August 8, 2013

Placer County APCD 249 − 1 Rules and Regulations

RULE 249 SURFACE COATING OF PLASTIC PARTS AND PRODUCTS

Adopted 8-8-13

CONTENTS

100 GENERAL

101 PURPOSE

102 APPLICABILITY

103 SEVERABILITY

104 EXEMPTIONS - LOW USAGE OF MATERIALS EXCEEDING VOC CONTENT LIMITS

105 EXEMPTIONS - SPECIFIC OPERATIONS AND COATINGS

106 PARTIAL EXEMPTIONS

200 DEFINITIONS

201 ADHESIVE

202 AEROSOL CONTAINER

203 APPLICATION EQUIPMENT

204 CLEANUP MATERIAL

205 CLOSED CONTAINER

206 ELECTRIC DISSIPATING COATING AND SHOCK-FREE COATING

207 EXEMPT COMPOUNDS

208 EXTREME PERFORMANCE COATING

209 FLOW COAT

210 HAND COATING

211 HIGH VOLUME, LOW-PRESSURE (HVLP) APPLICATION EQUIPMENT

212 KEY SYSTEM OPERATING PARAMETER

213 LOW VOLUME, LOW-PRESSURE (LVLP) APPLICATION EQUIPMENT

214 MAINTENANCE CLEANING

215 METALLIC COATING

216 MILITARY SPECIFICATION

217 MOLD-SEAL COATING

218 MULTI-COLORED COATING

219 MULT-COMPONENT COATING

220 ONE-COMPONENT COATING

221 OPTICAL COATING

222 PLASTIC PARTS AND PRODUCTS

223 TRANSFER EFFICIENCY 

224 VACUUM-METALIZING COMPOUND

225 VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUND (VOC)

226 VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUND (VOC) AS APPLIED

300 STANDARDS

301 LIMITS: VOC CONTENT OF COATINGS FOR PLASTIC PARTS AND PRODUCTS

302 APPLICATION METHODS

303 SURFACE PREPARATION AND CLEAN-UP REQUIREMENTS

304 WORK PRACTICE REQUIREMENTS

305 EMISSION CONTROL EQUIPMENT

400 ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS

401 PROHIBITION OF SPECIFICATION

402 PRODUCT INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS FOR SELLERS
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Rules and Regulations 249 − 2 Placer County APCD

403 DETERMINATION OF VOC CONTENT OF COATINGS, LESS WATER AND EXEMPT

COMPOUNDS

404 DETERMINATION OF VOC CONTENT PER LITER OF COATING REMOVERS

(STRIPPERS), SURFACE PREPARATION MATERIALS AND CLEANUP MATERIALS

405 OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE PLAN

500 MONITORING AND RECORDS

501 RECORDKEEPING

502 VOC EMISSION THRESHOLD

503 TEST METHODS
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Placer County APCD 249 − 3 Rules and Regulations

100 GENERAL

101 PURPOSE: To limit the emission of volatile organic compounds from the application of 

coatings, coating removers (strippers), surface preparation materials, and cleanup 

materials in plastic parts and products coating operations.

102 APPLICABILITY: The provisions of this rule apply to all of Placer County.

103 SEVERABILITY: If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion of this 

rule is, for any reason, held invalid, unconstitutional or unenforceable by any court of 

competent jurisdiction, that portion shall be deemed as a separate, distinct, and 

independent provision, and the holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining 

portions of the rule.

104 EXEMPTIONS, LOW USAGE OF MATERIALS EXCEEDING VOC CONTENT LIMITS:

104.1 Low Usage of Non-Compliant Coating Materials: The VOC requirements of 

Section 301 of this rule shall not apply to coating operations where (1) the total 

volume of such non-compliant coatings is less than 55 gallons per calendar year, 

if substitute compliant coatings are not available, and (2) the requirements of 

Sections 401 and 501 are met.

105 EXEMPTIONS, SPECIFIC OPERATIONS AND COATINGS: This rule shall not apply to:

105.1 Coating of prefabricated architectural components or structures not coated in a 

shop environment and which are regulated by Rule 218, Architectural Coatings.

105.2 Motor vehicles including automotive, truck and heavy equipment which are 

regulated by Rule 234, Automotive Refinishing Operations.

105.3 Coating of metal cans, which is regulated by Rule 223, Metal Container Coating.

105.4 Coating of metal parts and products which are regulated by Rule 245, Surface 

Coating of Metal Parts and Products.

105.5 Adhesives and other materials which are regulated by Rule 235, Adhesives.

105.6 Polyester resin operations which is regulated by Rule 243, Polyester Resin

Operations.

105.7 Coatings sold in non-refillable aerosol containers having a capacity of 1 liter (1.1 

quarts, or 34 fluid ounces), or less.

105.8 Powder coatings.

106 PARTIAL EXEMPTIONS:

106.1 Coating operations used for repair and touchup are exempt from all sections of 

the rule except the application method requirements of Section 302, surface 

preparation and cleanup of Section 303, the work practices requirements of 

Section 304, and the recordkeeping requirements of Section 501 shall apply.

106.2 Coating operations used for stencil, safety indicating, solid film lubricating, 

electric insulating, thermal conduction, and magnetic data storage, are exempt 

from all sections of the rule except the application method requirements of 

Section 302, surface preparation and cleanup of Section 303, the work practices 

requirements of Section 304, and the recordkeeping requirements of Section 501

shall apply.
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Rules and Regulations 249 − 4 Placer County APCD

200 DEFINITIONS

201 ADHESIVE: Any substance that is used to bond one surface to another by attachment.

202 AEROSOL CONTAINER: A hand-held, non-refillable container which expels pressurized 

product ingredients by means of a propellant-induced force.

203 APPLICATION EQUIPMENT: A device used to apply coatings or used in preparing a 

coating material, such as stir sticks or funnels.

204 CLEANUP MATERIAL: A VOC-containing material used to clean parts and application 

equipment used in miscellaneous plastic parts and products coating operations.

205 CLOSED CONTAINER: A container whose cover meets with the main body of the 

container without any visible gaps between the cover and the main body of the container.

206 ELECTRIC DISSIPATING COATING AND SHOCK-FREE COATING: A coating that 

rapidly dissipates a high voltage electric charge.

207 EXEMPT COMPOUNDS: For a current listing of exempt compounds, see Rule 102, 

Definitions.

208 EXTREME PERFORMANCE COATING (2 PACK): A coating applied to a plastic

surface where the coated surface, in its intended use, is frequently or chronically exposed 

to any of the following:

208.1 Corrosive, caustic or acidic agents, chemicals, chemical fumes, chemical 

mixtures or solution.

208.2 Repeated exposure to temperatures in excess of 250o

F (121oC).

208.3 Repeated heavy abrasion, including mechanical wear and repeated scrubbing 

with industrial grade solvents, cleansers or scouring agents.

209 FLOW COAT: A coating method which is applied by flowing a stream of coating over an 

object and allowing any excess material to drain.

210 HAND COATING: The application of coatings by manually-held, non-mechanically 

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

guns, trowels, spatulas, syringe daubers and sponges.

211 HIGH VOLUME, LOW PRESSURE (HVLP) APPLICATION EQUIPMENT: Equipment 

used to apply coatings by means of a gun which is designed to be operated, and which is

operated between 0.1 and 10 psig air pressure, measured dynamically at the center of 

the air cap and at the air horns.

212 KEY SYSTEM OPERATING PARAMETER: A variable that is critical to the operation of 

an emission control system and that ensures both operation of the system within the 

system manufacturer’s specifications, and compliance with the overall system efficiency 

standard required by Section 305. Such variables may include, but are not limited to, 

hours of operation, temperature, flow rate and pressure.

213 LOW VOLUME, LOW PRESSURE (LVLP) APPLICATION EQUIPMENT: Equipment 

used to apply coatings by means of a gun which is designed to be operated, and which is

operated between 0.1 and 10 psig air pressure, with air volume less than 15.5 cfm per 

spray gun, and which operates at a maximum fluid delivery pressure of 50 psig.
August 8, 2013

Placer County APCD 249 − 5 Rules and Regulations

214 MAINTENANCE CLEANING: The cleaning of tools, forms, molds, jigs, machinery and 

equipment, and the cleaning of work areas where maintenance or manufacturing occurs.

215 METALLIC COATING: A coating which contains more than 0.042 lb/gal (5.0 g/l) of metal 

particles, as applied, where such particles are visible in the dried film.

216 MILITARY SPECIFICATION: A coating which has a formulation approved by a United 

States Military Agency for use on military equipment.

217 MOLD-SEAL COATING: The initial coating applied to a new mold or repaired mold and 

associated tooling to provide a smooth surface which, when coated with a mold release 

material, prevents products from sticking to the mold or to the tooling.

218 MULTI-COLORED COATING: A coating which exhibits more than one color when 

applied, and which is packaged in a single container and applied in a single coat.

219 MULTI-COMPONENT COATING: A coating requiring the addition of a separate reactive 

resin, commonly known as a catalyst or hardener, before application to form an 

acceptable dry film.

220 ONE-COMPONENT COATING: 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.

221 OPTICAL COATING: A coating applied to an optical lens.

222 PLASTIC PARTS AND PRODUCTS: Any components or complete units fabricated from 

plastic, except those subject to the provisions of other District source-specific rules

223 TRANSFER EFFICIENCY: 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.

224 VACUUM-METALIZING COMPOUND: The undercoat applied to the substrate on which 

the metal is deposited, or the overcoat applied directly to the metal film. Vacuum 

metalizing/physical vapor deposition (PVD) is the process whereby metal is vaporized 

and deposited on a substrate in a vacuum chamber.

225 VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUND (VOC): For the purposes of this rule, “volatile 

organic compound” has the same meaning as in Rule 102, Definitions.

226 VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUND (VOC) AS APPLIED: For the purposes of this rule, 

“volatile organic compound as applied” means the VOC content including thinners, 

reducers, hardeners, retarders, catalysts and additives, calculated pursuant to Sections 

403 or 404, as applicable.

300 STANDARDS

301 LIMITS: VOC CONTENT OF COATINGS FOR PLASTIC PARTS AND PRODUCTS: 

Except for materials and processes listed in Sections 104 or 105, no person shall apply 

any coatings to a plastic part or product, or use VOC-containing solvents, if such 

materials have a VOC content exceeding the applicable limits specified in the following 

Table 1. The VOC content of coating materials shall be determined in accordance with 

Section 403. The VOC content of solvents, strippers and cleanup materials, shall be 

determined in accordance with Sections 404.
August 8, 2013

Rules and Regulations 249 − 6 Placer County APCD

Table 1 – VOC Content Limits for Coatings and Materials Used to Coat Plastic Parts and 

Products

VOC As Applied Limit, 

grams/liter (lb/gal),

(Less water and exempt 

compounds)

General One Component 275 (2.3)

General Multi-Component 420 (3.5)

Specialty Coatings

Electric Dissipating and Shockfree800 (6.7)

Extreme Performance (2 pack) 420 (3.5)

Metallic 420 (3.5)

Military Specification (1 pack) 335 (2.8)

Military Specification (2 pack) 420 (3.5)

Mold Seal 755 (6.3)

Multi-colored 680 (5.7)

Optical 800 (6.7)

Vacuum Metalizing 800 (6.7)

302 APPLICATION METHODS: A person shall not apply coatings to plastic parts and 

products subject to the provisions of this rule unless the coatings are applied using 

properly operated equipment, and by using either: one of the following application 

methods or any other high transfer efficiency application method which has been 

approved in advance, in writing, by the Air Pollution Control Officer and United States 

Environmental Protection Agency:

302.1 Electrostatic attraction, operated in accordance with manufacturer’s 

recommendations.

302.2 High-Volume, Low-Pressure (HVLP) spray system operated in accordance with 

manufacturer’s recommendations.

302.3 Low-Volume, Low-Pressure (LVLP) spray system operated in accordance with 

manufacturer’s recommendations.

302.4 Flow Coat

302.5 Dip Coat

302.6 Hand Coat

302.7 Roll Coat

303 SURFACE PREPARATION AND CLEAN-UP REQUIREMENTS:

303.1 A person shall not use materials which have a VOC content in excess of 200 

grams per liter (1.67 pounds/gallon) of material, as defined in Section 404, for 

stripping any coating governed by this rule.

303.2 A person shall not perform cleanup of application equipment (including spray gun 

nozzles), product cleaning, or surface preparation, with a material containing 

VOC in excess of 50 grams per liter (0.42 pounds per gallon), as defined in 

Section 404.
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Placer County APCD 249 − 7 Rules and Regulations

304 WORK PRACTICE REQUIREMENTS:

304.1 Spillage of VOC-containing materials shall be minimized.

304.2 VOC-containing materials and used shop towels or sponges shall be stored and 

disposed of in closed containers. Storage and disposal containers must be kept 

closed, except when depositing or removing the materials. Disposal shall be 

conducted in a manner that the VOCs are not emitted to the atmosphere.

304.3 VOC-containing materials shall be conveyed in closed containers or pipes.

305 EMISSION CONTROL EQUIPMENT: As an alternative to using materials that meet the 

VOC limits in Sections 301, a person may comply with the VOC provisions of this rule by 

using an emission control equipment system approved by the District, the California Air 

Resources Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Such compliance may 

be demonstrated by a system to capture and control emissions, which will reduce VOC 

emissions by at least 90% by weight.

400 ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS

401 PROHIBITION OF SPECIFICATION: No person shall require for use or specify the

application of any coating subject to the provisions of this rule that does not meet the 

limits and requirements of this rule. The prohibition of this Section shall apply to all written 

or oral contracts under the terms of which any coating is to be applied to any Plastic parts 

or product at any physical location within the District.

402 PRODUCT INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS FOR SELLERS: Any person who sells 

any coating, coating remover (stripper), surface preparation or cleanup material subject 

to this rule, shall provide the following information on material data sheets made available 

to the purchaser at the time of sale:

402.1 The material type by name/code/manufacturer.

402.2 For coating materials, the maximum VOC content of the material, as applied, 

after any mixing or thinning as recommended by the manufacturer: VOC content 

shall be displayed as grams per liter (pounds per gallon) of coating, excluding 

water and exempt compounds, pursuant to Section 403.

402.3 For coating removers (strippers), surface preparation and cleanup materials, the 

maximum VOC content of the material, as applied, after any mixing or thinning as 

recommended by the manufacturer: VOC content shall be displayed as grams 

per liter (pounds per gallon) of material, including water and exempt compounds, 

pursuant to Section 404.

402.4 For all materials, recommendations regarding thinning, reducing, or mixing with 

any VOC-containing material.

402.5 For all materials, VOC content may be calculated using product formulation data, 

or may be determined using the test method in Section 503.1.
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Rules and Regulations 249 − 8 Placer County APCD

403 DETERMINATION OF VOC CONTENT OF COATINGS, LESS WATER AND EXEMPT 

COMPOUNDS: The weight of VOC per combined volume of VOC and coating solids 

shall be calculated by the following equation:

Wv – Ww - Wec

G = ------------------------

Vm – Vw - Vec

Where: G = Weight of VOC per liter of coating, less water and exempt 

compounds

 Wv = Weight of volatile compounds, in grams

 Ww = Weight of water, in grams

 Wec = Weight of exempt compounds, in grams

 Vm = Volume of coating material, in liters

 Vw = Volume of water in liters

 Vec = Volume of exempt compounds, in liters.

404 DETERMINATION OF VOC CONTENT PER LITER OF COATING REMOVERS 

(STRIPPERS), SURFACE PREPARATION MATERIALS, AND CLEANUP 

MATERIALS: The weight (in grams) of VOC per liter of coating materials shall be 

calculated by the following equation:

Wv – Ww - Wec

G = ------------------------

Vm

Where: G = Weight of VOC per total volume of material, in grams per liter.

 Wv = Weight of all volatile compounds, in grams

 Ww = Weight of water, in grams

 Wec = Weight of exempt compounds, in grams

 Vm = Volume of coating material, including any added VOC-containing 

solvents or reducers, but excluding any colorants added to tint

the base, in liters.

405 OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE PLAN: A person using an emission control system 

pursuant to Section 305, as a means of alternate compliance with this rule, must submit 

an Operation and Maintenance Plan for the emission control system to the Air Pollution

Control Officer for approval. A person proposing to install a new emission control system 

as a means of alternate compliance with this rule shall submit in addition to an Operation 

and Maintenance Plan, an application for Authority to Construct, pursuant to Rule 501, 

General Permit Requirements. The plan shall specify operating and maintenance 

procedures which will demonstrate continuous operation of the emission control system 

during periods of emission-producing operations. The Plan shall also specify which 

records must be kept to document these operating and maintenance procedures. These 

records shall comply with the requirements of Section 501. The plan shall be 

implemented upon approval of the Air Pollution Control Officer.

500 MONITORING AND RECORDS

501 RECORDKEEPING: In addition to any applicable record-keeping requirements of either 

Rule 502, New Source Review, Rule 507, Federal Operating Permit Program, Rule 511, 

Potential To Emit, or any other District Rule which might be applicable, any person 

applying coating products, surface preparation solvents, cleanup solvents, or strippers 

subject to any provision of this rule shall maintain the following records for non-exempt 

materials in order to evaluate compliance:
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Placer County APCD 249 − 9 Rules and Regulations

501.1 Product Data: A list of currently used coating products, surface preparation 

solvents, cleanup solvents or strippers subject to this rule. This list shall include 

all of the following data for each material used:

501.1.1 The material’s manufacturer, product name and product number or code.

501.1.2 Classification according to the terminology used in Sections 301, 302

and 303. 

501.1.3 The material’s VOC content as applied, determined according to 

Sections 403 and 404, when used in the mixing ratios recommended by 

the manufacturer.

501.1.4 The actual mixing ratio, if different from the manufacturer’s 

recommendation, used in applying the material.

501.2 Product Usage and Frequency: Any person using materials regulated by this 

rule shall record and maintain records of the volume used per month of each 

individual material as listed pursuant to Section 501.1. The quantity of each noncompliant coating usage which qualifies for an exemption under Section 104.1 

shall be recorded on a daily basis.

501.3 Emission Control Equipment Records:

501.3.1 A person using emission control equipment as a means of alternate 

compliance pursuant to Section 305, shall maintain records on a daily 

basis, showing the type and volume of coatings and solvents used.

501.3.2 A person using emission control equipment as a means of alternate 

compliance with this rule pursuant to Section 305, shall maintain daily 

records of key system operating parameters and maintenance 

procedures which will demonstrate continuous operation and compliance 

of the emission control system during periods of emission-producing 

activities. Key system operating parameters are those necessary to 

ensure compliance with the requirements of Section 305.

501.4 Retention of Records: All records required by this rule shall be retained for at 

least three years, except for sources subject to Rule 507, Federal Operating

Permit Program, which shall be retained for at least five years. Such records 

shall be made available to the Air Pollution Control Officer, upon request.

502 VOC EMISSION THRESHOLD: If VOC emissions from all emission units at the facility 

for any calendar year exceed 10,000 pounds, additional recordkeeping documentation

will be required per Rule 511, Potential To Emit.

503 TEST METHODS:

503.1 Determination of VOC Content: VOC content of coatings, solvents, strippers and 

surface preparation materials shall be determined in accordance with United 

States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Method 24 or Method 24A.

503.2 Determination of Compounds Exempt From VOC Definition: Exempt compounds 

referenced in Section 207 and listed in Rule 102, Definitions, shall be determined 

in accordance with ASTM D 4457-85 “Standard Test Method for Determination of 

Dichloromethane and 1,1,1-Tricholorethane in Paints and Coatings by Direct 

Injection into a Gas Chromatograph” or California Air Resources Board Method 

432 “Determination of Dichloromethane and 1,1,1-Tricholorethane in Paints and 
August 8, 2013

Rules and Regulations 249 − 10 Placer County APCD

Coatings”. If any perfluorocarbons or volatile cyclic and linear methyl siloxanes 

are being claimed as exempt compounds, the person making the claim must 

state in advance which compounds are present and the USEPA-approved test 

method used to make the determination of these compounds.

503.3 Determination of Control Efficiency: Control efficiency of emissions control 

equipment referenced in Section 305, shall be determined in accordance with 

USEPA Method 25 or 25A: and USEPA Method 2 or 2C (whichever is 

applicable). USEPA Method 18 or CARB Method 422 “Determination of Volatile 

Organic Compounds in Emissions from Stationary Sources” may be used to 

determine emissions of exempt compounds.

503.4 Determination of Collection Efficiency: Collection efficiency of the control 

equipment referenced in Section 305 shall be determined in accordance with 

U.S. EPA’s “Guidelines for Determining Capture Efficiency, January 9, 1995”. 

Individual collection efficiency test runs subject to the U.S. EPA’s technical 

guidelines shall be determined by:

503.4.1 40 CFR 51, Appendix M, Methods 204-204F; or

503.4.2 The South Coast AQMD “Protocol for Determination of Volatile Organic 

Compound (VOC) Capture Efficiency”; or

503.4.3 Any other method approved by the USEPA, the California Air Resources 

Board, and the Air Pollution Control Officer.

503.5 Emissions From Spray Gun Cleaning Systems: Determination of emissions of 

VOC from spray gun cleaning systems shall be made using South Coast Air 

Quality Management District “General Method for Determining Solvent Losses 

From Spray Gun Cleaning Systems”, October 1989.

503.6 Transfer Efficiency: Determination of transfer efficiency shall be made using 

South Coast Air Quality Management District Test Method “Spray Equipment 

Transfer Efficiency Test Procedure for Equipment Users”, May 24, 1989.

503.7 Multiple Test Methods: When more than one test method or a 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.