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RULERule 3.14 SOLVENT DEGREASING SURFACE PREPARATION AND 

CLEAN-UP

(Adopted 6/911991; Amended 8/1/2011)

Any cont ai ner 

A. GENERAL

A.1 PURPOSE: The purpose of this Rule is to limit the emissions 

of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from surface 

preparation and clean-up, and from the storage and disposal 

of materials used for surface preparation and clean-up.

A.2 APPLICABILITY: The provisions of this Rule apply to any 

owner or operator of any facility that uses VOC containing 

materials for surface preparation and clean-up, or any 

person who sells or distributes any solvent whi ch exceeds 

55 gal l ons subject to the provisions of this rule.

A.3 EXEMPTION - GENERAL: The provisions of this rule, except 

for Section E.3, Burden of Proof, shall not apply to the 

following:

a. Cleaning operations using a solvent containing no more 

than 50 grams of VOC per liter of material;

b. Cleaning with aerosol products provided that the 

facility uses less than 160 fluid ounces of aerosol 

products per day. The use of such products shall comply 

with CARB regulations.

c. Dry cleaning operations;

d. Janitorial cleaning;

e. Stripping of cured coatings, cured adhesives, and cured 

inks;

f. Degreasers with an open top surface area of 1.0 square 

foot or less or with a capacity shal l cont ai n 

i nst r uct i ons t o st or eof 2.0 gallons or less, using 

unheated non-halogenated solvent exclusively, and the 

reservoir is covered when not processing work;

g. Any solvent degreasing operations that are subject to 

the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air 

Pollutants (NESHAP) requirements of 40 CFR Part 63 

Subpart T- National Emission Standards for Halogenated 

Solvent Cleaning;

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h. Cleaning operations in a cl osed printing pre-press or 

graphic arts pre-press areas, including the cleaning of 

film processors, color scanners, plate processors, film 

cleaning, and plate cleaning.

i. Sanitizing products which are labeled and applied to 

food-contact surfaces that are used to process dry and 

low-moisture food products and are not rinsed prior to 

contact with food.

A.4 EXEMPTION - SOLVENT REQUIREMENTS: The solvent VOC limits of 

Section C.1 shall not apply to any of the following 

applications:

a. Facilities with a solvent usage of 20 gallons or less 

per calendar year. Solvents with a VOC content of 50 

grams per liter or less do not count towards the 20 

gallon per year aggregate limit;

b. Wipe cleaning of solar cells, laser hardware, high 

precision optics, or polycarbonate plastics;

c. Wipe cleaning for performance laboratory tests on 

coatings, adhesives or inks, research and development 

programs, and laboratory tests in quality assurance 

laboratories;

d. Cleaning of cotton swabs to remove cottonseed oil before 

cleaning of high precision optics;

e. Cleaning of paper-based gaskets, and clutch assemblies 

where rubber is bonded to metal by means of an adhesive;

f. Cleaning of sterilization ink indicating equipment 

provided that the solvent usage is less than 1.5 gallons 

per day;

g. Coating and adhesive application processes utilized to 

manufacture transdermal drug delivery products using 

ethyl acetate;

h. Cleaning applications using bug and tar removal, 

provided that the bug and tar remover is regulated under 

the Consumer Products Regulation (California Code of 

Regulations Section 94507 et seq.).

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B. DEFINITIONS

B.1 AEROSOL PRODUCT: A hand-held, non-refillable container 

which expels pressurized product ingredients by means of a 

propellant-induced force.

B.2 AEROSPACE COMPONENT: Any raw material, partial or completed 

fabricated part, assembly of parts, or completed unit of 

any aircraft, helicopter, missile, or space vehicle, 

including mockups and prototypes.

B.3 AIR-SOLVENT INTERFACE: The point of contact between the 

exposed solvent and air.

B.4 APPLICATION EQUIPMENT: A device used to apply adhesive, 

coating, ink, or polyester resin material, such as but not 

limited to brushes, rollers, and spray guns.

B.5 BATCH LOADED COLD CLEANER: Any batch loaded, non-boiling 

solvent degreaser with an air-solvent interface.

B.6 CONTROL DEVICE: Equipment, such as an incinerator or 

adsorber, used to reduce or prevent air pollutants from 

reaching the ambient air.

B.7 CURED COATINGS, CURED INKS, AND CURED ADHESIVES: Coatings, 

inks, and adhesives which are dry to the touch.

B.8 DEGREASER: A tank, tray, drum or other container in which 

objects to be cleaned are exposed to a solvent or solvent 

vapor in order to remove contaminants. The objects to be 

cleaned include, but are not limited to, parts, products, 

tools, machinery, and equipment. An enclosed spray 

application equipment cleaning system is not a degreaser.

B.9 ELECTRICAL APPARATUS COMPONENT: An internal component such 

as wires, windings, stators, rotors, magnets, contacts, 

relays, energizers, and connections in an apparatus that 

generates or transmits electrical energy including, but not

limited to: alternators, generators, transformers, electric 

motors, cables, and circuit breakers, except for the actual 

cabinet in which the components are housed. Electrical 

components of graphic arts application equipment and hotline tools are also included in this category.
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B.10 ELECTRONIC COMPONENT: The portion of an assembly, including 

circuit card assemblies, printed wire assemblies, printed 

circuit boards, soldered joints, ground wires, bus bars, 

and other electrical fixtures, except for the actual 

cabinet in which the components are housed.

B.11 ENCLOSED GUN CLEANER:

a. A device that fully encloses the spray guns, cups, 

nozzles, bowls, and other associated parts during 

washing, rinsing, and draining procedures; or

b. A device that is used for the cleaning of spray guns, 

cups, nozzles, bowls, and associated equipment that has 

an enclosed solvent container, uses non-atomized solvent 

flow to flush the spray equipment, and collects and 

returns the discharged solvent to the enclosed solvent 

container.

B.12 EXEMPT COMPOUNDS: As defined in District Rule 1.1.

B.13 FLEXOGRAPHIC PRINTING: A letterpress method utilizing 

flexible rubber or other elastomeric plates and rapid 

drying liquid inks.

B.14 FREEBOARD HEIGHT: The distance from the top of the solvent 

or solvent drain to the top of the tank for batch loaded 

cold cleaners.

B.15 FREEBOARD RATIO: The freeboard height divided by the width 

of the degreaser.

B.16 GRAVURE PRINTING: An intaglio printing process in which the 

ink is carried in minute etched or engraved wells on a roll 

or cylinder. 

B.17 HIGH PRECISION OPTICS: An optical element used in an 

electro-optical device that is designed to sense, detect, 

or transmit light energy, including specific wavelengths of 

light energy and changes in light energy levels.

B.18 INTAGLIO PRINTING: A printing operation done from a plate 

in which the image is etched or engraved into the surface.

B.19 JANITORIAL CLEANING: The cleaning of building or facility 

components, such as the floor, ceiling, walls, windows, 

doors, stairs, bathrooms, furnishings, and exterior 

surfaces of office equipment. The cleaning of work areas 
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where manufacturing or repair activity is performed is 

excluded from this definition.

B.20 LETTERPRESS PRINTING: The method in which the image area is 

raised relative to the non-image area and the ink is 

transferred to the paper directly from the image surface.

B.21 LIQUID LEAK: A visible liquid solvent leak from a container 

at a rate of more than three (3) drops per minute, or a 

visible liquid mist.

B.22 LITHOGRAPHIC PRINTING: A plane-o-graphic method in which 

the image and non-image areas are on the same plane.

B.23 LOW EMISSION SPRAY GUN CLEANER: Any properly used spray 

equipment clean-up device which has passive solvent losses 

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

losses of no more than 15 grams per operating cycle as 

defined by the test method in Section F.7.

B.24 LOW-MOISTURE FOOD: A food with a water activity less than 

0.85 or other applicable standards approved by the Air 

Pollution Control Officer, California Air Resources Board, 

or U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

B.25 MAINTENANCE CLEANING: Surface preparation and clean-up, 

including sanitization, carried out to keep parts, 

products, tools, machinery, equipment, or general work 

areas in clean and good operational condition.

B.26 MANUFACTURING PROCESS: The process of making goods or 

articles by hand or by machinery.

B.27 MEDICAL DEVICE: Any instrument, apparatus, implement, 

machine contrivance, implant, in vitro reagent or other 

similar article, including any component or accessory that

meets one of the following conditions:

a. It is intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or 

other conditions, or in the cure, mitigation, treatment, 

or prevention of disease; or

b. It is intended to affect the structure or any function 

of the body; or

c. It is defined in the National Formulary or the United 

States Pharmacopia, or any supplement to them.

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B.28 NON-ABSORBENT CONTAINERS: Containers made of nonporous 

materials which do not allow the migration of the liquid 

solvent through them.

B.29 NON-ATOMIZED SOLVENT FLOW: The use of a solvent to remove 

uncured adhesives, uncured inks, uncured coatings, and 

contaminants from an article in the form of a liquid stream 

without atomization.

B.30 PHARMACEUTICAL: Any facility producing or blending 

chemicals for use in pharmaceutical products and or 

employing chemical processes in the manufacture of 

pharmaceutical products or medical devices.

B.31 PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCT: A preparation or compound of 

medicinal drugs including, but not limited to, a 

prescription drug, analgesic, decongestant, antihistamine, 

cough suppressant, vitamin, mineral and herb, and is used 

by humans for consumption to enhance human health.

B.32 PRE-PRESS OPERATIONS: Operations associated with printing 

plate making using film photo processors and plate photo 

processors.

B.33 PRINTING: Any operation in the graphic arts that imparts 

color, design, alphabet, or numerals on a substrate.

B.34 PRODUCT CLEANING: The removal of loosely held uncured 

adhesives, uncured inks, uncured coatings, and contaminants 

such as dust, soil, oil, grease, etc., from the product or 

substrate during any manufacturing process, repair process, 

maintenance cleaning, adhesive application, coating 

application or ink application.

B.35 REACTIVE ORGANIC GASES (ROG): As defined in District Rule 

1.1.

B.36 REMOTE RESERVOIR COLD CLEANER: A cleaning device in which 

liquid solvent is pumped from a solvent container to a 

sink-like work area and the solvent from the sink-like area 

drains into an enclosed solvent container while parts are 

being cleaned.

B.37 REPAIR PROCESS: The process of returning a damaged object 

or an object not operating properly to good condition.
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B.38 SCREEN PRINTING: A process in which the printing ink passes 

through a web or fabric to which a refined form of stencil 

has been applied. The stencil openings determine the form 

and dimensions of the imprint.

B.39 SOLVENT: Any liquid containing a volatile organic compound 

or combination of volatile organic compounds, which is used 

to perform surface preparation and clean-up.

B.40 SOLVENT FLUSHING: The use of solvent to remove uncured 

adhesives, uncured inks, uncured coatings, or contaminants 

from the internal surfaces and passages of the equipment by 

flushing solvent through the equipment.

B.41 STERILIZATION: A process or operation that removes or 

prevents the growth of bacteria and other living 

microorganisms.

B.42 STRIPPING: The removal of cured inks, cured adhesives, and 

cured coatings.

B.43 SURFACE PREPARATION AND CLEAN-UP: The removal of loosely

held uncured adhesives, uncured inks, uncured coatings, and 

contaminants such as dust, soil, oil, grease, etc., at any 

step in the production, repair, maintenance, or servicing 

of parts, products, tools, machinery, equipment, or general 

work areas and including the storage and disposal of VOC 

containing materials and the sterilization of food 

manufacturing and processing equipment.

B.44 ULTRAVIOLET INKS: Inks which dry by a polymerization 

reaction induced by ultraviolet radiation.

B.45 VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUND (VOC): Shall have the same 

meaning as Reactive Organic Gases (ROG).

B.46 WATER ACTIVITY: A measure of the free moisture in a food 

and is the quotient of the water vapor pressure of the 

substance divided by the vapor pressure of pure water at 

the same temperature.

B.47 WIPE CLEANING: The method of cleaning a surface by

physically rubbing it with a material such as a rag, paper, 

or a cotton swab moistened with a solvent.
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C. STANDARDS

C.1 SOLVENT VOC LIMITS: A person shall not use a solvent to 

perform surface preparation and clean-up, or specify or 

require any person to use a solvent subject to the 

provisions of this Rule, unless the solvent complies with 

the applicable requirements set forth in Table 1.

TABLE 1: VOC CONTENT LIMITS

Category

VOC Content Limit 

(grams/Liter)

Prior to 

12/31/2011

Effective 

12/31/2011

Product 

Cleaning

Coatings and Adhesives 50

Vehicles & Mobile Eqmt.

[Rule 3.19]

Surface Prep 200 50

Handheld Spray 780 50

Wood Products [Rule 3.20] 200 50

Metal Parts and Products 50

Polyester Resins 50

Inks 50

Electrical Apparatus Components & 

Electronic Components 100

Aerospace Components 900

Medical Devices, Pharmaceuticals, and 

Pharmaceutical Products 800

Cleaning of 

Application 

Equipment

Coatings and Adhesives 50

Vehicles & Mobile Eqmt. [Rule 3.19] 50

Wood Products [Rule 3.20] 50

Metal Parts and Products 50

Polyester Resins 50

Printing Operations: Screen, Lithographic,

and Letterpress, Ultraviolet, 

Flexographic, Gravure (Publication)

100

Aerospace Components 50

Medical Devices, Pharmaceuticals, and 

Pharmaceutical Products 800

Sterilization of food manufacturing and processing 

equipment 200

General: Industries Not Specified Above 50

C.2 CLEANING DEVICES AND METHODS REQUIREMENTS: A person shall

not perform surface preparation and clean-up unless one of 

the following cleaning devices or methods is used:

a. Wipe cleaning;

b. Hand-held spray bottles from which solvents are applied 

without a propellant-induced force;

c. Cleaning equipment which contains solvent and is closed 

during cleaning operations, except when depositing and 
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removing objects to be cleaned, and is closed during 

non-operation with the exception of maintenance and 

repair to the cleaning equipment itself;

d. Remote reservoir cold cleaners used pursuant to Section 

C.5;

e. Non-atomized solvent flow method where the cleaning 

solvent is collected in a container or a collection 

system which is closed except for solvent collection 

openings and, if necessary, openings to avoid excessive 

pressure build-up inside the container;

f. Solvent flushing method where the cleaning solvent is 

discharged into a container which is closed except for 

solvent collection openings and, if necessary, openings 

to avoid excessive pressure build-up inside the

container. The discharged solvent from the equipment 

must be collected into containers without atomizing into 

the open air. The solvent may be flushed through the 

system by air or hydraulic pressure, or by pumping;

g. Cleaning device or mechanism which has been determined 

by the APCO to result in equivalent or lower emissions 

than the applicable limits listed in Table 1.

C.3 CLEANING DEVICES - GENERAL REQUIREMENTS: Any person using 

equipment subject to the requirements of C.2.c, C.2.d, 

C.2.e, or C.2.f shall comply with all of the following 

requirements:

a. Do not clean porous or absorbent materials, such as 

cloth, leather, rope, or wood;

b. Use only solvent containers free of all liquid leaks;

c. Auxiliary equipment, such as pumps, pipelines, or 

flanges, shall not have any liquid leaks, visible tears, 

or cracks;

d. Any liquid leak, visible tear, or crack detected shall 

be repaired within 24 hours, or the leaking section of 

the cleaner shall be drained of all solvent and shut 

down until it is replaced or repaired;

e. Any liquid leak detected by the district shall 

constitute a violation of this section. This provision 
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shall not apply if the equipment is tagged out and if 

the leak is already noted in the facility’s logbook.

C.4 CLEANING DEVICES – BATCH LOADED COLD CLEANERS: Any person 

using a batch loaded cold cleaner shall comply with all of 

the following requirements:

a. A cover must be used which prevents the solvent from 

evaporating when work is not being performed. The cover 

should be designed so that it can be opened and closed 

easily with one hand;

b. If the solvent initial boiling point is less than 248°F 

(120°C) and the solvent is heated above 122°F (50°C),

then the cold cleaner shall have one of the following:

1. A freeboard ratio greater or equal to 0.75; or

2. A water cover if the solvent is insoluble in and 

heavier than water;

c. If the solvent initial boiling point is less than 248°F

(120°C), then the drainage facility shall be internal so 

that the parts are enclosed under the cover while 

draining. The drainage facility may only be external for 

applications where an internal type cannot reasonably 

fit the cleaning system;

d. All cleaned parts shall be drained for at least 15 

seconds after cleaning or until dripping ceases. Parts 

with blind holes or cavities shall be tipped or rotated 

before being removed, such that the solvent in the blind 

holes or cavities is drained in accordance with the 

above requirements;

e. If using a solvent flow, the cleaning system shall use 

only a continuous, fluid stream (not a fine, atomized, 

or shower type spray) at a pressure which does not cause 

liquid solvent to splash outside the solvent container;

f. Solvent agitation, where necessary, shall be carried out 

only by pump recirculation, ultrasonics, or a mixer. Air 

agitation shall not be allowed.

C.5 CLEANING DEVICES - REMOTE RESERVOIR COLD CLEANERS: Any 

person owning or operating a remote reservoir cold cleaner 

shall comply with all of the following requirements:
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a. The operator shall prevent solvent vapors from escaping 

by using such devices as a cover or a valve when the 

remote reservoir is not being used, cleaned, or 

repaired;

b. The operator shall direct solvent flow in a manner that 

will prevent liquid solvent from splashing outside of 

the remote reservoir cold cleaner;

c. All remote reservoir cold cleaners shall consist of:

1. A tank or sink-like work area which is sloped 

sufficiently to preclude pooling of solvent;

2. A single drain hole, less than 100 square centimeters 

(15.5 square inches) in area, for the solvent to flow 

from the sink into the enclosed reservoir;

3. A drain plug or a cover for placement over the top of 

the sink when the equipment is not in use;

4. A freeboard height of at least six inches.

C.6 CLEANING DEVICES - SPRAY EQUIPMENT: Effective December 31, 

2011, any person cleaning spray application equipment with 

a solvent containing more than 50 grams of VOC per liter 

shall use an enclosed system, or equipment that is proven 

to the satisfaction of the APCO to be equally effective as 

an enclosed system at controlling emissions. If an enclosed 

system is used, it shall totally enclose spray guns, cups, 

nozzles, bowls, and other parts during washing, rinsing and 

draining procedures, and it shall be used according to the 

manufacturer’s recommendations.

C.7 CLEANING DEVICES – VEHICLE AND MOBILE EQUIPMENT COATINGS:

Effective until December 31, 2011, a person shall not use 

organic-based VOC-containing materials for the clean-up of 

spray equipment used in Vehicle and Mobile Equipment 

Coating Operations unless a low emission spray gun cleaner 

or an enclosed gun cleaner is properly used for cleaning.

C.8 CLEANING DEVICES – WOOD PRODUCT COATINGS: Effective until 

December 31, 2011, a person shall not use organic-based 

VOC-containing materials for the clean-up of spray 

equipment used in Wood Products Coating Operations unless a 

low emissions spray gun cleaner or an enclosed gun cleaner 
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is properly used for cleaning. Spray gun nozzles may be 

soaked in organic-based materials for cleaning provided the 

container (not to exceed five (5) gallons in size) is kept 

tightly covered at all times except when accessing the 

container. These provisions shall not apply to Wood 

Products Coating Operations using less than 55 gallons of 

coatings and/or strippers per year.

C.9 EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM: In lieu of complying with the

requirements in Sections C.1, C.2, or C.6 of this Rule, a 

operator may comply by using a collection and control 

device in association with surface preparation and clean-up

provided that:

a. The system is approved in writing by the APCO; and

b. During emission producing activities, the system’s 

control device shall have a capture efficiency of at 

least 90 percent by weight of the emissions generated,

and one of the following requirements:

1. The control device has a control efficiency of at 

least 95 percent by weight; or

2. The VOC emission control system has an output of less 

than 50 parts per million (ppm) by weight calculated 

as carbon with no dilution, as verified by Section 

F.2.

C.10 STORAGE AND DISPOSAL – GENERAL REQUIREMENTS: All VOCcontaining materials, whether in their form for intended 

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

cloth or paper laden with VOC containing materials, shall 

be stored in non-absorbent, non-leaking containers which 

shall be kept closed at all times, except when filling or 

emptying, and disposed of in a manner to prevent 

evaporation of VOCs into the atmosphere. Waste solvent and 

waste solvent residues shall be disposed of by one of the 

following methods:

a. A commercial waste solvent reclamation service licensed 

by the State of California;

b. At a facility that is federally or state licensed to 

treat, store, or dispose of such waste;
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c. Recycling in conformance with Section 25143.2 of the 

California Health and Safety Code.

D. ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS

D.1 PROHIBITION OF SPECIFICATION: A person shall not specify 

the use of any solvent used for surface preparation and 

clean-up subject to the provisions of this rule that does 

not meet the limits and requirements of this rule where 

such applications result in a violation of this rule. The 

requirements of this Section shall apply to all written or 

oral contracts.

D.2 COMPLIANCE STATEMENT REQUIREMENT: Any person who sells or

distributes any solvent subject to this rule shall make

available to the purchaser at the time of sale the 

following information:

a. The name of the solvent and the solvent manufacturer;

b. The maximum VOC content of the solvent as applied. The 

VOC content shall be expressed as grams of VOC per liter 

or pounds of VOC per gallon of solvent, as determined 

pursuant to Section F.2;

c. Recommendations regarding thinning, reducing, or mixing 

with any solvent, if applicable.

D.3 OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE PLAN (O&M PLAN): Any person using 

an emission control device pursuant to Section C.9 of this 

Rule must submit an O&M Plan. The O&M Plan shall be 

submitted prior to operation of new control devices and no 

later than December 31, 2011 for existing control devices. 

The O&M Plan shall specify operation and maintenance 

procedures which will demonstrate continuous operation of 

the control device during periods of emission producing 

operations. The O&M Plan shall also specify which records 

must be kept to document these operation and maintenance 

procedures. These records shall comply with the 

requirements of Section E.2 of this Rule. 

E. MONITORING AND RECORDS

E.1 RECORDKEEPING - GENERAL: Any person using solvents subject 

to this Rule, except those exempt per Section A.3, shall
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maintain records that contain all the data necessary to 

verify compliance and shall include the following:

a. The amount of each solvent used at each process, on a 

monthly basis. The following information should be 

included:

1. The name of the solvent and the solvent manufacturer;

2. The VOC content of the solvent, expressed in 

grams/liter or lbs/gallon;

3. The mix ratio for the solvent, if applicable;

4. The applicable VOC category, as listed in Table 1 of 

this Rule;

5. A description of the cleaning device or method of 

application, as listed in Section C.2 of this Rule; 

6. The date and amount of solvent added;

7. The date and amount of waste solvent removed, if 

applicable.

b. A copy of the Manufacturer’s product data sheet or 

material safety data sheet of each solvent used.

c. Any other records needed to verify compliance with this 

rule.

E.2 RECORDKEEPING - EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEMS: If compliance 

with this rule is achieved through the use of an emission 

control system, the owner or operator shall maintain all of 

the following in addition to the provisions of Section E.1:

a. Daily usage records of all solvents;

b. Daily records of key operating parameters such as 

temperatures, pressures, flow rates, and hours of 

operation of the control device to verify compliance of 

the capture and control device;

c. Maintenance work which interferes with the operation of 

the control device.
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E.3 BURDEN OF PROOF: Any person claiming exemption pursuant to 

Section A.3 shall have information available such as 

product data or material safety data sheets or records that 

would allow the APCO to verify the eligibility of the 

exemption.

E.4 REPORTING: All records required by Sections E.1, E.2, and

E.3 shall be maintained on site for a period of three years 

and made available to the APCO upon request.

F. TEST METHODS AND CALCULATIONS

F.1 GENERAL: For the purposes of this Rule, the following test 

methods or calculation methods shall be used. Other test 

methods determined to be equivalent and approved in writing 

by the District and the EPA may also be used. VOC emissions 

or other parameters determined to exceed any limits 

established by this Rule through the use of any of the 

following test methods or calculations shall constitute a

violation of this Rule.

F.2 VOC CONTENT: The VOC content of organic solvents subject to 

the provisions of this rule shall be determined by

procedures contained in EPA Reference Test Method 24 or 

24A, or by using the manufacturer’s product formulation 

data and the formula listed in Section F.4.

F.3 EXEMPT COMPOUNDS: Exempt compounds, referenced in Section 

B.12. and listed in Rule 1.1 – Definitions, shall be 

determined in accordance CARB Method 422 or SCAQMD Method 

303 (Determination of Exempt Compounds).

F.4 CALCULATION OF VOC CONTENT: The VOC content per volume of

solvent shall be calculated by the following equation:

VOCcon = (WS - WW - WES)

 VM

Where: 

 VOCcon= Grams of VOC per liter of material

 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

F.5 CAPTURE EFFICIENCY: The capture efficiency of a VOC

emission control system’s collection device shall be 
 Feather River AQMD 3.14 - 16

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determined according to EPA’s “Guidelines for Determining 

Capture Efficiency,” January 9, 1995 and 40 CFR 51, 

Appendix M, Methods 204-204F, as applicable.

F.6 CONTROL EFFICIENCY: The control efficiency of a VOC 

emission control system’s collection device shall be 

determined by using EPA Methods 2, 2A, or 2D for measuring 

flow rates and EPA Method 25, 25A, or 25B for measuring 

total gaseous organic concentrations at the inlet and 

outlet of the control device. EPA Method 18 or CARB Method 

422 shall be used to determine the emissions of exempt 

compounds.

F.7 SPRAY GUN CLEANING SYSTEMS: The determination of emissions 

of VOC from spray gun cleaning systems shall be made using 

South Coast Air Quality Management District "General Test 

Method for Determining Solvent Losses from Spray Gun 

Cleaning Systems" dated October 3, 1989.

F.8 DETERMINATION OF WATER ACTIVITY IN FOODS: Water activity in 

foods shall be determined in accordance with United States 

Food and Drug Administration Inspection Technical Guide 

number 39, Water Activity (aw) in Foods.

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