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 hand-application 

equipment. 

(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 highvoltage electric charge. 
Rule 1145 (cont.) (Amended December 4, 2009) 

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(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 250oF; 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 

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

− −
Rule 1145 (cont.) (Amended December 4, 2009) 

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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. 

(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. 
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(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. 

(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. 

(35) 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. 

(36) 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. 

(37) 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. 

(38) 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. 
Rule 1145 (cont.) (Amended December 4, 2009) 

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

after the main coating operation. 

(40) 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. 

(41) TRANSLUCENT COATING is a coating which contains binders and pigment, 

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

(42) 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. 

(43) VACUUM METALIZING/PHYSICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION (PVD) is the 

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

chamber. 

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

(c) Requirements 

(1) No person shall apply on plastics, rubber, leather, or glass any coatings which are 

applied with a VOC content in excess of the limits listed in 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 
Rule 1145 (cont.) (Amended December 4, 2009) 

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TABLE OF STANDARDS (cont.) 

VOC LIMITS 

LESS WATER AND LESS EXEMPT COMPOUNDS 

COATING CATEGORIES g/L lbs/gal 

 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 50 0.4 

 Vacuum metalizing coatings 800 6.7 

(2) Solvent cleaning operations and the storage and disposal of VOC-containing 

materials are subject to the provisions of Rule 1171 - Solvent Cleaning 

Operations. 

(3) 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)(3)(F), using 

District approved procedures and for which written approval of the 

Executive Officer has been obtained. 

(4) Air Pollution Control Equipment 

A person may comply with the provisions of paragraph (c)(1), (c)(2), or (c)(3) by 

using air pollution control equipment, provided that the VOC emissions from 
Rule 1145 (cont.) (Amended December 4, 2009) 

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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. 

(5) 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 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, 
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(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 sulfurcontaining 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 at such time as manufacturers 

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)(4) 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 Non-Methane Organic Emissions as 
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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 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) 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 paragraph (c)(1). 

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)(4). 

(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. 
Rule 1145 (cont.) (Amended December 4, 2009) 

1145-10 

(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; 

(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)(3) 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 liter 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, 
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(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.