April 9, 1998

Placer County APCD 234 - 1 Rules and Regulations

RULE 234 AUTOMOTIVE REFINISHING OPERATIONS

Adopted 11-03-94

(Amended 8-24-95, 8-8-96, 4-9-98), 10-14-10 [Effective 7-1-11])

CONTENTS

100 GENERAL

101 PURPOSE

102 APPLICABILITY

103 EXEMPTION FROM RULE 219SEVERABILITY

104 EXEMPTION, TOUCH-UPEXEMPTIONS

105 EXEMPTION, GRAPHIC DESIGN APPLICATIONS

106 EXEMPTION, MILITARY VEHICLES AND GROUND SUPPORT EQUIPMENT

107 EXEMPTION, RADIATORS AND ENGINE COMPONENTS

108 EXEMPTION, AEROSOL PAINT PRODUCTS

109 LIMITED EXEMPTION, SELF CONTAINED COATING APPLICATION

110 LIMITED EXEMPTION, SMALL PRODUCTION UTILITY BODIES

200 DEFINITIONS

201 ADHESION PROMOTER

202 AEROSOL PAINTCOATING PRODUCT

202 ANTIGLARE/SAFETY COATING

203 CAMOUFLAGEASSSEMBLY LINE

204 ASSOCIATED PARTS AND COMPONENTS

205 AUTOMOTIVE COATING

204206 AUTOMOTIVE COATING COMPONENT

207 AUTOMOTIVE REFINISHING FACILITY

208 CAPTURE EFFICIENCY

205209 CLEANING OPERATIONS

210 CLEAR COATING

211 COATING

212 COLOR COATING

213 CONTROL EFFICIENCY

206 CATALYST

207 COATING

208 COLOR MATCH

209214 ELECTROSTATIC SPRAY APPLICATION

210215 EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM

216 EXEMPT COMPOUNDS

211 FINISHING

212 GRAMS OF VOC PER LITER OF COATING EXCLUDING WATER AND EXEMPT 

COMPOUNDS

213 GRAMS OF VOC PER LITER OF MATERIAL

214217 GRAPHIC DESIGN APPLICATION

215 GROUND SUPPORT EQUIPMENT

216 GROUP I VEHICLES

217 GROUP II VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT

218 HIGH VOLUME, LOW PRESSURE (HVLP) SPRAY APPLICATOREQUIPMENT

219 LACQUER

220 LARGE/HEAVY DUTY TRUCK

221 LIGHT AND MEDIUM DUTY TRUCK OR VAN

222 METALLIC COATING TOPCOAT

223 MOBILE EQUIPMENT

224221 MOTOR VEHICLE

222 MULTI STAGE TOPCOAT SYSTEMCOLOR COATING

225 PRECOAT

226223 PRETREATMENT WASH COATING

224 PRIMER
April 9, 1998

Rules and Regulations 234 - 2 Placer County APCD

227 PRIMER

228225 PRIMER SEALER

229 PRIMER SURFACER

230226 REDUCER

231 REFINISHING

232 SPECIALTY227SINGLE STAGE COATING

233228 SOLVENT

229 SPOT REPAIR

230 TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE COATING

234 TOPCOAT

235 TOUCH-UP

236231 TRANSFER EFFICIENCY

237 UTILITY BODY

238232 TRUCK BED LINER COATING

233 UNDERBODY COATING

234 UNIFORM FINISH COATING

235 VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOC)

236 VOC CONTENT

300 STANDARDS

301 LIMITS

302 OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE PLAN

302 MOST RESTRICTIVE VOC LIMIT

303 TRANSFER EFFICIENCYAPPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

304 SURFACE PREPARATION AND EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM

305 SOLVENT LIMITS AND EVAPORATIVE LOSS MINIMIZATION

305 SPECIALTY COATINGS

306 TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE COATINGTOXIC AIR CONTAMINANT

307 PRECOAT LIMITATION

308 HVLP MARKING

400 ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS

401 PROHIBITION OF SPECIFICATIONPOSSESSION

402 PROHIBITION OF SPECIFICATION

403 PROHIBITION OF SALE OR MANUFACTURE

403404 VOC COMPLIANCE STATEMENT REQUIREMENT

404 CALCULATION FOR VOC MASS EMISSION RATE AND CONTROL EFFICIENCY

405 LABELING REQUIREMENTS

406 HVLP MARKING

500 MONITORING AND RECORDS

501 USER COATING RECORDS

502 HIGH VOC EMISSIONS RECORDS

503 PRECOAT LIMITATION RECORDS

504 EMISSION CONTROL EQUIPMENT RECORDS

505503 SALES RECORDS

504 PROHIBITION OF SALE OR MANUFACTURE RECORDS

505 BURDEN OF PROOF

506 MAINTENANCE OF RECORDS

507 TEST METHODS
April 9, 1998

Placer County APCD 234 - 3 Rules and Regulations

100 GENERAL

101 PURPOSE: To limit the emission of volatile organic compounds from finishing or refinishing 

of Group I coating and Group II Vehiclessolvent operations associated with motor vehicles, 

mobile equipment, and Equipment as defined in this ruleassociated parts and components.

102 APPLICABILITY: The provisions of this rule apply only to facilities located in the 

Sacramento Valley Air Basin portion of Placer County, as defined by California Code of 

Regulations, Title 17, Division 3, Chapter 1, Subchapter 1.5, Article 1, Section 60106to any 

person who uses, applies or solicits the use or application of any automotive coating or 

associated solvent; or any person who supplies, sells, offers for sale, manufacturers or 

distributes for use or application within the District, any automotive coating or associated 

solvent.

103 EXEMPTION FROM RULE 219

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 to the remaining portions of the rule.

104 EXEMPTIONS

104.1 Exemption From Rule 219: The provisions of Rule 219, Organic SolventsORGANIC 

SOLVENTS, shall not apply to the refinishing of vehicles and equipment as defined in Rule 

234.

104EXEMPTION, TOUCH-UP: The provisions of operations subject to this rule shall not 

apply to touch-up operations.

105 EXEMPTION, GRAPHIC DESIGN APPLICATION: The provisions of this rule shall not apply 

to application of graphic designs.

106EXEMPTION, MILITARY VEHICLES AND GROUND SUPPORT EQUIPMENT104.2 Exemption, Sma 

used by the general public to repair tiny surface imperfections.

107EXEMPTION, RADIATORS104.3 Exemption, Assembly Line: The provisions of 

this rule shall not apply to the coating of radiators and engine partsany coating 

applied to motor vehicles or mobile equipment, or their associated parts and 

components during manufacture on an assembly line.

108EXEMPTION, AEROSOL PAINT PRODUCTS104.4 Exemption, Aerosol Products 

Coating: The provisions of this rule shall not apply to the application of aerosol 

paintcoating products from non-refillable aerosol containers having a capacity of one 

liter (34 fluid ounces), or less.

109 LIMITED EXEMPTION, SELF-CONTAINED COATING APPLICATION104.5 Exemption, Use

Outside of District: The provisions of Section 302,this rule shall not apply to the application of 

high viscosity any automotive coating or thixotropic coatings with application 

equipmentassociated solvent that is supplied with and is an integral partoffered for sale, sold, 

or manufactured for use outside of the coating container.

110 LIMITED EXEMPTION, SMALL PRODUCTION/UTILITY BODIES: The provisions 

of Section 301, shall not applyDistrict or for shipment to coatings applied to small 

production and utility bodies that must match the vehicles upon which they will be 

mounted. When production is less than or equal to 20 vehicles per day, any coating 

with a VOC content not in excess of the standards set forth in Section 301.1 can be 

used. If production is greater than 20 vehicles per day, any coating with a VOC 

content not in excess of the standards set forth in Section 301.2 can be used. Daily 

records shall be maintained on the number of utility bodies coated each day and 

such records shall be retained for the previous five (5) year period and be available at 

the time of inspectionother manufacturers for reformulation or packing.
April 9, 1998

Rules and Regulations 234 - 4 Placer County APCD

200 DEFINITIONS

201 AEROSOL PAINT PRODUCT: A201 ADHESION PROMOTER: A coating which is 

labeled and formulated to be applied to uncoated plastic surfaces to facilitate bonding of 

subsequent coatings, and on which, a subsequent coating is applied.

202 AEROSOL COATING PRODUCT: A pressurized coating product containing pigments or 

resins that dispenses product ingredients by means of a propellant, and is packaged in a 

non-refillable can for hand-held application, or for use in specialized equipment for ground 

traffic/marking applications.

202 ANTIGLARE/SAFETY COATING: A coating which minimizes light reflection for safety 

purposes.

203 CAMOUFLAGE COATING: A coating applied on motor vehicles to conceal such vehicles 

from detection.

204203 ASSEMBLY LINE: An arrangement of industrial equipment and workers in which the 

product passes from one specialized operation to another until complete, by either automatic 

or manual means.

204 ASSOCIATED PARTS AND COMPONENTS: Any structures, devices, pieces, modules, 

sections, assemblies, sub-assemblies, or elements of motor vehicles or mobile equipment 

that are designed to be a part of motor vehicles or mobile equipment but which are not 

attached to motor vehicles or mobile equipment at the time of coating the structure, device, 

piece, module, section assembly, sub-assembly, or element. “Associated parts and 

components” does not include circuit boards.

205 AUTOMOTIVE COATING: Any coating or coating component used or recommended for use 

in motor vehicle or mobile equipment refinishing, service, maintenance, repair, restoration, or 

modification, except metal plating activities. Any reference to automotive refinishing or 

automotive coating made by a person on the container or in product literature constitutes a 

recommendation for use in motor vehicle or mobile equipment refinishing.

206 AUTOMOTIVE COATING COMPONENT: Any portion of a coating including, but not limited 

to, a reducer or thinner, toner, hardener, and additive, which is recommended by any person 

to distributors or end-users for use in an automotive coating, or which is supplied for or used 

in an automotive coating. The raw materials used to produce the components are not 

considered automotive coating components.

207 AUTOMOTIVE REFINISHING FACILITY: Any shop, business, location, or parcel of land 

where motor vehicles or mobile equipment or their associated parts and components are 

coated, including autobody collision repair shops. “Automotive Refinishing Facility” does not 

include the original equipment manufacturing plant where the motor vehicle or mobile 

equipment is completely assembled.

208 CAPTURE EFFICIENCY: The fraction, in percent, of all VOC's generated by a process that 

areis directed to an abatement or recovery device.

205209 CLEANING OPERATIONS: Involves the removal of loosely held uncured adhesives, 

inks, coatings, or contaminants, including, but not limited to, dirt, soil, or grease, from motor 

vehicles, mobile equipment, associated parts and components, substrates, parts, products, 

tools, machinery, equipment, or general work areas.

210 CLEAR COATING: Any coating that contains no pigments and is labeled and formulated for 

application over a color coating or clear coating.

211 COATING: A material which is applied to a surface and forms a film in order to beautify, 

preserve, repair, and/or protect such surface.
April 9, 1998

Placer County APCD 234 - 5 Rules and Regulations

212 COLOR COATING: Any pigmented coating, excluding adhesion promoters, primers, and 

multi-color coatings, that requires a subsequent clear coating and which is applied over a 

primer, adhesion promoter, or color coating. Color coatings include metallic/iridescent color 

coatings.

213 CONTROL EFFICIENCY: The fraction, in percent, of pollution prevented by a control device 

and the pollution introduced to the control device.

Where:

Gvoc = Grams VOC per liter of coating excluding water and exempt compounds.

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 (as defined in Rule 102, Definitions), in liters.

206 CATALYST: A substance whose presence initiates the reaction between chemical 

compounds.

207 COATING: A material which is applied to a surface and which forms a film in order to 

beautify and/or protect such surface.

208 COLOR MATCH: The ability of a repair coating to blend into an existing coating so that color 

difference is not visible.

209214 ELECTROSTATIC SPRAY APPLICATION: TheAny method of spray application of 

charged atomized paint droplets which are deposited by coatings where an electrostatic 

attraction is created between the part to be coated and the paint particles.

210215 EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM: Any combination of capture systems and control 

devices used to reduce VOC emissions from automotive coating operations.

216 EXEMPT COMPOUNDS: For the purpose of this Rule, exempt compounds are as defined in 

Rule 102, DefinitionsDEFINITIONS.

211 FINISHING: The coating of incomplete vehicles, their parts and components, or mobile 

equipment for which the original coating was not applied from an Original Equipment 

Manufacturing (OEM) plant coating assembly line.

212 GRAMS OF VOC PER LITER OF COATING EXCLUDING WATER AND EXEMPT 

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

be calculated by the following equation: 

Where:

Gvoc = Grams VOC per liter of coating excluding water and exempt compounds.

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. 

(V -V -V )

(W -W -W ) G = m w es

s w es

voc

(V -V -V )

(W -W -W ) G = m w es

s w es

voc
April 9, 1998

Rules and Regulations 234 - 6 Placer County APCD

Vw = Volume of water in liters. 

Ves = Volume of exempt compounds (as defined in Rule 102, Definitions), in 

liters.

213 GRAMS OF VOC PER LITER OF MATERIAL: The weight of VOC per volume of material. It 

can be calculated by the following equation:

Ws – Ww – Wec

Grams of VOC per Liter of Material = --------------------------

Vm

Where:

Ws = Weight of volatile compounds in grams

Ww = Weight of water in grams

Wec = Weight of exempt compounds in grams

Vm = Volume of material in liters

214217 GRAPHIC DESIGN APPLICATION: The application of logos, letters, numbers, and 

graphics to a painted surface, with or without the use of a template by brush, roller, or 

airbrush.

215 GROUND SUPPORT EQUIPMENT: Vehicles used in support of aircraft activities at airports.

216 GROUP I VEHICLES: Passenger cars, large/heavy duty truck cabs and chassis, light and 

medium duty trucks and vans, and motorcycles.

217 GROUP II VEHICLES: Public transit buses and mobile equipment.

218 HIGH VOLUME, LOW PRESSURE (HVLP) SPRAY APPLICATOR: 

EquipmentEQUIPMENT: Spray 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 pounds per square 

inch, gauge, (psig) air atomized pressure, measured dynamically at the center of the air cap 

and at the air horns.

219 219LACQUER: A coating that dries primarily by solvent evaporation and is resoluble in its 

original solvent.

220 LARGE/HEAVY DUTY TRUCK: A truck having a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating 

of over 30,000 pounds.

221 LIGHT AND MEDIUM DUTY TRUCK OR VAN: A truck or van having a manufacturer's 

gross vehicle weight rating of 30,000 pounds or less.

222 METALLIC COATING TOPCOAT: A coating which contains more than 5 g/l (0.042 lb/gal) of 

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

223220 MOBILE EQUIPMENT: Equipment which may be drawn or is capable of being driven on 

rails or on a roadway, including, but not limited to, trains, railcars, truck bodies, truck trailers, 

camper shells, mobile cranes, bulldozers, street cleaners, golf carts, and implements of 

husbandry or agriculture.

224 MULTI STAGE TOPCOAT SYSTEM: A topcoat system composed of either a basecoatclearcoat, a basecoat-midcoat-clearcoat, or a groundcoat-basecoat-midcoat-clearcoat.

The VOC content of a basecoat-clearcoat coating system shall be calculated according to the 

following formula:

3

VOC +2VOC VOC = bc cc

Total
April 9, 1998

Placer County APCD 234 - 7 Rules and Regulations

The VOC content of a 3 Stage coating system shall be calculated according to the following 

formula:

The VOC content of a 4 Stage coating system shall be calculated according to the following 

formula:

Where:

VOCTotal = The sum of the VOC content, as applied and used to determine 

compliance with Section 301.

VOCgc = The VOC content, as applied, of a pigmented groundcoat or tinted primer 

sealer.

VOCbc = The VOC content, as applied, of a pigmented basecoat.

VOCmc = The VOC content, as applied, of a translucent midcoat.

2VOCcc = Two times the VOC content, as applied, of a transparent clearcoat.

225 PRECOAT: A coating which is applied to bare metal primarily to deactivate the metal surface 

prior to application of a subsequent water-base primer surfacer. Effective January 1, 1997, 

a precoat shall be a coating that dries by oxidation or chemical polymerization. A precoat 

must not be a lacquer product. Purchase invoices must be retained to verify that usage of 

precoat is no more than 25%, by volume, of primer/surfacer usage.

226221 MOTOR VEHICLE: Any self-propelled vehicle, including, but not limited to cars, trucks, 

buses, golf carts, vans, motorcycles, tanks, and armored personnel carriers.

222 MULTI COLOR COATING: Any coating that exhibits more than one color in the dried film 

after a single application, is packaged in a single container, and hides surface defects on 

areas of heavy use, and which is applied over a primer or adhesion promoter.

223 PRETREATMENT WASH PRIMERCOATING: A coating which contains a minimum of onehalf (0.5) percent acid by weight, and not more than 16 percent solids by weight, to provide 

surface etching, and which is labeled and formulated to be applied directly to bare metal 

surfaces to provide corrosion resistance and topcoat adhesion.

227224 PRIMER: AAny coating applied prior to the application of a topcoat for the purpose of, 

which is labeled and formulated for application to a substrate to provide: (1) a bond between 

the substrate and subsequent coats, (2) corrosion resistance and adhesion of the topcoat. 

Primer surfacer and primer sealer shall be considered a primer when applied to Group II 

vehicles.

228 PRIMER SEALER: A coating applied for the purpose of sealing the underlying metal or 

coating system prior to the application of , (3) a topcoat.

229 PRIMER SURFACER: A coating applied prior to the application of a topcoat for the purpose 

of corrosionsmooth substrate surface, or (4) resistance, adhesion of the topcoat to 

penetration of subsequent coats, and which promotes a uniform surface by filling in surface 

imperfectionson which a subsequent coating is applied. Primers may be pigmented.

230 REDUCER: The solvent used to thin enamel.

231 REFINISHING: The coating of vehicles, their parts and components, or mobile equipment, 

including partial body collision repairs, for the purpose of protection or beautification and 

4

VOC +VOC +2VOC VOC = bc mc cc

Total

5

VOC +VOC +VOC +2VOC

VOC = gc bc mc cc

Total
April 9, 1998

Rules and Regulations 234 - 8 Placer County APCD

which is subsequent to the original coating applied at an Original Equipment Manufacturing 

(OEM) plant coating assembly line.

232 SPECIALTY COATING: A unique coating containing additives which are necessary due to 

unusual job performance requirements. Specialty coatings include, but are not limited to, 

adhesion promoters, uniform finish blenders, elastomeric materials, gloss flatteners, bright 

metal trim repair, and anti-glare/safety coatings.

233

225 PRIMER SEALER: Any coating which is labeled and formulated for application prior to the 

application of a color coating for the purpose of color uniformity, or to promote the ability of 

the underlying coating to resist penetration by the color coating.

226 REDUCER: Products used to thin a coating.

227 SINGLE-STAGE COATING: Any pigmented coating, excluding primers and multi-color 

coatings, labeled and formulated for application without a subsequent clear coat. Singlestage coatings include single-stage metallic/iridescent coatings.

228 SOLVENT: A VOC-containing fluid used to perform surface preparation and cleaning 

operations.

229 SPOT REPAIR: Repair of an area on a motor vehicle, piece of mobile equipment, or 

associated parts or components of less than 1 square foot (929 square centimeters).

230 TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE COATING: AAny coating applied to areas adjacent to those 

being painted,which is labeled and formulated for the purpose of temporarily protecting those 

areas from overspray. The temporary protective coating is removed after primer or topcoat 

applications.

234 TOPCOAT: A coating applied over a primer, primer system, or an original OEM finish for the 

purpose of protection or appearance. For the purposes of this rule, solid color and metallic 

topcoats are single stage applications, the VOCTotal of a multi stage topcoat system will 

determine compliance with VOC standards in Section 301.

235 TOUCH-UP: The application of a coating by brush, air brush, or hand held, non-refillable 

aerosol cans, to repair minor surface or mechanical damage and imperfections less than four 

square feet in area.

236231 TRANSFER EFFICIENCY: The ratio of the amount of coating solids adhering to the 

object being coated to the total amount of coating solids used in the application 

processsprayed, expressed as a percentage.

237 UTILITY BODY: A special purpose service 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.

238232 TRUCK BED LINER COATING: Any coating, excluding clear, color, multi-color, and 

single stage coatings, labeled and formulated for application to a trunk bed to protect it from 

surface abrasion.

233 UNDERBODY COATING: Any coating labeled and formulated for application to wheel wells, 

the inside of door panels or fenders, the underside of a trunk or hood, or the underside of the 

motor vehicle.

234 UNIFORM FINISH COATING: Any coating labeled and formulated for application to the area 

around a spot repair for the purpose of blending a repaired area’s color or clear coat to match 

the appearance of an adjacent area’s existing coating.
April 9, 1998

Placer County APCD 234 - 9 Rules and Regulations

235 VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDCOMPOUNDS (VOC): Any chemical compound 

containing at least one atom of carbon except for the Exempt Compounds listed in Rule 102, 

DefinitionsDEFINITIONS.

236 VOC CONTENT:

236.1 VOC Regulatory Content: The weight of VOC per combined volume of VOC and 

coating solids, calculated with the following equation: 

Ws – Ww – Wec

VOC Regulatory Content = --------------------------

Vm – Vw - Vec

236.2 VOC Actual Content: The weight of VOC per volume of material, calculated with the 

following equation:

Ws – Ww – Wec

VOC Actual Content = --------------------------

Vm

Where:

Ws = Weight of volatile compounds in grams

Ww = Weight of water in grams

Wec = Weight of exempt compounds in grams

Vm = Volume of material in liters

Vw = Volume of water in liters

Vec = Volume of exempt compounds, as defined in Rule 102, 

DEFINITIONS, in liters

300 STANDARDS

301 LIMITS: AnyNo person who applies coatingsshall apply to Group I or II vehiclesany motor 

vehicle, mobile equipment, or theirassociated parts and components, shall comply with 

Sections 301.1 and 301.2 of this rule, as applicable.

301.1 Group I Vehicles: A person shall not refinish Group I Vehicles (or Group II Vehicles where 

color match is required), or their parts and components, using any coating with a VOC 

Regulatory content, as calculated pursuant to Section 236.1 for VOC Regulatory, in excess of 

the following limits, expressedexcept as grams of VOC per liter (or pounds per gallon) of 

coating as applied, excluding water and exempt compounds (as definedprovided in Rule 102) 

unless emissions to the atmosphere are controlled to an equivalent level by air pollution 

abatement equipment with an overall control efficiency (capture and control), as determined 

in Sections 506.4 and 506.5, of at least 85 percent and which has been approved in writing 

by the Air Pollution Control Officer. Pursuant to Section 302, any person seeking to utilize 

such abatement equipment shall submit an Operation and Maintenance Plan at least 90 days 

in advance of the date on which abatement equipment control is to be used in lieu of 

compliance with VOC content limitations. Submittal of an application for Authority to 

Construct per Rule 501, General Permit Requirements, will also be requiredSection 304.

COATING JANUARY 1, 1996

VOC

JANUARY 1, 1997

VOC

JANUARY 1, 1998

VOC

etreatment Wash

imer Coating Category

780 g/l (6.5 lbs/gal) 780 g/l (6.5 lbs/gal) 780 Regulatory VOC Content

g/l (6.5 lbslb/gal)

Adhesion Promoter 540 

Clear Coating 250 

Color Coating 420 

Multi-Color Coating 680 
April 9, 1998

Rules and Regulations 234 - 10 Placer County APCD

COATING JANUARY 1, 1996

VOC

JANUARY 1, 1997

VOC

JANUARY 1, 1998

VOC

ecoatPretreatment Coating 780 g/l (6.5 lbs/gal) 600 g/l (5.0 lbs/gal) 600 g/l660 (5.0 lbs/gal5)

imer/Primer Surfacer 720 g/l (6.0 lbs/gal) 340 g/l (2.8 lbs/gal) 250 g/l (2.1 lbs/gal)

imer Sealer 720 g/l (6.0 lbs/gal) 600 g/l (5.0 lbs/gal 420 g/l (3.5 lbs/gal)250 (2.1)

Single-Stage Coating 340 

olid Color TopcoatTemporary Protective 

oating

720 g/l (6.0 lbs/gal) 600 g/l (5.0 lbs/gal) 420 g/l (360 (0.5 lbs/gal)

etallic TopcoatTruck Bed Liner Coating 720 g/l (6.0 lbs/gal) 600 g/l (5.0 lbs/gal) 520 g/l (4.3 lbs/gal)310 (2.6)

pecialtyUnderbody Coating 840 g/l (7.0 lbs/gal) 840 g/l (7.0 lbs/gal) 840 g/l (7.0 lbs/gal)430 (3.6)

ulti Stage Topcoat SystemUniform Finish 

oating

720 g/l (6.0 lbs/gal) 600 g/l (5.0 lbs/gal) 540 g/l (4.5 lbs/gal)

Any Other Coating Type 250 

301.2 Group II Vehicles and Mobile Equipment: A person shall not finish or refinish Group 

II vehicles and equipment or their parts and components, using any coating with a 

VOC content in excess of the following limits, expressed as grams of VOC per liter 

(or pounds per gallon) of coating as applied, excluding water and exempt compounds 

(as defined in Rule 102) unless emissions to the atmosphere are controlled to an 

equivalent level by air pollution abatement equipment with an overall control 

efficiency (capture and control), as determined in Sections 506.4 and 506.5, of at 

least 85 percent and which has been approved in writing by the Air Pollution Control 

Officer. Pursuant to Section 302, any person seeking to utilize such abatement 

equipment shall submit an Operation and Maintenance Plan at least 90 days in 

advance of the date on which abatement equipment control is to be used in lieu of 

compliance with VOC content limitations. Submittal of an application for Authority to 

Construct per Rule 501, General Permit Requirements, will also be required.

COATING JANUARY 1, 1996

VOC

JANUARY 1, 1997

VOC

JANUARY 1, 1998

VOC

Pretreatment 

Wash Primer 

780 g/l (6.5 lbs/gal) 780 g/l (6.5 lbs/gal) 780 g/l (6.5 lbs/gal)

Precoat 780 g/l (6.5 lbs/gal) 600 g/l (5.0 lbs/gal) 600 g/l (5.0 lbs/gal)

Primer/Primer 

Surfacer

340 g/l (2.8 lbs/gal) 340 g/l (2.8 lbs/gal) 250 g/l (2.1 lbs/gal)

Primer Sealer 420 g/l (3.5 lbs/gal) 340 g/l (2.8 lbs/gal) 340 g/l (2.8 lbs/gal)

Topcoat 420 g/l (3.5 lbs/gal) 420 g/l (3.5 lbs/gal) 420 g/l (3.5 lbs/gal)

Metallic Topcoat 420 g/l (3.5 lbs/gal) 420 g/l (3.5 lbs/gal) 420 g/l (3.5 lbs/gal)

Specialty Coating 840 g/l (7.0 lbs/gal) 840 g/l (7.0 lbs/gal) 840 g/l (7.0 lbs/gal)

Camouflage 420 g/l (3.5 lbs/gal) 420 g/l (3.5 lbs/gal) 420 g/l (3.5 lbs/gal)

301.3 Utility Body Requirements: The standards set forth in Section 301.1 shall apply to 

the coating of utility bodies only when color match is required and the volume of utility 

bodies to be coated is 20 per day or less. If both of these conditions do not apply, 

the standards set forth in Section 301.2 shall apply to the coating of utility bodies.
April 9, 1998

Placer County APCD 234 - 11 Rules and Regulations

302 OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE PLAN: Any person using air pollution abatement 

equipment pursuant to Section 301 shall submit an Operation and Maintenance Plan for the 

emissions control equipment to the Air Pollution Control Officer for approval. The Plan shall 

specify operation and maintenance procedures which will demonstrate continuous operation 

and compliance of the emissions control equipment during periods of emissions-producing 

operations. The Plan shall also specify which daily records must be kept to document these 

operations and maintenance procedures. These records shall comply with the requirements 

of Section 504. The Plan shall be implemented upon approval by the Air Pollution Control 

Officer.

303 TRANSFER EFFICIENCY: Effective January 1, 1998, for all coatings, a person shall not 

apply any 302 MOST RESTRICTIVE VOC LIMIT: If anywhere on the container of any 

automotive coating, or any label or sticker affixed to the container, or in any sales, advertising 

or technical literature supplied by a person, any representation is made that indicates that the 

coating meets the definition of or is recommended for use for more than one of the coating 

categories listed in Section 301, then the lowest VOC content limit shall apply.

303 APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: No person shall apply a coating to any Group I or II 

vehicles or motor vehicle, mobile equipment, or theirassociated parts and components unless 

one of the following application methods is used: 

303.1 Brush, dip, or roller;

303.2 Electrostatic spray application equipment, operated in accordance with the 

manufacturer's recommendations;

303.23 High Volume Low Pressure (HVLP) spray equipment, operated in accordance with 

the manufacturer's recommendations;

303.3

303.4 Spray gun, demonstrated to meet the HVLP definition in Section 218 in design and 

use.

303.5 Any other equivalent coating application method which has been demonstrated to 

have a transfer efficiency of 65% or greater accordingequivalent to or higher than, 

the requirements ofapplication methods listed in this Section 506.3, as determined 

per Section 507.2, Determination of Transfer Efficiency, and which has been 

submitted to and approved by thein writing prior to use by the California Air 

Resources Board or Air Pollution Control Officer or U.S. EPA.

304 EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM: In lieu of complying with VOC content limits of Section 

301, a person may use a VOC emission control system that controls emissions from the 

source operation provided the following conditions are met:

304.1 The VOC emission control system shall be approved in writing by the Air Pollution 

Control Officer.

304.2 The VOC emission control system shall be operated with an overall control efficiency 

(capture and control), as determined in Sections 507.3 and 507.4, of at least 85 

percent by weight, during periods of emission producing activity. The approved 

emission control system must be maintained and used at all times in proper working 

condition.

304.3 Submit an Operation and Maintenance Plan at least 90 days in advance of the date 

on which VOC emission control system is to be used in lieu of compliance with VOC 

content limitations. The Plan shall specify operation and maintenance procedures 

which will demonstrate continuous operation and compliance of the emissions control 

equipment during periods of emissions-producing operations. The Plan shall also 

specify which daily records must be kept to document these operations and 

maintenance procedures. These records shall comply with the requirements of 
April 9, 1998

Rules and Regulations 234 - 12 Placer County APCD

Section 502. The Plan shall be implemented upon approval by the Air Pollution 

Control Officer.

304SURFACE PREPARATION AND .4 Submittal of an application for Authority to 

Construct per Rule 501, GENERAL PERMIT REQUIREMENTS, prior to control 

system construction.

305 SOLVENT LIMITS AND EVAPORATIVE LOSS MINIMIZATION: Any person using organic 

solvent for surface preparation and cleanup or mixing, using or disposing of coating or 

stripper containing organic solvent: 

304.1 Shall use closed, nonabsorbent305.1 Closed, non-leaking, non-absorbent

containers shall be used for the storage or disposal of VOC-laden materials, including 

cloth or paper used for solvent surface preparation and cleanup.

304305.2 Shall store freshFresh or spent solvent, coating, catalyst, thinner, or reducer, 

shall be stored in closed vapor-tight containers when not in use. Containers may only 

be open when adding or removing contents. Disposal shall be done in a manner to 

prevent evaporation of VOCs into the atmosphere at the facility.

304305.3 ShallSolvents shall not, effective January 1, 1997, use organic compounds be 

used for the cleanup of spray equipment including paint lines unless an enclosed 

system or other system, that has been approved in writing for use by the Air Pollution 

Control Officer andor submitted to and approved by the California Air Resources 

Board (ARB) and U.S. EPA, is used for cleanup. The system must enclose spray 

guns, cups, nozzles, bowls, and other parts during washing, rinsing, and draining 

procedures. Equipment used shall minimize the evaporation of organic compounds to 

the atmosphere. Spray equipment may be cleaned without the use of an enclosed 

system if cleaning solutions are used that do not contain VOCs. 

304.4 Effective January 1, 1997, the VOC content of surface preparation solvent shall not 

exceed 72 g/l (0.6 lb/gal), excluding water and exempt compounds. This limit shall 

not apply to surface preparation material applied from a hand-held spray bottle for the 

removal of road tar, engine oil, grease, overspray, or adhesives, from the vehicle, or 

used to clean plastic parts. The VOC content of surface preparation solvent used to 

remove road tar, engine oil, grease, overspray, or adhesives, from the vehicle, or 

used to clean plastic parts shall not exceed 780 g/l (6.5 lbs/gal), excluding water and 

exempt compounds.

305 SPECIALTY COATING: Use of all specialty coatings except antiglare/safety coatings shall 

not exceed 5.0% of all coatings applied, on a monthly basis. 

306 TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE COATING: A person shall not use any temporary protective 

coating with a VOC content in excess of 60 g/l (0.5 lbs/gal), of material.

307 PRECOAT LIMITATION: A person shall not use precoat in excess of 25%, by volume, of the 

amount of primer surfacer used, on a monthly basis.

308 HVLP MARKING: Effective April 3, 1995, a person shall not sell or offer for sale for use 

within the District any HVLP gun without a permanent marking denoting the maximum inlet air 

pressure in psig at which the gun will operate within the parameters specified in Section 218.

305.4 For solvent cleaning operations other than for bug and tar removal, solvents must 

have VOC content less than 25 g/l, as calculated using the equation listed in Section

236.2 for VOC actual content. For solvents used for bug and tar removal, the VOC 

content shall meet requirements for such products under the Consumer Products 

Regulation (California Code of Regulations Section 94509, with a maximum limit of 

40% volatile organic compound by weight).
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Placer County APCD 234 - 13 Rules and Regulations

306 TOXIC AIR CONTAMINANT: No person shall apply a coating to any motor vehicle, mobile 

equipment, or associated parts and components, containing cadmium or hexavalent 

chromium.

400 ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS

401401 PROHIBITION OF POSSESSION: No person shall possess at any automotive 

refinishing facility, any VOC-containing product that is not in compliance with Section 301 or

304 or 305.4, as applicable.

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

application of aany coating on a Group I or IIsolvents to a motor vehicle, mobile equipment, 

or part or component thereof if such use or application results in a violation of the provisions 

of this rule. The prohibition of this Section will apply to all written or oral contracts, including 

but not limited to, job orders, under the terms of which any coating which is subject to the 

provisions of this rule is to be applied to any motor vehicle, mobile equipment, or part or 

component at any physical location within the District.

402403 PROHIBITION OF SALE: A OR MANUFACTURE:

403.1 No person shall notmanufacture, blend, repackage for sale, supply, sell, offer for 

sale, or selldistribute within the District, any coating if such product is prohibited by 

anywith a VOC content in excess of the provisions of this rule. The prohibition of this 

sectionlimits specified in Section 301. This shall apply to the sale of any coating 

which will be applied at any physical location within the jurisdiction of the local air 

pollution control agencies. This requirement shall not apply to the application of 

coatings where emissions to the atmosphere are controlled to an equivalent level of 

this rule by air pollution abatement equipment with an overall efficiency (capture and 

control) as determined in Sections 506.4 and 506.5, of at least 85 percent and which 

has been approved in writing by the Air Pollution Control OfficerDistrict.

403.2 The provision of Section 403.1 shall not apply to the application of coatings where

either: (a) The product is used exclusively within a emission control systems as 

allowed in Section 304; or (b) For coatings for use outside of the District.

404 VOC COMPLIANCE STATEMENT REQUIREMENT: The manufacturer or repackager of 

automotive coatings and automotive coating components and solvents subject to this rule 

shall include a designation of VOC (as defined in Section 238 of this rule) as supplied and as 

appliedprovide the following product information to the purchaser, on product data sheets, or 

equivalent medium (including in electronic or web media format), for each coating, coating 

component, solvent, and ready to spray mixture:

404.1 VOC actual content and VOC regulatory content, expressed in grams per liter (or 

pounds per gallon), excluding;

404.2 Weight percentage of volatiles, water, and exempt compounds, on data sheets.;

404.3 Volume percentage of water and exempt compounds;

404.4 Density of the material, in grams per liter.

405 LABELING REQUIREMENTS: The manufacturer and repackager of temporary 

protectiveautomotive coatings and automotive coating components and solvents shall 

indicateinclude on all containers the material type (applicable use category(ies)), and the 

VOC designationactual content and VOC regulatory content for coatings and solvents, as 

supplied, expressed in grams per liter (or pounds per gallon) of material.. For products 

manufactured prior to July 1, 2011, labeling does not need to identify the material type 

(applicable coating category(ies)).

404 CALCULATION FOR VOC MASS EMISSION RATE AND CONTROL EFFICIENCY: The 

VOC mass emission rate shall be calculated both upstream and downstream of the 
April 9, 1998

Rules and Regulations 234 - 14 Placer County APCD

emissions control device based on the respective VOC mass concentration and volumetric 

flowrate, pursuant to Section 506.4 and the following equation:

M = (Q)(C)(60 min/hr)

Where: M = VOC mass emission rate, in lb/hr.

Q = The volumetric flowrate of the exhaust stack, in scfm.

C = The VOC mass concentration, in lb/scf, as measured by EPA Method 25.

The percent control efficiency is calculated as follows:

% CE = [(MU - MD)  MU] x 100

Where: CE = Control efficiency.

MU = The upstream VOC mass emission rate, in lb/hr.

MD = The downstream VOC mass emission rate, in lb/hr.

406 HVLP MARKING: A person shall not sell, offer for sale, or distribute for use within the 

District any HVLP gun without a permanent marking, or accurate information provided on 

company letterhead or in the form of technical literature clearly identifying the spray gun 

manufacturer, salesperson or distributer, denoting the maximum inlet air pressure in psig at 

which the gun will operate within the parameters specified in Section 218.

500 MONITORING AND RECORDS

501 USER COATING RECORDS: Operators of facilities subject to this Rule shall maintain a 

current listing of all as-applied VOC containing materials in use at their facility. This listing 

shall include, and have available at all times on the site, the following:

a.material 501.1 A current listing of all VOC containing materials in use at their facility. 

This listing shall include, for each product:

501.1.1 Material name and manufacturer identification;

b. application501.1.2 Application method;

c. material501.1.3 Material type, group number (I or II) (applicable use 

category(ies)), mix ratio, and specific use instructions (such as "precoat 

must be applied to bare metal and followed with a compliant primer");;

d. specific501.1.4 Specific mixing instructions;

e. maximum 501.1.5 VOC actual content of coatings as applied (including 

reducing solvents);and VOC regulatory content.

501.2 Current coating manufacturing specification sheets, materialtechnical data sheets , 

material data sheets, or current air quality data sheets, which list the VOC actual 

content and VOC regulatory content of each material, shall be available for review

ready to spray coating (based on site. A recordthe manufacturer’s stated mix ratio) 

and automotive coating component, and VOC content of the each solvent.

501.3 Records on a monthly basis for the quantity and material type (applicable use 

category(ies)) of each coating applied, and total facility VOC emissions shall be 

maintained on a monthly basis. . These records shall be summarized for the previous 

calendar year and submitted to the District by June 1. Such records shall be retained 

and available for inspection by the District for the previous three (3) year period, 

except for sources subject to Rule 507, Federal Operating Permit Program, which 

shall retain records for five (5) years.

502 HIGH VOC EMISSIONS: If VOC emissions for any calendar year exceed 10,000 pounds, 

recordkeeping requirements in addition to those listed in Section 501, will be required per 

Rule 511, Potential to Emit.
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Placer County APCD 234 - 15 Rules and Regulations

503 PRECOAT LIMITATION RECORDS: Any person using precoat shall verify compliance with 

Section 307 by retaining purchase invoices and records of applied volume of precoat on a 

monthly basis. Such records shall be retained for the previous three (3) year period and 

made available for inspection upon request.

504501.4 Purchase records identifying the coating or solvent material type (applicable use 

category(ies)), product name and/or identification number, product volume, and name 

and address of the seller, The material type (applicable use category(ies)) may be 

contained on product data sheets or manufacturer specification sheets. Purchase 

records may be stored offsite.

502 EMISSION CONTROL EQUIPMENT RECORDS: Any person using emissions control 

equipment pursuant to Section 302304 as a means of complying with this rule shall maintain 

such records as required by the Operation and Maintenance Plan in Section 302 on a daily 

basis, to include such records as required by Sections 501, 502, and 503. 304, Section 501, 

and also including:

505502.1 Monthly usage records of all materials used such as coatings, catalysts, 

additives, and reducers.

502.2 Daily records of key operating parameters such as temperatures, pressures, 

flowrates, and hours of operation of the control device to verify compliance of the 

capture and control device.

502.3 Maintenance work which interferes with the operation of the control device.

503 SALES RECORDS: Any person within the District selling coatings subject to this Rule shall 

make receipts of customer purchasesmaintain the following records for on-site sales, for a 

three-year period, and make such records available for inspection uponon request. Cash 

sales shall be recorded including to the customer'sAir Pollution Control Officer:

503.1 Business name and , street address, phone number, and either business card. 

license or drivers license;

503.2 Product name and volume;

503.3 VOC content and material type (applicable use category(ies)). This information 

canmust be available on-site, and does not need to be submitted to the 

Districtincluded in electronic data form.each sales transaction;

506 TEST METHODS:

506.1 Analysis503.4 Date of Samples: Samplessale.

504 PROHIBITION OF SALE OR MANUFACTURE RECORDS: Any person claiming an 

exemption under subsection 403.2 shall keep a detailed log of volatile organic compounds as 

specified in Sections 301.1,each automotive coating component and 301.2, of automotive 

coating manufactured, blended, repackaged for sale, supplied, sold, offered for sale, or 

distributed showing:

504.1 Quantity, including size, and number of containers;

504.2 Regulatory and actual VOC content for coatings;

504.3 Purchaser, including name, address, phone number, and retail tax license number;

504.4 The specific exemption being utilized under Section 403.
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Rules and Regulations 234 - 16 Placer County APCD

505 BURDEN OF PROOF: Any person claiming an exemption pursuant to Section 104 shall 

have information available including product data or material data safety sheets or records 

that allow the Air Pollution Control Officer to verify eligibility of the exemption.

506 MAINTENANCE OF RECORDS: Records required by this rule shall be analyzed as 

prescribed by retained for a minimum of three years, except for sources subject to Rule 507, 

FEDERAL OPERATING PERMIT PROGRAM, which shall retain records for five (5) years. 

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

507 TEST METHODS: The following test methods are incorporated by reference, and shall be 

used to test coatings and solvents subject to the provisions of this rule. A source is in 

violation of this rule if any measurement by any of the listed applicable test methods exceeds 

the standards of this rule.

507.1 Determination of VOC Content: The VOC content of coatings or solvents, subject to 

the provisions of this Rule, shall be determined by procedures contained in U.S. EPA 

Reference Test Method 24. (40 CFR 60), “Determination of Volatile Matter Content, 

Water Content, Density, Volume Solids, and Weight Solids of Surface Coatings”.

506.2 Determination of Emissions: Emissions of volatile organic compounds as specified in 

Section 301.1, and 301.2, of this rule shall be measured as prescribed by EPA 

Reference Method 25.

506.3507.2 Determination of Transfer Efficiency: Transfer efficiency as required byin Section 

302,303 of this rule shall be determined in accordance with the South Coast Air 

Quality Management District (SCAQMD) test method for determining transfer 

efficiency entitled,Test Method "Spray Equipment Transfer Efficiency (TE) Test 

Procedure for Equipment User,,” May 24, 1989,", or other equivalent method which 

has been approved in writing by the Air Pollution Control Officer and submitted to and 

approved by U.S. EPA.

506.4507.3 Determination of Control Efficiency: Control efficiency as required by Sections 

301.1 and 301.2Section 304 of this rule, shall be determined in accordance with U.S. 

EPA Method 18, 25, 25A, or 25B; and U.S. EPA Method 2 or 2C (whichever is 

applicable), and Section 404). U.S. EPA Method 18 or CARB Method 422 

“Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds Emissions from Stationary Sources” 

may be used to determine emissions of exempt compounds.

506.5507.4 Determination of Capture Efficiency: Capture efficiency as required byin Section

301.1, and 301.2304, of this rule shall be determined by and reported in accordance 

with 40 CFR 52.741, Appendix B, "VOC Measurement TechniquesU.S. EPA 

“Guidelines for Determining Capture Efficiency".

506.6 Determination of Metallic Particles in Metallic Coating Topcoat: Metallic particles in 

metallic coating topcoat”, January 9, 1995, and 40 CFR 51, Appendix M, Methods 

204-204f, as defined, in Section 222, of this rule shall be determined by the South 

Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Method 311 Analysis of Percent 

Metal in Metallic Coatings by Spectrographic Method contained in the SCAQMD 

"Laboratory Method of Analysis for Enforcement Samples" manualapplicable.

506.7507.5 Determination of Acid Concentration in Pretreatment Wash Primer: Acid 

concentration in pretreatment wash primer as defined in Section 226223, of this rule 

shall be determined by ASTM Test Method D-1613-85 (modified).

06 “Standard Test Method for Acidity in Volatile Solvents and Chemical Intermediates Used 

in Paint, Varnish, Lacquer, and Related Products”, 2006.

507.6 HVLP Equivalency: Spray equipment HVLP equivalency shall be determined using 

South Coast Air Quality Management District “Guidelines for Demonstrating 

Equivalency with District Approved Transfer Efficiency Spray Guns”, September 26, 

2002.
Amended October 14, 2010 (Effective July 1, 2011)

Placer County APCD 234 - 17 Rules and Regulations

507.7 Determination of Exempt Compounds: Measurement of exempt compounds shall be 

determined by using CARB Method 432, “Determination of Dichloromethane and 

1,1,1-Trichloroethane in Paints and Coatings,” September 12, 1998”; ARB Method 

422 “Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds in Emission from Stationary 

Sources”, January 22, 1987; or South Coast Air Quality Management District Method 

303-91, “Determination of Exempt Compounds”, February 1993.

507.8 Determination of Methyl Acetate, Acetone, t-Butyl Acetate, and 

parachlorobenzotrifluoride (PCBTF) Content: Measurement of methyl acetate, 

acetone t-butyl acetate and PCBTF, shall be determined using ASTM D6133-02, 

“Standard Test Method for Acetone, p-chlorobenzoftrifluoride, Methyl Acetate or tButyl Acetate Content of Solventborne and Waterborne Paints, Coatings, Resins, and 

Raw Materials by Direct Injection into a Gas Chromatograph”, February 2003.

507.9 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.

507.10 Alternative Test Methods: The use of other test methods which are determined to be 

equivalent or better and approved, in writing, by the Air Pollution Control Officer, and 

U.S. EPA may be used in place of test methods specified in this rule.
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Rules and Regulations 234 - 18 Placer County APCD

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