance, 

adhesion of the topcoat, and which promotes a uniform surface

by filling in surface imperfections. 

A.29 Reducer: Any volatile liquid used to reduce the viscosity of 

the coating. This liquid may be solvents, diluents or 

mixtures of both.

A.30 Specialty Coatings: Coatings that are necessary due to 

unusual and uncommon job performance requirements. These 

coatings include, but are not limited to, weld-thru primers, 

adhesion promoters, uniform finish blenders, elastomeric 

materials, gloss flatteners, bright metal trim repair, and 

antiglare/safety coatings.

A.31 Spray Booth: Any power ventilated structure of varying 

dimensions and construction provided to enclose or 

accommodate a spraying operation and which meets the Uniform 

Fire Code. A spray booth shall confine and limit, by dry or 

wet filtration, the escape to the atmosphere of overspray 

particulate matter.

A.32 Three-Stage Coating System: A topcoat system composed of a 

pigmented basecoat portion, a semi-transparent midcoat 

portion, and two transparent clearcoat portions. Three-stage 

coating systems' VOC content shall be calculated according to

the following formula:

VOC T3-stage = VOCbc + VOCmc + (2 * VOCcc)

 4

Where:

 VOC T3-stage = the average of the VOC content as applied in 

 the basecoat (bc), midcoat (mc), and 

 clearcoat (cc) system.

 VOCbc = the VOC content as applied in the basecoat.

 VOCmc = the VOC content as applied of any given midcoat.

 VOCcc = the VOC content as applied of any given clearcoat.

A.33 Topcoat: Any coating applied over a primer or an original OEM 

finish for the purpose of protection or appearance.

A.34 Transfer Efficiency: The ratio of the weight of coating 

solids which adhere to the object being coated to the weight 

amount of coating solids used in the application process, 

expressed as a percentage.

A.35 Two-Stage Coating System: A topcoat consisting of a pigmented 

basecoat and a transparent clearcoat. Two-stage coating 

systems' VOC content shall be calculated according to the 
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following formula:

VOC T2-stage = VOCbc + (2 * VOCcc)

 3

Where:

 VOC T2-stage = the average of the VOC content as applied in 

 the basecoat (bc) and clearcoat (cc) system.

 VOCbc = the VOC content as applied in the basecoat.

 VOCcc = the VOC content as applied of any given clearcoat.

 

A.36 Undercoat: Any pretreatment wash primer, precoat, primer, 

primer surfacer, or primer sealer.

A.37 Utility Body: A special purpose compartment or unit that will 

be bolted, welded, or affixed onto an existing cab and 

chassis. The compartment may serve as storage for equipment 

or parts.

A.38 Vehicle: A vehicle is any of the following: passenger cars, 

large/heavy duty truck cabs and chassis, light and medium 

duty trucks and vans, motorcycles, public transit buses, or 

military tanks or other tracked military vehicles.

A.39 Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC): As defined in District Rule 

1.1.

A.40 Water-Based Temporary Transit Coating: Any water-based 

coating that is intended to protect new motor vehicle 

finishes from certain forms of damage such as iron dust, 

soot, acid rain, and other airborne pollutants during transit

and is removed prior to sale of the vehicle.

A.41 Weld-Thru Primer: Any primer applied from an aerosol can, 16 

ounces or less, to bare steel prior to welding that steel 

area. The purpose of the weld-thru primer is to inhibit 

corrosion in the weld area. 

B. APPLICABILITY

B.1 General Application: The provisions of this rule apply to any 

person who supplies, sells, offers for sale, applies or 

specifies the use of coatings for vehicles, mobile equipment,

and their parts or components.

B.2 Effective Date: The provisions of this rule shall become 

effective upon the date of adoption.

C. REQUIREMENTS

 

C.1 Coating VOC Content: After the date expressed below, no 
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person shall manufacture, solicit, require for use, specify, 

sell, or coat any vehicle, mobile equipment, or their parts 

or equipment, as defined in this Rule, using any coating with

a Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) content in excess of the 

following limits, expressed as grams of VOC per liter of 

coating applied, excluding water and exempt organic 

compounds, except as provided herein pursuant to subsection 

C.4, "Add-on Control Equipment Option", or section D., 

"Exemptions":

Limits

Grams of VOC per Liter of Coating (lbs/gal), Less Water and Less Exempt Organic Compounds

Category

Effective July 1, 1999

Group I Vehicles & 

Color Match for 

Group II Vehicles

Group II Vehicles & 

no Color Match

Pretreatment Wash Primer 780 (6.5) 780 (6.5)

Primer/Primer Surfacer 340 (2.8) 340 (2.8)

Primer Sealer 420 (3.5) 340 (2.8)

Single-Stage/Multi-Stage 

Topcoats 

600 (5.0) 420 (3.5)

Specialty Coating 840 (7.0) 840 (7.0)

Extreme Performance -------- 750 (6.2)

Camouflage -------- 420 (3.5)

C.2 Coatings Containing 1,1,1-Trichloroethane: No person shall 

apply any coating to any vehicle, mobile equipment, or their 

parts or components, if that coating contains 1,1,1-

trichloroethane.

C.3 Extreme Performance Coating Petition: Any person seeking to 

apply an extreme performance coating as defined in this Rule 

to a vehicle, mobile equipment, or their parts or components 

shall comply with the following requirements:

a. A petition shall be submitted to the Air Pollution 

Control Officer (APCO) stating the performance 

requirements, volume of coating and VOC level that is 

attainable;

b. If the APCO grants written approval, then that approval 

shall be valid for one year. If applicable, such 

petition shall be resubmitted on an annual basis;

c. If the APCO grants written approval, such approval shall 

contain volume and VOC limit conditions.

C.4 Add-on Control Equipment Option:

a. A person may comply with the provisions of Subsection 

C.1, Coating VOC Content limits, by using air pollution 

control equipment provided that:

 

1. The combined control and capture efficiency shall 
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reduce VOC emissions from an emission device by 

at least 85 percent, by weight; and

2. The control system must be designed and operated 

for the maximum collection of fugitive emissions 

according to the U.S. EPA's "Guideline for 

Developing Capture Efficiency Protocols; and

3. Written approval in the form of an Authority to 

Construct and a Permit to Operate for such 

equipment is received from the APCO.

b. A person may comply with the provisions of subsection 

C.5, Transfer Efficiency, by using add-on control 

equipment, provided the combined control and capture 

efficiency of VOC is at least 92 percent, by weight.

C.5 Transfer Efficiency: No person shall apply any coating to any 

vehicle or mobile equipment or their parts and components 

unless one of the following methods is properly used:

a. Hand application methods;

b. Electrophoretic dip coating;

c. Electrostatic application;

d. High-Volume, Low-Pressure (HVLP) application;

e. Any other coating application method which has been 

demonstrated to be capable of achieving at least 65 

percent transfer efficiency.

C.6 Compliance Statement Requirement: The manufacturer of 

coatings subject to this rule shall include a designation of 

the VOC content as supplied, including coating components, 

expressed in grams per liter or pounds per gallon, excluding 

water and exempt organic compounds, on labels or data sheets.

This designation shall include a statement of manufacturer's 

recommendation regarding thinning, reducing, or mixing with 

any other VOC containing materials. This statement shall 

include the VOC on an as-applied basis, excluding water and 

exempt organic compounds, based on the manufacturer's 

recommendations.

C.7 Surface Preparation and Clean-up Solvent: Any solvent 

cleaning of application equipment, parts, products, tools, 

machinery, equipment, general work areas, and the storage and

disposal of VOC-containing materials used in surface 

preparation and clean-up operations shall be carried out 

pursuant to District Rule 3.14, Surface Preparation and 

Clean-up;

C.8 Storage and Disposal – General Requirements: All VOC-
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containing materials, whether in its form for intended use or

as a waste or used product, including items such as cloth or 

paper laden with VOC containing materials, shall be stored in

non-absorbent, non-leaking containers which shall be kept 

closed at all times, except when filling or emptying, and 

disposed of in a manner to prevent evaporation of VOCs into 

the atmosphere at the facility.

C.9 Spray Booth and Prep Stations: Effective January 1, 1999, no 

person shall apply any coating to any complete (entire) 

vehicle unless that application is performed within a 

properly maintained and operated Spray Booth. All spraying of

parts or components of a vehicle shall be done in a properly 

maintained and operated Prep Station or Spray Booth.

D. EXEMPTIONS

D.1 Coatings In A Non-aerosol Container: The Coating sales 

prohibition in subsection C.1, and transfer efficiencies in 

subsection C.5 shall not apply to the sale of any coating 

supplied in a non-aerosol container with a capacity of 16 

fluid ounces or less, and shall not apply to any coating 

supplied in a hand-held, non-refillable aerosol container.

D.2 Approved VOC Add on Controls: The sales prohibition in 

subsection C.1 shall not apply to the sale of coatings where 

the emissions to the atmosphere from the application of those

coatings are controlled by a District approved VOC add-on 

control device that meets the requirements of subsection C.4 

of this Rule.

D.3 Coatings Shipped Outside The District: The sales prohibition 

in subsection C.1, shall not apply to any coating shipped 

outside of the District. 

D.4 Logos, Letters Numbers, And Graphics: Any application of 

logos, letters, numbers and graphics to a painted surface, 

with or without a template, shall be exempt from this rule.

 

D.5 Residential Dwellings: Any coating operation of a vehicle by 

a resident of a one or two family dwelling shall be exempt 

from this rule provided:

 

a. The resident is the registered owner of the vehicle 

being coated;

b. The coating operation is not being conducted as a 

business;

c. The coating operation is limited to two vehicles per 

year;

d. The coating operation does not cause a public nuisance.
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D.6 Shape and Size Exemption: With prior written approval of the 

APCO, and on a limited term basis, the requirements of 

subsection C.9, Spray Booths and Prep Stations, shall not 

apply to the coating of vehicles which, due to shape or size,

cannot reasonably be contained in a spray booth.

D.7 Spray Booths and Prep Station Exemption: The requirements of 

subsection C.9, Spray Booths, and Prep Stations shall not

apply to: 

a. Any repair, touch-up, or spot priming operation which 

does not exceed a total of nine (9) square feet per 

vehicle. All such operations shall be conducted in a 

controlled area such that a public nuisance is not 

caused;

b. Any weld-thru primer;

c. Any application of coatings to owner operated 

agricultural equipment;

d. Any application of coatings to owner operated 

construction vehicles.

E. TEST METHODS

E.1 VOC Content: Coating VOC content shall be determined using 

EPA Method 24. The exempt organic compound content of 

coatings or solvents shall be determined using ASTM Method 

D4457-85. Compliance with the prohibition of sale shall be 

determined by measuring the VOC content of each and every 

component of a coating or coating system which has been 

reduced, using the manufacturer's recommended type and 

maximum amount of reducer.

E.2 Acid Content: The measurement of acid content of pretreatment 

wash primers shall be done in accordance with ASTM Method D 

1613-85 (modified).

E.3 Metal And Silicon Content: The measurement of the metal and 

silicon content of metallic/iridescent coatings shall be 

determined by South Coast AQMD Method No. 318, "Determination

of Weight Percent of Elemental Metal in Coatings by X-Ray 

Diffraction."

E.4 Collection Efficiency and Capture Efficiency: The collection 

and capture efficiency of organic emissions as specified in 

Section C.4, shall be measured as follows:

a. Capture efficiency shall be determined by the EPA 

Guidelines for Developing Capture Efficiency Protocols 

from the Federal Register Part 55 FR 26865, June 29, 

1990;

b. Measurement of vapor flow through pipes shall be 
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determined by EPA Method 2A;

c. Measurement of organic vapor concentration shall be 

determined by EPA Method 25A. The calculation of 

control device efficiency shall be determined only 

during periods of continuous coating operations and 

shall be averaged over the duration of the coating 

operation not to exceed 24 hours.

E.5 Transfer Efficiency: Transfer Efficiency shall be determined 

using a method which shall be modeled after the test method 

described in the EPA document (EPA/600/2-88/-26b) 

"Development of Proposed Standard Test Method for Spray 

Painting Transfer Efficiency."

E.6 Active And Passive Solvent Losses: The active and passive 

solvent losses from spray gun cleaning systems shall be 

determined using South Coast Air Quality Management 

District's "General Test Method for Determining Solvent 

Losses from Spray Gun Cleaning Systems", dated October 3, 

1989. The test solvent for this determination shall be any 

lacquer thinner with a minimum vapor pressure of 105-mm Hg at

20o C. The minimum test temperature shall be 15o C.

F. MONITORING AND RECORDKEEPING REQUIREMENTS

F.1 General Monitoring and Record-keeping Requirements: Any 

person subject to this rule shall:

a. Maintain and make available to District personnel, a 

current list of coatings (including specialty coatings) 

and solvents in use that provides all of the data 

necessary to evaluate compliance, including the 

following information, as applicable:

1. Coating, catalyst, additive, solvent, and reducer 

used;

2. Mix ratio of components used;

3. VOC content of coating as applied or solvent used 

in grams/liter or lbs./gal. (less water and less 

exempt organic compounds);

4. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).

b. Maintain records that show, on a daily basis, the 

following information:

1. VOC content of the coating or solvent in 

grams/liter or lbs./gallon;

2. Quantity of each coating (including each specialty 

coating) applied and solvent used. This quantity 

need not include toners that are added for color 
Feather River AQMD 3.19 - 11

matching after preparation of the initial weighed 

color batch. If purchase records are used to 

determine the amount of solvents used, then records

and manifests of the amounts of solvents disposed 

of or recycled must also be maintained;

3. Whether a color match was required;

4. Type of vehicle (I or II) or whether mobile 

equipment was coated.

F.2 Minimum Retention Time: All records shall be retained for a 

minimum of two years from the date of each entry and shall be

made available to District personnel upon request.