Santa Barbara County APCD Rule 349 349 - 1 June 21, 2012 

RULE 349. POLYESTER RESIN OPERATIONS. (Adopted 4/27/1993, revised 06/21/2012) 

A. Applicability 

 This rule shall apply to any person owning or operating any commercial or industrial polyester resin 

operation. 

B. Exemptions 

1. Section D.1, shall not apply to the addition or use of styrene, provided the volume of styrene used 

is less than 50 gallons per calendar year per stationary source. Any person claiming this 

exemption shall maintain styrene usage records of the total volume (gallons) of styrene used per 

calendar year consistent with Sections F.6 and make them available to the District for review upon 

request. At a minimum, when using compliant materials, the records shall be kept on a monthly 

basis; and when using noncompliant materials, the records shall be kept on a daily basis. 

2. This rule shall not apply to any cleaning performed with a solvent (including emulsions) that 

contains two percent by weight or less of each of the following: 

a. Reactive organic compounds, and 

b. Toxic air contaminants (as determined by generic solvent data, solvent manufacturer’s 

composition data or by a gas chromatography test and a mass spectrometry test). 

c. Any person claiming this exemption shall maintain the records specified in Sections F.1.a 

and F.1.f in a manner consistent with Section F.7 and make them available for review. 

3. This rule shall not apply to polyester resin operations performed with polyester resin materials that 

contain no reactive organic compounds. 

4. Section H shall not apply to any of the following: 

a. Cleaning of semiconductor and microelectromechanical devices undergoing 

manufacturing processes involving thin film deposition, vacuum deposition, dry etching, 

or metal lift-off operations; including any maintenance activities associated with such 

operations; 

b. Cleaning of electronic components; 

c. Cleaning of encasements, including decoy shells or box casings, for electronic 

components that have a total surface area that is less than 2 square feet; 

d. Cleaning of parts, subassemblies, or assemblies that are exposed to strong oxidizers or 

reducers (e.g., nitrogen tetroxide, liquid oxygen, or hydrazine); 

e. Cleaning of transparencies, polycarbonate, or glass substrates; 

f. Cleaning of solar cells, coated optics, laser hardware, scientific instruments, highprecision optics, telescopes, avionic equipment, microscopes, and military fluid systems; 

g. Cleaning or stripping of coating overspray from personal protective equipment; 

h. Cleaning of space vehicles. 

5. Section H shall not apply to polyester resin operations production or rework of the following 

products, provided the solvents used contain 200 grams of reactive organic compound per liter of 
Santa Barbara County APCD Rule 349 349 - 2 June 21, 2012 

material or less or have a reactive organic compound composite partial pressure of 45 millimeter 

of mercury at 20 degrees Celsius or less: 

a. Satellites, satellite components, aerospace vehicles, aerospace vehicle components, 

aerospace vehicle payloads, or aerospace vehicle payload components. 

6. Section H shall not apply to polyester resin operations production or rework of products used in 

any laboratory tests or analyses, including quality assurance or quality control applications, bench 

scale projects, or short-term (less than 2 years) research and development projects. To qualify for 

this exemption, the following records shall be maintained: 

a. A list of all solvents used, which at a minimum includes the manufacturer's identification 

and the reactive organic compound content of each solvent. 

b. For each short-term research and development project, the project description, date it 

commenced, and date it concluded. 

c. Such records shall be retained in accordance with the provisions of Section F.7. 

7. Section H shall not apply to cleaning or stripping of polyester resin material from personal 

protective equipment. 

C. Definitions 

 See Rule 102, Definitions, for definitions not limited to this rule. For the purposes of this rule, the 

following definitions shall apply:

“Aerospace Vehicle or Component” means any fabricated part, processed part, assembly of parts, or 

completed unit of any aircraft including but not limited to airplanes, helicopters, missiles, rockets, and 

space vehicles includes satellites. 

“Associated Solvent” means any solvent used in a solvent cleaning machine or for solvent cleaning 

performed in association with a polyester resin operation. 

“Atomized Resin Application” means any resin application technology in which the resin leaves the 

application equipment and breaks into droplets or an aerosol as it travels from the application equipment to 

the surface of the part. Atomized resin application includes, but is not limited to, resin spray guns and resin 

chopper spray guns. 

“Bench Scale Project” means a project (other than at a research and development facility) that is operated 

on a small scale, such as one capable of being located on a laboratory bench top. 

“Catalyst” means any substance added to the resin to initiate polymerization. 

“Cleaning Materials” include but are not limited to, materials used for cleaning hands, tools, molds, 

application equipment, and work area. 

“Clear Gel Coat” means any gel coat that is clear or translucent so that underlying colors are visible. 

Clear gel coat is used to manufacture parts for sale. Clear gel coat do not include tooling gel coat used to 

build or repair molds. 

“Compliant Material” means any polyester resin material that complies with the 1) applicable monomer 

content limits in Section D.1.a, D.1.b, or D.1.c, or 2) the D.1.d emission limit of grams per square meter of 

exposed surface area during resin polymerization; or any solvent that complies with the reactive organic 

compound content limit in Section H. 
Santa Barbara County APCD Rule 349 349 - 3 June 21, 2012 

“Closed Mold System” means any method of forming objects from polyester resins by placing the 

polyester resin material in a confining mold cavity and applying pressure and/or heat. 

“Control” means the reduction, by destruction or removal, of the amount of affected pollutants in a gas 

stream prior to discharge to the atmosphere. 

“Control System” means any combination of pollutant capture system(s) and control device(s) used to 

reduce discharge to the atmosphere of reactive organic compound or toxic air contaminant emissions 

generated by a regulated operation. 

“Corrosion-Resistant Resin” means any polyester resin material used to make products for corrosion 

resistant applications such as, but not limited to, tooling, fuel or chemical tanks, boat hulls, pools, and 

outdoor spas. 

“Cross-Linking” means any chemical process of chemically bonding two or more polymer chains 

together. 

“Cure” means to polymerize, i.e., to transform from a liquid to a solid or semi-solid state to achieve 

desired product physical properties, including hardness. 

“Fiberglass” means a fiber made from glass and similar in appearance to wool or cotton fiber. 

“Filler” means any finely divided inert (non-ROC) material that is added to the resin to enhance its 

mechanical properties and extend its volume. Fillers include, but are not limited to, silica, carbon black, 

talc, mica and calcium carbonate. 

“Fire Retardant Resin” means any polyester resin material used to make products that are resistant to 

flame or fire. 

“Fluid Impingement Technology” means any spray gun that produces an expanding nonmisting curtain of 

liquid by the impingement of low-pressure uninterrupted liquid streams. 

“Gel Coat” means a polyester resin topcoat that provides cosmetic enhancement and improves resistance 

to degradation from exposure to the environment. 

“High-Strength Resin” means any polyester resin material with a casting tensile strength of 10,000 

pounds per square inch or more, used to manufacture high performance products. 

“Inhibitor” means any substance used to slow down or prevent a chemical reaction. 

“Lamination Resins” means any orthophthalate, isophthalate and dicyclopentadiene resins used in 

composite system consisting of layers of reinforcement fibers and resins. 

“Maintenance Cleaning” means a solvent cleaning operation or activity carried out to keep clean general 

work areas where manufacturing or repair activity is performed, to clean tools, machinery, molds, forms, 

jigs, and equipment. This definition does not include the cleaning of adhesive, coating, or ink application 

equipment. 

“Marble or Cultured Resins” means any orthophthalate and modified acrylic isophthalate resins, which 

are designed for the fabrication of cast products, such as vanities. 

“Marble Resins” means any orthophthalate and modified acrylic isophthalate resins used for the 

fabrication of cast products. 

“Mold” means any cavity or surface into or on which gel coat, resin, and fibers are placed and from which 

finished fiberglass parts take their form. 
Santa Barbara County APCD Rule 349 349 - 4 June 21, 2012 

“Monomer” means any organic compound that combines with itself, or other similar compounds to 

become a cured thermosetting resin (e.g., styrene). 

“Non-Atomized Resin Application” means any application technology in which the resin is not broken 

into droplets or an aerosol as it travels from the application equipment to the surface of the part. Nonatomized resin application technology includes, but are not limited to, non-atomizing spray guns, 

flowcoaters, chopper flowcoaters, pressure fed resin rollers, resin impregnators, or fluid impingement 

technology.

“Noncompliant Material” means any polyester resin material that does not comply with the 1) applicable 

monomer content limits in Section D.1.a, D.1.b, or D.1.c, or 2) the D.1.d emission limit of grams per square 

meter of exposed surface area during resin polymerization; or any solvent that does not comply with the 

reactive organic compound content limit in Section H.

“Open Molding Resin and Gel Coat Process” means any process in which the reinforcing fibers and 

resin are placed in the mold and are open to the surrounding air while the reinforcing fibers are saturated 

with resin. For the purpose of this rule, open molding includes operations in which a vacuum bag or 

similar cover is used to compress the uncured laminate to remove bubbles or excess resin, or to achieve a 

bond between core material and a laminate. 

“Pigmented Gel Coat” means any opaque gel coat used to manufacture parts for sale. Pigmented gel coat 

does not include tooling gel coat used to build or repair molds. 

“Polyester” is a complex polymeric ester containing difunctional acids and alcohols dissolved in a 

monomer. 

“Polyester Resin Materials” include, but are not limited to, unsaturated polyester resins such as 

isophthalic, orthophthalic, halogenated, bisphenol A, vinyl ester, or furan resins; cross-linking agents; 

catalysts, gel coats, inhibitors, accelerators, promoters, and any other reactive organic compound containing 

materials in polyester resin operations. 

“Polyester Resin Operations” means those methods used for the production or rework of products by 

mixing, pouring, hand lay-up, impregnating, injecting, forming, winding, spraying, and/or curing 

unsaturated polyester resin materials with fiberglass, fillers, or any other reinforcement materials and 

associated solvent cleaning. 

“Polymer” means any chemical compound comprised of a large number of chemical units and which is 

formed by the chemical linking of monomers. 

“Primer Gel Coat” means any gel coat used to coat the surface of composite parts prior to top-coat 

painting in the automotive, aerospace, marine and home building industries. 

“Repair” means the process of returning a damaged object or an object not operating properly to good 

condition. 

“Resin” means any of a class of organic polymers of natural or synthetic origin used in reinforced products 

to surround and hold fibers, and is solid or semi-solid in the cured state. 

“Solid Surface Resins” means any resin used without gel coats to fabricate homogenous solid surface 

products. 

“Solvent” means any liquid containing any reactive organic compound or any toxic air contaminant, which 

is used as a diluent, thinner, dissolver, viscosity reducer, cleaning agent, drying agent, preservative, or other 

similar uses. 
Santa Barbara County APCD Rule 349 349 - 5 June 21, 2012 

“Solvent Cleaning” means any activity, operation, or process (including, but not limited to, surface 

preparation, cleanup, or wipe cleaning) performed outside of a solvent cleaning machine, that uses solvent 

to remove uncured adhesives, uncured coatings, uncured inks, uncured polyester resin material, uncured 

sealant, or other contaminants, including, but not limited to, dirt, soil, oil, lubricants, coolants, moisture, 

fingerprints, and grease, from parts, products, tools, machinery, application equipment, and general work 

areas. Cleaning spray equipment used for the application of coating, adhesive, ink, polyester resin material, 

or sealant is also considered to be solvent cleaning irrespective of the spray material being cured. 

“Solvent Cleaning Machine” means any device or piece of equipment that uses solvent liquid or vapor to 

remove soils, moisture, or other contaminants from the surfaces of materials. Types of solvent cleaning 

machines include, but are not limited to, batch cold, batch vapor, in-line cold, in-line vapor, remote 

reservoir, and gas-path solvent cleaners. Buckets, pails, and beakers with capacities of 3.785 liters (1.00 

gallon) or less are not considered solvent cleaning machines. However, the use of such a container or 

similar containers (e.g., hand-held spray bottles) with a liquid solvent for cleaning is considered to be 

solvent cleaning. Any device or piece of equipment used exclusively for stripping shall not be considered 

to be a solvent cleaning machine. 

“Specialty Gel Coat” means any gel coat which is used in conjunction with fire retardant, corrosion 

resistant, or high-strength materials. 

“Specialty Resin” means any halogenated, furan, bisphenol A, vinyl ester, or isophthalic resin used to 

make products for exposure to one or more of the following extreme environmental conditions: acute or 

chronic exposure to corrosive, caustic, acidic agents, or flame. 

“Tooling Gel Coat” means any gel coat used to build or repair molds (also known as tools) or prototypes 

(also known as plugs) from which the molds will be made. 

“Tooling Resin” means any resins used to build or repair molds (also known as tools) or prototypes (also 

known as plugs) from which the molds will be made. 

“Tub/Shower Resin” means any dicyclopentadiene resin, along with orthophthalate and isophthalate 

resins, used to fabricate bathware products. 

“Vapor Suppressant” means any substance added to resin to minimize the outward diffusion of monomer 

vapor into the atmosphere. 

“Waste Materials” include, but are not limited to any paper or cloth used for cleaning operations, waste 

resins, and any spent cleaning materials. 

D. Requirements 

 1. Process and Control 

 No person shall operate a polyester resin operation unless the operation complies with one or more 

of the following, as applicable. 

 a. Before June 21, 2014, use polyester resin material with monomer content of no more than 

35 percent by weight as applied and as determined by the manufacturer's specification. 

This requirement shall not apply to gel coats, provided the monomer content does not 

exceed 45 percent by weight for pigmented gel coats and does not exceed 50 percent by 

weight for clear gel coats. On and after June 21, 2014, use materials that comply with the 

limits in Table 349-1; or, 

 b. Before June 21, 2014, use specialty resin with a monomer content of no more than 50 

percent by weight as applied and as determined by the manufacturer's specification. On 

and after June 21, 2014, use materials that comply with the limits in Table 349-1; or, 
Santa Barbara County APCD Rule 349 349 - 6 June 21, 2012 

 c. On and after June 21, 2014, use polyester resin material that comply with the limits 

shown in Table 349-1 below when using the open molding resin and gel coat process; or 

Table 349-1: Monomer Content Limits for Polyester Resin Materials 

Polyester Resin Material As-Applied Monomer Content 

Limits (Percentage, by Weight) 

Clear Gel Coat 

For Marble Resins 40% 

All Other Resins 44% 

Pigmented Gel Coat 

White and Off White 30% 

Non-White 37% 

Primer 28% 

Specialty Gel Coat 28% 

Tooling Gel Coat 40% 

General Purpose Resin 

Lamination Resins 31% or 

35%, as supplied, with no fillers 

Marble or Cultured 

Resins 

10% or 

32%, as supplied, with no fillers 

Solid Surface Resins 17% 

Tub/Shower Resins 24% or 

35%, as supplied, with no fillers 

Specialty Resin 

Corrosion Resistant 

Resin 

48% 

Fire Retardant Resin 38% 

High Strength Resin 40% 

Tooling Resin 

Atomized (spray) 30% 

Non-atomized 39% 

All Other Resin 35% 

d. Before June 21, 2014, use a resin containing a vapor suppressant, such that the weight 

loss from reactive organic compound emissions does not exceed 60 grams per square 

meter of exposed surface area during resin polymerization. On and after June 21, 2014, 

use a resin containing a vapor suppressant, such that the weight loss from reactive 

organic compound emissions does not exceed 50 grams per square meter of exposed 

surface area during resin polymerization. The “grams per square meter of exposed 

surface area during resin polymerization” shall be determined by the test method 

specified in Section E.2; or, 

 e. Use a closed mold system; or, 

 f. Install and operate an add-on control system, provided all of the applicable requirements 

below are met. Any person installing such control system shall obtain an Authority to 

Construct from the District prior to installation. 

i. Before June 21, 2014, the overall efficiency (the capture efficiency multiplied 

by the control device efficiency) of the total system shall be at least 85 percent, 

by weight. On and after June 21, 2014, the overall efficiency shall be at least 90 

percent, by weight. Alternatively, the control device reactive organic compound 

exhaust concentration shall not exceed 10 parts per million by volume as 
Santa Barbara County APCD Rule 349 349 - 7 June 21, 2012 

propane or other limit approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, the 

Air Resources Board, and the Control Officer. 

ii. Combustion temperature shall be continuously monitored when operating a 

thermal incinerator. 

iii. Inlet and exhaust gas temperatures shall be continuously monitored when 

operating a catalytic incinerator. 

iv. Control device efficiency shall be continuously monitored when operating a 

carbon adsorber or a control device other than a thermal or catalytic incinerator. 

v. Compliance through the use of an emission control system shall not result in 

affected pollutant emissions in excess of the affected pollutant emissions that 

would result from compliance with Sections D.1.a - D.1.d or H. 

 2. Spray Application Methods 

 No person shall apply polyester resin materials in a spraying operation unless the application is 

performed with equipment operating according to the manufacturers operating guidelines. In 

addition, the application method employed shall be one of the following: 

a. Airless, or 

b. Air-assisted airless, or 

c. High volume low pressure spraying equipment, or 

d. Electrostatic spray equipment, or 

e. Any other spray application method approved by the Control Officer, the Air Resources 

Board, and the Environmental Protection Agency. 

 3. General Operating 

 Any person who owns or operates any polyester resin operation equipment or uses any associated 

solvent subject to this rule shall meet the following requirements: 

a. All polyester resin materials and cleaning materials, used or unused, shall be stored and 

disposed of in nonabsorbent and nonleaking containers equipped with tight-fitting covers. 

All covers shall be in place unless adding material to or removing material from the 

containers, the containers are empty, or doing maintenance/inspection of the containers. 

b. All application equipment, ventilation system, and emission control equipment shall be 

installed, operated, and maintained consistent with the manufacturer’s specifications. 

c. Waste solvent, waste solvent residues, and any other waste material that contains reactive 

organic compounds shall be disposed of by one of the following methods: 

i. A commercial waste solvent reclamation service licensed by the State of 

California. 

ii. At a facility that is federally or state licensed to treat, store or dispose of such 

waste. 
Santa Barbara County APCD Rule 349 349 - 8 June 21, 2012 

iii. Recycling in conformance with Section 25143.2 of the California Health and 

Safety Code. 

d. All covers, valves, drain plugs, and other closure devices designed to reduce polyester 

resin material and cleaning material evaporation shall not be removed or opened except 

to process work or to perform monitoring, inspections, maintenance, or repairs that 

require the removal of the covers or other closure devices. 

e. Any spills of polyester resin materials or cleaning materials shall be wiped up 

immediately and the used absorbent material (e.g., cloth, paper, sand, sawdust, etc.) shall 

be stored in closed containers that are handled in accordance with Section D.3.a. 

f. The handling and transfer of polyester resin materials and cleaning solvents to or from 

enclosed systems, vats, waste containers, and other cleaning operation equipment that 

hold or store fresh or spent coatings and cleaning solvents shall be conducted in such a 

manner to minimize spills. 

g. Containers used to store polyester resin material, solvent, or any waste material that 

contains reactive organic compounds subject to this rule shall be marked or clearly 

labeled indicating the name of the material they contain. 

E. Compliance Provisions and Test Methods 

 1. Polyester resin material monomer contents shall be measured using ASTM D2369-95, “Standard 

Test Method for Volatile Content of Coatings,” ASTM International. Material tested shall be noncatalyzed.

 2. The weight loss from reactive organic compound emissions shall be measured by laboratory static 

tests, “Static Method for Determination of Volatile Emissions from Polyester and Vinyl Ester 

Resins,” as described in Attachment A. 

 3. The capture efficiency for reactive organic compound emissions shall be determined by verifying 

the use of a Permanent Total Enclosure and 100 percent capture efficiency as defined by 

Environmental Protection Agency Method 204, “Criteria for and Verification of a Permanent or 

Temporary Total Enclosure.” Alternatively, if an Environmental Protection Agency Method 204 

defined Permanent Total Enclosure is not employed, capture efficiency shall be determined using 

a minimum of three sampling runs subject to data quality criteria presented in the Environmental 

Protection Agency technical guidance document “Guidelines for Determining Capture Efficiency, 

January 9, 1995.” Individual capture efficiency test runs subject to the Environmental Protection 

Agency technical guidelines shall be determined by: 

a. The Temporary Total Enclosure approach of Environmental Protection Agency Methods 

204 through 204F; or 

b. The South Coast Air Quality Management District “Protocol for Determination of 

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) Capture Efficiency,” May 1995. 

 4. The control device efficiency for reactive organic compound emissions shall be determined by 

Environmental Protection Agency Methods 25, 25A, the South Coast Air Quality Management 

District Method 25.1, “Determination of Total Gaseous Non-Methane Organic Emissions as 

Carbon,” February 1991, or the South Coast Air Quality Management District Method 25.3, 

“Determination of Low Concentration Non-Methane Non-Ethane Organic Compound Emissions 

from Clean Fueled Combustion Sources,” March 2000, as applicable. Environmental Protection 

Agency Test Method 18 or Air Resources Board Method 422, “Exempt Halogenated VOCs in 

Gases,” September 12, 1990, shall be used to determine emissions of exempt compounds. 
Santa Barbara County APCD Rule 349 349 - 9 June 21, 2012 

5. Solvent reactive organic compound content shall be measured by the Environmental Protection 

Agency Reference Method 24, its constituent methods, or an equivalent method approved by the 

Environmental Protection Agency, the Air Resources Board, and the Control Officer. The 

determination of exempt compounds shall be performed in accordance with ASTM D 4457-1991, 

“Standard Test Method for Determination of Dichloromethane and 1,1,1-Trichloroethane in Paints 

and Coatings by Direct Injection into a Gas Chromatograph,” ASTM International. Alternatively, 

determination of exempt compounds may be performed in accordance with the South Coast Air 

Quality Management District Method 303-91, “Determination of Exempt Compounds,” August 

1996. The reactive organic compound content of materials containing 50 grams of reactive 

organic compound per liter or less shall be determined by the South Coast Air Quality 

Management District Method 313-91, “Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds by Gas 

Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry,” June 1993, or any other test methods approved by the 

Environmental Protection Agency, the Air Resources Board, and the Control Officer. 

6. The capture efficiency for toxic air contaminant emissions that are not reactive organic 

compounds shall be determined by using the methods described in Section E.3 modified in a 

manner approved by the Control Officer to quantify the mass of liquid or gaseous reactive organic 

compounds and/or toxic air contaminants. 

7. The control device efficiency for toxic air contaminant emissions that are not reactive organic 

compounds shall be determined using: 

a. an Environmental Protection Agency approved test method or methods, or 

b. in the case where there is no Environmental Protection Agency approved test method, a 

Control Officer approved detection method applicable for each target toxics specie. 

c. the Control Officer may require more than one test method on any emission control 

device where necessary to demonstrate that the overall efficiency is at least 85 percent by 

weight in reducing emissions of reactive organic compounds and/or toxic air 

contaminants. Any technique to convert “parts per million by volume” test method 

results to either 1) “parts per million by weight,” or 2) “mass emission rates” (e.g., 

pounds per hour) shall first be approved by the Control Officer and, if such approval is 

not provided, then the technique shall not be used to show compliance with this rule. 

8. Emissions of reactive organic compounds from the exhaust of an emission control system shall be 

measured by the Environmental Protection Agency Method 25, in combination with 

Environmental Protection Agency Method 18 or the California Air Resources Board Method 422, 

“Exempt Halogenated VOCs in Gases,” September 12, 1990 (to determine emissions of exempt 

compounds). 

9. When more than one test method or set of test methods are specified for any testing, a test result 

showing an exceedance of any limit of this rule shall constitute a rule violation. 

10. The Environmental Protection Agency test methods in effect on June 21, 2012 shall be the test 

methods used to meet the requirements of this rule. 

F. Recordkeeping 

 Any person subject to this rule shall comply with the following requirements. Any owner or operator of 

any stationary source comprised of more than one facility may comply with the following requirements on 

a facility basis. 

 1. Maintain a current file of all reactive organic compound-containing materials in use at the 

stationary source subject to this rule. The file shall provide all of the data necessary to evaluate 

compliance and shall include the following information, as applicable: 
Santa Barbara County APCD Rule 349 349 - 10 June 21, 2012 

 a. the type of resin, catalyst, and cleaning materials used (e.g., brand name, stock 

identification number); 

 b. if applying polyester resin materials in spraying operations, indicate the spray application 

method used (e.g., airless, air-assisted airless, etc.); 

 c. for approved vapor suppressed resins, the weight loss (grams per square meter) during 

resin polymerization, the monomer percentage, and the gel time for each resin; 

d. if mixing solvents, specific solvent mixing data (e.g., component volumes or weights) of 

each component for each batch sufficient to determine the mixture’s reactive organic 

compound content; 

e. the actual as applied reactive organic compound content of the solvent used and, when 

not using a closed mold system, the corresponding monomer content limits from Sections 

D.1.a, b, or c, and the actual as applied monomer contents; or if complying using a vapor 

suppressant, the actual polyester or vinyl ester resin weight loss rate of the materials 

used; and 

f. current polyester resin material and solvent manufacturer specification sheets, Material 

Safety Data Sheets, product data sheets, or air quality data sheets, which list the reactive 

organic compound content of each material in use at the stationary source subject to this 

rule. Compliance with this provision may be done by ensuring the manufacturer’s 

specifications are listed on the product container. 

 2. Maintain records for each reactive organic compound-containing material purchased for use at the 

stationary source. The records shall include, but not be limited to, the following: 

a. material name and manufacturer identification (e.g., brand name, stock identification 

number); and 

b. material type (e.g., polyester resin material type as specified in Table 349-1, cleanup 

solvent, etc.). 

3. Maintain records of the disposal method each time waste solvent, waste solvent residue, or other 

waste material that contain reactive organic compounds is removed from the stationary source for 

disposal. 

4. For each material listed in response to Section F.1.a, maintain, at a minimum, on a monthly basis 

for compliant material and on a daily basis for noncompliant material, a record of the following: 

a. volume used (gallons per day, gallons per month); 

b. polyester resin material as-applied weight percent of monomer and the cleaning material 

reactive organic compound content (grams per liter or pounds per gallon); 

c. polyester resin material reactive organic compound emission factors (pounds of reactive 

organic compounds per pounds of monomer used or pounds of reactive organic 

compounds per gallon); and 

d. resulting reactive organic compound emissions (pounds per day, pounds per month). 

5. For any stationary source that uses emission control equipment to meet the requirements of this 

rule, daily records of key operating parameter values and maintenance procedures that 

demonstrate continuous operation and compliance of the emission control system during periods 
Santa Barbara County APCD Rule 349 349 - 11 June 21, 2012 

of emission producing activities shall be maintained. These parameters shall include, but not be 

limited to: 

a. Hours of operation; 

b. All maintenance work that requires the emission control system to be shut down; and 

c. All information needed to demonstrate continuous compliance with Section D.1.f, such as 

temperatures, pressures, and/or flow rates. 

. 

6. Any person claiming an exemption under Section B.1 shall maintain, at a minimum, monthly 

records for compliant material and daily records for noncompliant material of styrene volumes 

used in gallons per day and/or gallons per month to support the claim of exemption. 

 7. Any records required to be maintained pursuant to this rule shall be kept on site for at least 2 years 

unless a longer retention period is otherwise required by state or federal regulation(s). Such 

records shall be kept on site and be readily available for inspection and review by the District. 

G. Compliance Schedule 

Any person who owns or operates any polyester resin operation equipment subject to this rule shall meet 

the following compliance schedule: 

1. By June 21, 2012, comply with Section D.3, General Operating. 

2. By December 21, 2012, comply with the recordkeeping provisions in the following Sections: 

a. F.1.d - mixing data, 

b. F.1.e - solvent reactive organic compound content data, polyester resin material monomer 

contents (when not using a closed mold system), and/or actual weight loss rate data 

(when using a vapor suppressant), 

c. F.1.f - manufacturer specification sheets, Material Safety Data Sheets, air quality data 

sheets, or manufacturer specification listings on product container, 

d. F.2 - purchase records, 

e. F.3 - waste disposal records, and 

f. F.4 - polyester resin material reactive organic compound emission factor records and 

daily records for noncompliant materials. 

3. By June 21, 2013, comply with the Section H and Section J requirements. 

4. By June 21, 2014, comply with any applicable Section D provisions that have a phased-in 

effective date. 

5. By June 21, 2012, comply with all other provisions of this rule. 
Santa Barbara County APCD Rule 349 349 - 12 June 21, 2012 

H. Requirements – Solvent Cleaning 

Section H requirements apply to any person performing solvent cleaning associated with polyester resin 

operations, including, but not limited to, use of wipe cleaning cloths, hand-held spray bottles, squirt bottles, 

aerosol products, and the cleaning of application equipment. The following requirements become effective 

June 21, 2012 and are in addition to the general operating requirements specified in Section D.3. 

1. Solvent Requirements. Except when using an emission control system that meets the 

requirements of Section D.1.e, no person shall use any solvent to perform solvent cleaning which 

exceeds the applicable grams of reactive organic compound per liter of material limit specified in 

Table 349-2. 

Table 349-2: Reactive Organic Compound Content Limits for Solvent Cleaning 

SOLVENT CLEANING ACTIVITY 

ROC Limit, 

grams of ROC per liter of material 

(pounds of ROC per gallon) 

(a) Product Cleaning During Manufacturing Process or 

Surface Preparation for Coating Application 

25 

(0.21) 

(b) Repair and Maintenance Cleaning 25 

(0.21) 

(c) Cleaning of Polyester Resin Application Equipment 25 

(0.21) 

I. Reporting Requirements 

Submittal of an annual report to the District is required if a person holds a permit for equipment subject to 

the requirements of this rule. The annual report shall be due March 1 and it shall contain the following 

information for the previous calendar year: 

1. monthly totals (gallons) of compliant and noncompliant material used based on the records 

required by Section F.4, 

2. annual totals (gallons) based on each of the polyester resin materials’ and cleaning materials’ 

monthly data, 

3. if claiming the Rule 349.B.1 exemption, monthly totals of styrene (gallons) used per Section F.6 

and the yearly total amount (gallons) of styrene used, and 

4. name and address of the company or agency and the Permit to Operate number that the polyester 

resin operation is subject to. 

J. Requirements - Solvent Cleaning Machine

Any person who owns, operates, or uses any solvent cleaning machine shall comply with the applicable 

provisions of Rule 321, Solvent Cleaning Machines and Solvent Cleaning. 
Santa Barbara County APCD Rule 349 Attachment A - 1 June 21, 2012 

 ATTACHMENT A 

 STATIC METHOD FOR DETERMINATION OF VOLATILE EMISSIONS FROM 

 POLYESTER AND VINYL ESTER RESINS 

1. PURPOSE 

 1.1 This test is designed for the determination of volatile organic compound emissions of polyester 

and vinyl ester resins as received from the manufacturer, according to requirements of California's 

South Coast Air Quality Management District Method 309-91, Determination of Static Volatile 

Emissions, revised February 1993. 

 1.2 This test allows fabricators using polyester and vinyl ester resins to monitor volatile organic 

compound emissions (principally styrene monomer) from resins used in the fabrication process. 

The results are to be reported as volatile organic compound losses in grams per square meter 

(gm/m2

).

2. METHOD 

 The weight of a one gallon can lid filled with 100 grams of resin is accurately measured over a 

period of time. The measurement is made on resin catalyzed with peroxide initiators to determine 

weight losses attributed to monomer and other volatile organic compound emissions. 

3. EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS 

 3.1 Controlled environment at 25.0 degrees Celsius and humidity of 50 percent relative humidity. If 

controlled environment is not available, report condition under which measurements are made. 

 3.2 Balance with an accuracy of 0.01gram. 

 3.3 Draft free enclosure for balance. This can be achieved by placing the balance in a four sided 

enclosure that extends a minimum of eight inches above the top of the balance. 

 3.4 Gallon can lid with deep form sufficient to contain 100 grams of resin, having a normal diameter 

of 14.5 centimeters. 

 3.5 Certified or calibrated thermometer capable of measurements accurate to 1 degree Celsius. 

 3.6 Constant temperature bath controlled at 25 degrees Celsius to adjust resin temperature to 25 

degrees Celsius. 

 3.7 Timer - capable of recording time to 0.1 minute. 

 3.8 Paper clip - bent to approximately 90 degree angle. 

 3.9 Syringe or pipette accurate to 0.1 milliliter for peroxide catalyst addition. 
Santa Barbara County APCD Rule 349 Attachment A - 2 June 21, 2012 

4. PROCEDURE 

 4.1 Weigh out 200 grams of prepromoted resin into a suitable dry and clean container. Wax cups 

should not be used for this test. 

 4.2 Cover container and place in constant temperature bath and adjust resin temperature to 25 degrees 

Celsius. 

 4.3 Place balance in draft free enclosure. 

 4.4 Clean gallon lid with solvent, wipe dry and air dry and measure diameter to the nearest 

0.1centimeter. 

 4.5 Place gallon can lid on an inverted paper or plastic cup mounted on the balance pan. Position bent 

paper clip in the center of the gallon can lid. Record TARE WEIGHT to 0.01gram. 

 4.6 Take container with resin from water bath and add appropriate volumetric or weight measure of 

catalyst using syringe or pipette. Start timer. 

 4.7 Using stirring rod or thermometer, mix in catalyst for one minute. 

 4.8 Pour 100.0 plus or minus 0.5 gram of catalyzed resin into can lid and record weight to plus or 

minus 0.01 gram. This is the INITIAL WEIGHT. 

 4.9 Using paper clip, determine when resin has hardened sufficiently to allow resin or lid to be lifted 

or the gel to be torn. 

 4.10 Record this as gel time. 

 4.11 Allow resin to harden in can lid and reweigh every 15 minutes until concurrent weighing agrees to 

within 0.05gram. Record this as FINAL WEIGHT to plus or minus 0.01gram. 

 4.12 Procedure should be repeated until duplicate samples agree to the nearest 5 grams per meter2

.

5. CALCULATION 

 5.1 Volatile Organic Compound Emissions per Square Meter 

 (d/2)2

 x 3.14

Area of Gallon Can Lid in m2

 = 

 10,000 cm2

 / m2 

Where: d = diameter of the gallon can lid in centimeters (cm) 

3.14 = value of Pi 

 cm2

 = square centimeters 

 m2

 = square meters

 Volatile Organic Compound Losses, Grams per Square Meter = 

 INITIAL WEIGHT - FINAL WEIGHT 

 Area of Gallon Can Lid in Square Meters 
Santa Barbara County APCD Rule 349 Attachment A - 3 June 21, 2012 

 5.2 Percent Volatile Organic Compound Emission = 

 INITIAL WEIGHT - FINAL WEIGHT x 100 

 INITIAL WEIGHT - TARE WEIGHT 

6. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS 

 6.1 Ambient temperature and humidity. 

 6.2 Resin identification and batch number. 

 6.3 Initiator system and amounts used. 

 6.4 Volatile organic compound losses as grams per square meter. 

 6.5 Percent volatile organic compound emission. 

 6.6 Gel time under conditions of test.