SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN AQMD RULES AND REGULATIONS 

September 25, 2008 452-1 

RULE 452 CAN COATING

Adopted 6-19-79

(Amended 11-29-83, 8-27-85, 8-21-90, 11-16-93, 9-5-96, 9-25-08)

INDEX

100 GENERAL

101 PURPOSE 

102 APPLICABILITY 

103 SEVERABILITY 

200 DEFINITIONS

201 COATING LINE 

202 CAN COATING 

203 DIP COAT 

204 ELECTROSTATIC SPRAY 

205 END SEALING COMPOUNDS 

206 EXEMPT COMPOUND 

207 EXTERIOR BASE COATING 

208 FLOW COAT 

209 FOOD/BEVERAGE CAN 

210 HAND APPLICATION EQUIPMENT 

211 HIGH-VOLUME LOW-PRESSURE APPLICATION EQUIPMENT 

212 INTERIOR BASE COATING 

213 INTERIOR BODY SPRAY 

214 LOW-VOLUME LOW-PRESSURE APPLICATION EQUIPMENT 

215 OVERVARNISH 

216 ROLL COATER 

217 THREE PIECE CAN SIDE-SEAM SPRAY 

218 TWO PIECE CAN EXTERIOR END COATING 

219 VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUND (VOC) 

300 STANDARDS

301 VOC LIMITATION 

302 EQUIVALENT CONTROL METHODS 

303 SOLVENT USAGE 

304 APPLICATION EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS 

400 ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS

401 OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE PLAN 

402 CALCULATION FOR DETERMINATION OF VOC CONTENT PER VOLUME OF 

COATING 

403 CALCULATION FOR DETERMINATION OF VOC CONTENT OF CLEANUP MATERIAL 

404 CALCULATION FOR DETERMINING PERCENT CONTROL EFFICIENCY AND VOC 

MASS EMISSION RATE 

405 CALCULATION FOR DETERMINING OVERALL SYSTEM EFFICIENCY 

500 MONITORING AND RECORDS 

501 TESTING PROCEDURES 

502 COATING RECORDS 

503 SOLVENT RECORDS 

504 RECORD RETENTION 

505 CONTROL EQUIPMENT 
SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN AQMD RULES AND REGULATIONS 

452-2 September 25, 2008 

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SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN AQMD RULES AND REGULATIONS 

September 25, 2008 452-3 

100 GENERAL

101 PURPOSE: To limit emissions of volatile organic compounds from can coating operations. 

Coating operations subject to this Rule shall be exempt from the requirements of Rule 441. 

102 APPLICABILITY: The provisions of this rule shall apply to can coating operations. 

103 SEVERABILITY: If a court of competent jurisdiction issues an order that any provision of this 

rule is invalid, it is the intent of the Board of Directors of the District that other provisions of 

this rule remain in full force and effect, to the extent allowed by law. 

200 DEFINITIONS

201 COATING LINE: An operation or process for applying, drying, baking and/or curing surface 

coatings, together with associated equipment including a coating applicator, flash-off area 

and oven. 

202 CAN COATING: A coating applied or intended for application by spray, roller, or other 

means onto the interior and/or exterior surfaces of formed metal cans, or to the surface of flat 

metal sheets, strips, rolls, or coils intended for can construction. 

203 DIP COAT: A coating method which is applied by dipping an object into a vat of coating 

material and allowing any excess coating material to drain off. 

204 ELECTROSTATIC SPRAY: The spray application of coatings where an electrostatic 

potential is created between the part to be coated and the coating particles. 

205 END SEALING COMPOUND: A coating applied to can ends and which functions as a 

gasket when the end is assembled onto the can. 

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

meaning as in Rule 101- GENERAL PROVISIONS AND DEFINITIONS. 

207 EXTERIOR BASE COATING: A coating applied to the exterior of a can to provide protection 

to the metal or to provide background for any lithographic or printing operation. 

208 FLOW COAT: A coating method which is applied by flowing a stream of coating over an 

object and allowing any excess coating material to drain off. 

209 FOOD/BEVERAGE CAN: Any metal container intended for packaging food or beverages. 

210 HAND APPLICATION EQUIPMENT: Manually held equipment such as brushes, rollers, 

trowels, spatulas, daubers, rags, sponges, and mechanically or pneumatically driven syringes 

that do not atomize the applied products. 

211 HIGH-VOLUME LOW-PRESSURE 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 psig air pressure measured dynamically at the center of the air cap and at the air 

horns. 

212 INTERIOR BASE COATING: A coating applied to the interior of a can to provide a protective 

lining between the product and the can. 

213 INTERIOR BODY SPRAY: A coating sprayed on the interior of the can body to provide a 

protective lining between the product and the can. 
SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN AQMD RULES AND REGULATIONS 

452-4 September 25, 2008 

214 LOW-VOLUME LOW-PRESSURE 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. 

215 OVERVARNISH: A coating applied directly over a design coating to reduce the coefficient of 

friction, to provide gloss and to protect the finish against abrasion and corrosion. 

216 ROLL COATER: A series of mechanical rollers that forms a thin coating film on the surface 

of the roller, which is applied to a substrate by moving the substrate underneath the roller. 

217 THREE-PIECE CAN SIDE-SEAM SPRAY: A coating sprayed on the interior and/or exterior 

of a welded, cemented or soldered seam to protect the exposed metal. 

218 TWO-PIECE CAN EXTERIOR END COATING: A coating applied to the exterior end of a 

can to provide protection to the metal. 

219 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. 

300 STANDARDS

301 VOC LIMITATION: Except as provided in Section 302, a person shall not use or apply any 

coating on any coating line of the type designated below which contain volatile organic 

compounds in excess of the following limits: 

Coating Category 

Grams of VOC/liter of coating 

as applied, excluding water 

and exempt compounds 

Interior Base Coating 225 

Interior Base Coating Overvarnish 225 

Exterior Base Coating 225 

Exterior Base Coating Overvarnish 225 

Two Piece Can Exterior Base Coating 250 

Two Piece Can Exterior Base Coating Overvarnish 250 

Two Piece Can Interior Body Spray 420 

Three Piece Can Interior Body Spray 360 

Two Piece Can Exterior End Coating 250 

Three Piece Can Side Seam Spray 660 

End Sealing Compound for Food/Beverage Cans 

End Sealing Compound for Non-Food Containers 

20 

0 

302 EQUIVALENT CONTROL METHODS: Use or application of coatings which contain volatile 

organic compounds in excess of the limits specified in Section 301 shall not be allowed 

unless: 

302.1 An emissions control device achieving an overall system efficiency, as determined by 

Section 405, of not less than 90% is used, 

302.2 An Operation and Maintenance Plan is approved by the Air Pollution Control Officer, 

and 

302.3 Daily emissions do not exceed the level which would be achieved from the 

equivalent use of coatings which comply with the limits specified in Section 301, as 

calculated by the following equation: 
SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN AQMD RULES AND REGULATIONS 

September 25, 2008 452-5 

∑ () () ∑ = =

≤ ⎥

⎦

⎤ ⎢

⎣

⎡ ⎟

⎠

⎞ ⎜

⎝

⎛

⎟

⎠

⎞ ⎜

⎝

⎛ −

n

i

i i

n

i

ACTi Ui LIM U CE CL

100 100 1 1

1

Where: CE = Control device efficiency, % by mass 

CL = Collection efficiency, % by mass 

ACTi

 = Actual VOC content of material “i,” grams per liter 

LIMi

 = Applicable VOC limit for material “i” in Section 301, grams 

per liter 

Ui = Usage of material “i,” liters per day 

303 SOLVENT USAGE: Any person using solvents: 

303.1 Prior to September 25, 2009, shall not use VOC containing materials which contain 

more than 200 grams of VOC per liter of material for cleanup of container assembly 

equipment, including slitters, bodymakers, beaders, end seamers, flangers, and 

testers, excluding side seam spray application equipment, 

303.2 Effective September 25, 2009, shall not use VOC containing materials which contain 

more than 25 grams of VOC per liter of material for cleanup of container assembly 

equipment, including slitters, bodymakers, beaders, end seamers, flangers, and 

testers, excluding side seam spray application equipment, 

303.3 Shall not store unused or waste solvent in open containers, and 

303.4 Shall not store or dispose of fabric, paper, or any other waste materials used for 

cleanup or surface preparation in open containers. 

304 APPLICATION EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS: A person shall not apply any coating 

unless one of the following application methods is used: 

304.1 Roll Coater 

304.2 Dip Coat 

304.3 Electrostatic Spray 

304.4 Flow Coat 

304.5 High-Volume Low-Pressure (HVLP) Application Equipment 

304.6 Low-Volume Low-Pressure (LVLP) Application Equipment 

304.7 Hand Application Equipment, such as brush or roller 

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

Control Officer and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

304.9 In lieu of complying with the requirements in Sections 304.1 through 304.8, a person 

may control emissions from application equipment with a VOC emissions control 

device with an overall system efficiency, as determined by Section 405, of not less 

than 85.5%. An Operation and Maintenance Plan for the emissions control device 

must be approved by the Air Pollution Control Officer. 

400 ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS 

401 OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE PLAN: Any facility using an emission control device as a 

means of complying with this rule, as provided in Sections 302 or 304.9, must submit with the 

application for Authority to Construct and resubmit annually, upon completion of construction 

of the emission control device, an Operation and Maintenance Plan for the emission control 

device to the Air Pollution Control Officer for approval. The Plan shall specify operation and 

maintenance procedures which will demonstrate continuous operation of the emission control 

device during periods of emissions-producing operations. The Plan shall also specify which 

records must be kept to document these operation and maintenance procedures. These 

records shall comply with the requirements of Sections 504 and 505. The Plan shall be 

implemented upon approval of the Air Pollution Control Officer. 

 

402 CALCULATION FOR DETERMINATION OF VOC CONTENT PER VOLUME OF COATING:

 The volume of coating material is defined as the volume of the original coating, plus any 

VOC-containing material added to the original coating. The original coating is the coating 

before any VOC-containing material such as solvent is added for purposes of mixing or 
SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN AQMD RULES AND REGULATIONS 

452-6 September 25, 2008 

thinning. The weight of VOC per combined volume of VOC and coating solids shall be 

calculated by the following equation: 

( )

( ) m W ec

V W ec

V V V

W W W

− −

− −

Where: WV = weight of all volatile compounds. 

Ww = weight of water. 

Wec = weight of compounds listed as exempt in Section 206 from 

the definition of VOC. 

Vm = volume of coating material. 

VW = volume of water. 

Vec = volume of compounds listed as exempt in Section 206 from 

the definition of VOC. 

403 CALCULATION FOR DETERMINATION OF VOC CONTENT OF CLEANUP MATERIAL: 

The volume of material is defined as the volume of the original material, plus any VOCcontaining material added to the original material. The weight of VOC per total volume of 

material shall be calculated by the following equation; 

( )

m

v w ec

V

W W W G − − 1 =

Where: G1 = Weight of VOC per total volume of material, in grams per 

liter 

Wv = Weight of all volatile compounds, in grams 

Ww = Weight of water, in grams 

Wec = Weight of exempt compounds as listed in Section 206, in 

grams 

Vm = Volume of material, in liters 

404 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 mass 

concentration and volumetric flowrate, pursuant to Section 502.4 and the following equation: 

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

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

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

C = the VOC mass concentration, in lb/scf, as measured by 

EPA Method 25 or 25A. 

The percent control efficiency is calculated as follows: 

%CE = [(M U – M D) / M U] X 100 

Where: CE = control efficiency. 

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

MD = the downstream VOC mass emission rate, in lb/hr. 
SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN AQMD RULES AND REGULATIONS 

September 25, 2008 452-7 

405 CALCULATION FOR DETERMINING OVERALL SYSTEM EFFICIENCY: To verify 

compliance with Section 302, the overall system efficiency is calculated as follows: 

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

Where: SE = system efficiency. 

CLE = capture efficiency, as determined by Section 501.3 

CE = control efficiency, as determined by Sections 404 and 

501.2 

500 MONITORING AND RECORDS

501 TESTING PROCEDURES: A result by any of the below listed test methods which shows 

non-compliance with any provision of the rule shall constitute a violation of the rule. 

501.1 VOC CONTENT: Measurement of volatile organic compounds in coatings and 

solvents shall be conducted and reported in accordance with EPA Reference Method 

24 (40 CFR 60, Appendix A) and Sections 402, 403, and 501.4 of this rule. 

501.2 CONTROL DEVICE: Control efficiency and emission rates from control devices shall 

be determined by EPA Method 25 or 25A, ARB Method 422, and Section 404. 

501.3 DETERMINATION OF CAPTURE EFFICIENCY: Capture 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. 

501.4 DETERMINATION OF COMPOUNDS EXEMPT FROM VOC DEFINITION:

Compounds exempted from the VOC definition, as listed in Section 206 of this rule, 

shall be determined in accordance with ASTM D 4457-02 (2008) or ARB Method 

432. If any of the perfluorocarbons 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. 

501.5 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. 

502 COATING RECORDS: A person subject to this rule shall maintain the following daily records 

for each coating line: 

502.1 Coating type, the amount of coating applied daily, and description of the substrate 

coated. 

502.2 Manufacturer's name and product code or equivalent for each coating type and the 

coating category as specified in Section 301. 

502.3 VOC content of the coatings, as applied, in grams per liter, excluding water and 

exempt compounds. 

503 SOLVENT RECORDS: A person subject to this rule shall maintain the following daily records 

for each container assembly line: 

503.1 Amount of solvents used. 

503.2 VOC content of each solvent. 

504 RECORD RETENTION: 

504.1 Prior to September 25, 2011, a person required to maintain records specified in 

Sections 502, 503, and 505 shall retain such records on-site for two years and make 

such records available for review by the Air Pollution Control Officer upon request. 
SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN AQMD RULES AND REGULATIONS 

452-8 September 25, 2008 

504.2 Effective September 25, 2011, a person required to maintain records specified in 

Sections 502, 503, and 505 shall retain such records on-site for five years and make 

such records available for review by the Air Pollution Control Officer upon request. 

505 CONTROL EQUIPMENT: Any person using an emission control system pursuant to Section 

302 or 304.9 as a means of complying with this rule shall maintain such records as required 

by the Operation and Maintenance Plan in Section 401 on a daily basis.