SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN AQMD RULES AND REGULATIONS 

June 4, 1998 XX-XX-08 465-1 

RULE 465 POLYESTER RESIN OPERATIONS 

Adopted 2-6-97 

(Amended 6-4-98, XX-XX-08) 

INDEX

100 GENERAL

101 PURPOSE 

102 APPLICABILITY 

103 EXEMPTION - LOW USAGE 

104 EXEMPTION - CLEANING MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS 

105 SEVERABILITY 

200 DEFINITIONS

201 AIRLESS SPRAY EQUIPMENT 

202 AIR ASSISTED AIRLESS SPRAY EQUIPMENT 

203 CATALYST 

204 CLEANING MATERIAL 

205 CLOSED CONTAINER 

206 CLOSED MOLD SYSTEM 

207 CONTROL SYSTEM 

208 ELECTROSTATIC AIR SPRAY EQUIPMENT 

209 ENCLOSED GUN CLEANER 

210 EXEMPT COMPOUND 

211 GEL COAT 

212 HIGH-VOLUME LOW-PRESSURE (HVLP) APPLICATION EQUIPMENT 

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

214 MONOMER 

215 NON-COMPLIANT MATERIAL 

216 POLYESTER RESIN 

217 POLYESTER RESIN OPERATION 

218 POLYMER 

219 POLYMERIZATION 

220 RESIN 

221 SPECIALTY RESIN 

222 VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUND (VOC) 

223 VAPOR SUPPRESSANT 

300 STANDARDS

301 PROCESS AND CONTROL REQUIREMENTS 

302 SPRAY APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS 

303 CLEANING MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS 

304 STORAGE AND DISPOSAL REQUIREMENTS 

400 ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS

4021 CALCULATION FOR DETERMINING VOC WEIGHT PER VOLUME OF MATERIAL 

4032 CALCULATION FOR DETERMINING PERCENT MONOMER (STYRENE) CONTENT AS 

APPLIED 

4043 CALCULATION FOR DETERMINING PERCENT CONTROL EFFICIENCY AND VOC 

MASS EMISSION RATE 

4054 CALCULATION FOR DETERMINING OVERALL SYSTEM EFFICIENCY 

4065 OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE PLAN 

4076 PROCEDURE FOR PROCESSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE PLAN 

500 MONITORING AND RECORDS 

501 RECORD KEEPING 

502 TEST PROCEDURES
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465-2 June 4, 1998 XX-XX-08

100 GENERAL

101 PURPOSE: The purpose of this rule is to reduce emissions of volatile organic 

compounds from polyester resin operations at each stage of the polyester resin operation. 

102 APPLICABILITY: This rule applies to persons who operate polyester resin operations 

within Sacramento County. 

103 EXEMPTION - LOW USAGE: The provisions of this rule, other than the record keeping 

requirements of Section 501, shall not apply to any person operating a polyester resin 

operation where the volume of polyester resin materials used is less than 20 gallons per 

month. 

104 EXEMPTION - CLEANING MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS: Prior to (one year after date of 

adoption), Tthe provisions of Section 303 shall not apply to clean molds, spray equipment 

or other dispensing equipment tools used in gel coat or specialty resin operations that 

come in direct contact with polyester resin products, provided that the usage of cleaning 

materials does not exceed 16 gallons per month. This exemption expires on (one year 

after date of adoption).

105 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, such portion shall be deemed as a separate, distinct, and 

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

portions thereof. 

200 DEFINITIONS

201 AIRLESS SPRAY EQUIPMENT: Equipment for applying materials by use of fluid 

pressure without atomizing air, including heated airless spray. 

202 AIR-ASSISTED AIRLESS SPRAY EQUIPMENT: Equipment for applying materials by 

use of fluid pressure to atomize coating and air pressure between 0.1 and 10 psig to 

adjust the spray pattern. 

203 CATALYST: A substance added to resin to initiate or promote polymerization. 

204 CLEANING MATERIAL: Any material containing a volatile organic compound (VOC) and 

used to clean hands, work areas, tools, molds, application equipment, and any other 

equipment related to a polyester resin operation. 

205 CLOSED CONTAINER: A container which has a cover where the cover meets with the 

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

of the container. 

206 CLOSED MOLD SYSTEM: A method of forming objects from polyester resin material by 

placing the polyester resin material in a confining mold cavity and applying pressure 

and/or heat. 

207 CONTROL SYSTEM: Includes a control device and a collection system. 

208 ELECTROSTATIC AIR SPRAY EQUIPMENT: Equipment used to apply materials by 

charging atomized particles that are deposited by electrostatic attraction. 
SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN AQMD RULES AND REGULATIONS 

June 4, 1998 XX-XX-08 465-3 

209 ENCLOSED GUN CLEANER: 

209.1 A device that is used for the cleaning of spray guns, pots, cups and hoses, that 

has an enclosed solvent container, is not open to the ambient air when in use, 

and has a mechanism to force the cleanup material through the gun while the 

cleaner is in operation; or 

209.2 A device that is used for the cleaning of spray guns, pots, cups and hoses, that 

has a remote reservoir, uses non-atomized solvent flow to flush the spray 

equipment and collects and returns the discharged solvent to the remote 

reservoir. 

210 EXEMPT COMPOUND: For the purposes of this rule, “exempt compound” has the same 

meaning as in Rule 101—GENERAL PROVISIONS AND DEFINITIONS. 

211 GEL COAT: A polyester resin topcoat that provides a cosmetic enhancement and 

improves resistance to degradation from exposure to the environment. A gel coat may be 

pigmented or may be clear. 

212 HIGH-VOLUME LOW-PRESSURE (HVLP) APPLICATION EQUIPMENT: Equipment 

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

operated between 0.1 and 10.0 psig air pressure measured dynamically at the center of 

the air cap and at the air horns. 

213 LOW-VOLUME-LOW PRESSURE (LVLP) APPLICATION EQUIPMENT: Spray coating 

application equipment with air pressure between 0.1 and 10.0 pounds per square inch 

gauge (psig) and air volume less than 15.5 cfm per spray gun and which operates at a 

maximum fluid delivery pressure of 50 psig. 

214 MONOMER: An organic compound that combines with itself, or other similar compounds, 

to become a cured thermosetting resin. 

215 NON-COMPLIANT MATERIAL: A material that does not comply pursuant to Rule 107, 

ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE or Section 301.2, and one of the following applies: 

215.1 The material exceeds the monomer content limits and vapor suppressant limits 

specified by Sections 301.1a and 301.1b and is not used in a closed mold system 

as specified by Section 301.1c, and the polyester resin operation is in excess of 

the allowable volume per Section 103; or 

215.2 The cleaning material exceeds the VOC content limit specified by Section 303 

and is not used in an enclosed gun cleaner and the polyester resin operation is in 

excess of the allowable volume per Section 103 and the cleaning material is in 

excess of the allowable volume per Section 104. 

216 POLYESTER RESIN: Unsaturated polyester resin such as isophthalic, orthophthalic, 

halogenated, bisphenol-A, vinyl-ester, or furan resin; cross-linking agent; catalyst, gel 

coat, inhibitor, accelerator, promoter, and any other VOC-containing material comprising a 

resin made from polyester. Inert filler and cleaning material are excluded from this 

definition. 

217 POLYESTER RESIN OPERATION: 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 cleanup. 

218 POLYMER: A chemical compound comprised of a large number of chemical units and 

which is formed by the chemical linking of monomers. 

219 POLYMERIZATION: to transform from a liquid to a solid or semi-solid state to achieve 

desired product physical properties, including hardness. 
SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN AQMD RULES AND REGULATIONS 

465-4 June 4, 1998 XX-XX-08

220 RESIN: Any of a class of organic polymers of natural or synthetic origin used in 

reinforced products to surround and hold fibers or filler particles, and is solid or semisolid 

in the cured state. 

221 SPECIALTY RESIN: 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 agents, caustic agents, 

acidic agents, or flame. 

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

organic compound” has the same meaning as in Rule 101- GENERAL PROVISIONS 

AND DEFINITIONS. 

223 VAPOR SUPPRESSANT: A substance added to resin to minimize the outward diffusion 

of monomer vapor into the atmosphere. 

224 WASTE MATERIAL: Includes, but is not limited to, any paper or cloth used for cleaning 

operations, waste resins, or any spent cleaning materials. 

300 STANDARDS

301 PROCESS AND CONTROL REQUIREMENTS:

301.1 Each polyester resin operation shall comply with one of the following process or 

control requirements: 

a. Use low-VOC polyester resins with the following monomer content: 

1. Resins, except for specialty resins and gel coats, which contain 

no more than 35% by weight as applied, as determined by 

Section 502.3. 

2. Pigmented gel coats which contain no more than 45% by weight 

as applied, as determined by Section 502.3. 

3. Specialty resins and clear gel coats which contain no more than 

50% by weight as applied, as determined by Section 502.3. 

b. A polyester resin material containing a vapor suppressant, such that 

weight loss from VOC emissions does not exceed 60 grams per square 

meter of exposed surface area during resin polymerization, as 

determined by Section 502.1. 

c. Use of a closed-mold system.

301.2 As an alternative to Section 301.1, a source may install and operate an emissions 

control system that: 

a. Has been permitted by the Air Pollution Control Officer, pursuant to Rule 

201, GENERAL PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS, and 

b. Provides an overall system efficiency, as determined by Section 404, of 

not less than 8590%, and 

c. Complies with the requirements of Section 405.

302 SPRAY APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS; Spray application of polyester resin materials 

shall only be performed using one or more of the following application methods: 

302.1 airless, 

302.2 air-assisted airless, 

302.3 high-volume low-pressure (HVLP), 

302.4 low-volume/low-pressure (LVLP), 

302.5 electrostatic spray equipment or 

302.6 Any other equivalent method which has been approved in writing by the Air 

Pollution Control Officer and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 

303 CLEANING MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS:
SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN AQMD RULES AND REGULATIONS 

June 4, 1998 XX-XX-08 465-5 

 303.1 Prior to (one year after date of adoption), Aa person shall not use cleaning 

materials containing more than 1.7 pounds of VOC per gallon (204 g/l) as applied 

and as determined by Section 502.2, unless the material is used in an enclosed 

gun cleaner. 

 303.2 Effective (one year after date of adoption), a person shall not use cleaning 

materials containing more than 0.21 pounds of VOC per gallon (25 g/l) as applied 

and as determined by Section 502.2.

304 STORAGE AND DISPOSAL REQUIREMENTS: 

304.1 Each polyester resin operation shall use closed containers to store all polyester 

resin materials, cleaning materials, and any unused VOC-containing materials, 

except when accessed for use. 

304.2 Each polyester resin operation shall use closed containers for the disposal of all 

uncured polyester resin materials, cleaning materials, waste materials, and any 

unused VOC-containing materials. 

400 ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS

401 CALCULATION FOR DETERMINING VOC WEIGHT PER VOLUME OF MATERIAL:

The weight of VOC per volume of material shall be calculated by the following equation: 

m

s w ec

V

W −W −W Grams VOC per liter of material =

Where: Ws = weight of all volatile compounds in grams 

Ww = weight of water in grams 

Wec = weight of exempt compounds in grams 

Vm = volume of the material in liters 

402 CALCULATION FOR DETERMINING PERCENT MONOMER (STYRENE) CONTENT 

AS APPLIED

The percent monomer content of a resin as applied shall be calculated by the following 

equations. Batch weight and styrene weight calculation shall be completed to provide 

inputs into percent monomer equation. 

Batch Weight = R + F + P + O

Where; R = Resin Weight 

F = Filler Weight 

P = Pigment Weight 

O = Other Additives Weight 

100 Styrene Weight SP = R ×

Where; R = Resin Weight 

SP = % Styrene in Resin (from Manufacturer) 

100

Batch Weight

Styrene Weight Percent Monomer = ×

403 CALCULATION FOR DETERMINING PERCENT CONTROL EFFICIENCY AND VOC 

MASS EMISSION RATE: The VOC mass emission rate shall be calculated both 

upstream and downstream of the emissions control device based on the respective VOC 
SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN AQMD RULES AND REGULATIONS 

465-6 June 4, 1998 XX-XX-08

mass concentration and volumetric flowrate, pursuant to Section 502.6 and the following 

equation: 

M = ( )( )( ) Q C 60 min/hr [Calculated upstream and downstream] 

Where: M = VOC mass emission rate (upstream/downstream), in lb/hr. 

Q = the volumetric flowrate at the inlet (upstream) or exhaust stack 

outlet (downstream), in scfm. 

C = the VOC mass concentration at the inlet (upstream) or outlet 

(downstream), in lb/scf, as measured pursuant to Section 502.6. 

The percent control efficiency is calculated as follows: 

( ) % ×100 − =

u

u D

M

M M CE

Where: CE = control efficiency. 

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

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

404 CALCULATION FOR DETERMINING OVERALL SYSTEM EFFICIENCY: To verify 

compliance with Section 301.2, the overall system efficiency is calculated as follows: 

%SE = [%CLE X %CE] X/ 100

Where: SE = system efficiency. 

CLE = collection efficiency, as determined by Section 502.5. 

CE = control efficiency, as determined by Sections 403 and 502.6. 

405 OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE PLAN: Any person using emissions control equipment 

pursuant to Section 301.2 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 501. The Plan shall be implemented upon approval by the Air Pollution Control 

Officer.

406 PROCEDURE FOR PROCESSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE PLAN: 

406.1 APPROVAL OF PLAN: The Air Pollution Control Officer shall determine whether 

the Operation and Maintenance Plan meets the requirements of Section 405 not 

later than 30 days after receipt of the Plan, or within a longer period of time 

agreed upon by the parties. The Air Pollution Control Officer shall approve an 

Operation and Maintenance Plan unless it fails to demonstrate continuous 

operations of the emissions control equipment during periods of emissions 

producing operations, according to the standards set forth in Section 301.2, 

and/or it fails to specify which daily records, in accordance with the requirements 

of Section 501, are to be kept to document the operation and maintenance 

procedures set forth in the Plan. 
SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN AQMD RULES AND REGULATIONS 

June 4, 1998 XX-XX-08 465-7 

406.2 REVISION OF PLAN: If the Air Pollution Control Officer does not approve an 

Operation and Maintenance Plan, the source shall receive written notice of the 

deficiency, and shall have an additional 30 days from the date of the notification 

of the deficiency to correct and resubmit the Operation and Maintenance Plan. 

The decision of the Air Pollution Control Officer regarding the resubmitted 

Operation and Maintenance Plan shall be final. Failure to correct the deficiency 

in an Operation and Maintenance Plan upon resubmittal shall constitute a 

violation of this rule that is subject to the penalties set forth in Health and Safety 

Code section 42400 et seq.

500 MONITORING AND RECORDS 

501 RECORD KEEPING: In addition to any applicable record keeping requirements of either 

Rule 202, NEW SOURCE REVIEW, Rule 207, TITLE V - FEDERAL OPERATING 

PERMIT PROGRAM, and Rule 209, LIMITING POTENTIAL TO EMIT, or any other 

District rule which may be applicable, any person subject to this rule shall maintain the 

following records in order to evaluate compliance: 

501.1 LIST OF MATERIALS: A list shall be maintained of currently used resins, 

catalysts, filler materials, pigment materials, additives, cleanup materials and 

other VOC containing materials. The list shall contain all such materials that are 

currently used and stored on-site and shall include the following information: 

a. The material type by name/code/manufacturer. 

b. For resin materials, the monomer content, as applied, as determined by 

Section 403. 

c. For vapor-suppressed resins, the weight loss per square meter during 

resin polymerization, as determined pursuant to Section 502.1. 

d. For cleaning materials and any other VOC containing materials, the VOC 

content of the material, as applied, as determined pursuant to Section 

502.2. 

e. Identification of each material type exceeding the monomer content and 

vapor suppressant limits specified in Section 301.1a and 301.1b. 

501.2 USAGE RECORDS: Any person within the District using materials regulated by 

this rule shall update and maintain the records as follows: 

a. For sources which have total facility VOC emissions greater than 5 tons 

per year, records shall be maintained on a monthly basis, showing the 

type and total applied volume of resins, catalysts, filler materials, pigment 

materials, additives, cleanup materials and other VOC containing 

materials. 

b. For sources which have total facility VOC emissions less than or equal to 

5 tons per year, records shall be maintained on an annual basis, showing 

the type and total applied volume of resins, catalysts, filler materials, 

pigment materials, additives, cleanup materials and other VOC containing 

materials. 

c. For non-compliant coatingsmaterials, as defined in Section 215, daily 

records regarding the use, including the lack of use, of each material type 

by name/code/manufacturer and the total applied volume of each 

material. 

d. For persons using a control system pursuant to Section 301.2, records 

shall be maintained on a daily basis, showing the type and volume of 

each material used. 

501.3 Any person using a control system pursuant to Section 301.2, shall maintain daily 

records of key system operating and maintenance procedures which will 

demonstrate continuous operation and compliance of the control system during 

periods of emission-producing activities. 

501.4 DURATION OF RECORDS:
SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN AQMD RULES AND REGULATIONS 

465-8 June 4, 1998 XX-XX-08

a. Prior to (two years after date of adoption), Aall records required by this 

rule shall be maintained on-site for at least three years, and shall be 

made available to the Air Pollution Control Officer upon request.

b. Effective (two years after date of adoption), all records required by this 

rule shall be maintained on-site for at least five years, and shall be made 

available to the Air Pollution Control Officer upon request.

502 TEST METHODS: The analysis of polyester resin materials, cleaning materials, and 

collection/control efficiency shall be conducted using the following testing procedures: 

502.1 RESIN VOC WEIGHT LOSS: “Static Method for Determination of Volatile 

Emissions from Polyester and Vinyl Ester Resins” (RACT/BARCT Guidance, 

1991) shall be used for determining VOC emissions from polyester and vinyl ester 

resins as received from the manufacturer. 

502 .2 DETERMINATION OF VOC CONTENT: VOC content of coatings shall be 

determined in accordance with EPA Method 24 and Section 401 of this rule as 

applicable. 

502.3 DETERMINATION OF PERCENT MONOMER CONTENT OF RESINS AS 

APPLIED: Percent monomer content as applied shall be determined in 

accordance with Section 402. 

502.4 DETERMINATION OF COMPOUNDS EXEMPT FROM VOC DEFINITION: 

Compounds exempted from the VOC definition, as listed in Section 210 of this 

rule, shall be determined in accordance with ASTM D 4457-8502 (2008) or ARB 

Method 432. If any of the perfluorocarbons or volatile cyclic and linear methyl 

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

must state in advance which compounds are present, and the EPA-approved test 

method used to make the determination of these compounds.

502.5 DETERMINATION OF COLLECTION EFFICIENCY: Efficiency of the collection 

system shall be determined using: Collection efficiency shall be determined in 

accordance with the U.S. EPA technical guideline document, “Guidelines for 

Determining Capture Efficiency,” dated January 9, 1995. Individual capture 

efficiency test runs subject to U.S. EPA technical guidelines shall be determined 

by: 

a. Applicable U.S. EPA Methods 204, 204A, 204B, 204C, 204D, 204E, 

and/or 204F; or 

b. Any other method approved by the U.S.EPA, the California Air Resources 

Board, and the Air Pollution Control Officer.

502.6 DETERMINATION OF CONTROL EFFICIENCY: Efficiency of control equipment 

shall be determined in accordance with EPA Method 18, 25, 25A, EPA Method 2 or 

2C (whichever is applicable), and Section 403.

502.7 MULTIPLE TEST METHODS: When more than one test method or 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.