SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

(Adopted July 8, 1988)(Amended May 5, 1989)(Amended March 2, 1990)

(Amended June 28, 1990)(Amended November 2, 1990)(Amended December 7, 1990)

(Amended August 2, 1991)(Amended September 6, 1991)

(Amended December 9, 1994)(Amended March 8, 1996)

(Amended June 13, 1997)(Amended December 11, 1998)(Amended December 2, 2005)

(Amended September 5, 2014)

RULE 1151. MOTOR VEHICLE AND MOBILE EQUIPMENT 

NON-ASSEMBLY LINE COATING OPERATIONS

(a) Purpose

The purpose of this rule is to reduce volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, 

toxic air contaminants, stratospheric ozone-depleting compounds, and globalwarming compound emissions from automotive coating applications performed 

on motor vehicles, mobile equipment, and associated parts and components.

(b) Applicability

This rule is applicable to any person who supplies, sells, offers for sale, markets, 

manufactures, blends, packages, repackages, possesses or distributes any 

automotive coating or associated solvent for use within the District, as well as any 

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

coating or associated solvent within the District.

(c) Definitions

For the purpose of this rule, the following definitions shall apply:

(1) ADHESION PROMOTER means any automotive coating, specifically 

labeled and formulated to be applied to uncoated plastic surfaces to 

facilitate bonding of subsequent automotive coatings, and on which, a 

subsequent automotive coating is applied.

(2) AEROSOL COATING PRODUCT means a pressurized coating product 

containing pigments or resins that dispenses product ingredients by means 

of a propellant, and is packaged in a disposable can for hand-held 

application, or for use in specialized equipment for ground traffic/marking 

applications.

(3) ASSEMBLY LINE means an arrangement of industrial equipment and 

workers in which the product passes from one specialized operation to 

another until complete, by either automatic or manual means.

(4) ASSOCIATED PARTS AND COMPONENTS means structures, devices, 

pieces, modules, sections, assemblies, subassemblies, or elements of any

1151 - 1
Rule 1151 (Cont.) (Amended September 5, 2014)

motor vehicle or mobile equipment that are designed to be a part of any 

motor vehicle or mobile equipment but which are not attached to any 

motor vehicle or mobile equipment at the time of the application of an 

automotive coating to such structure, device, piece, module, section, 

assembly, subassembly, or element. Associated parts and components do 

not include circuit boards.

(5) AUTOMOTIVE COATING means any coating used or recommended for 

use in motor vehicles, mobile equipment or associated parts and 

components in refinishing, service, maintenance, repair, restoration, or 

modification, except metal plating activities. Any reference to automotive 

refinishing or automotive coating on the container or in product literature 

constitutes a recommendation for use in motor vehicle, mobile equipment 

and associated parts and components refinishing.

(6) AUTOMOTIVE COATING COMPONENT means any portion of a 

coating, including, but not limited to, a reducer or thinner, toner, hardener, 

and additive, which is recommended for use in an automotive coating, or 

which is used in an automotive coating. The raw materials used to 

produce the components are not considered automotive coating 

components.

(7) AUTOMOTIVE GRAPHIC ARTS OPERATION means the application 

of logos, letters, designs, numbers, or graphics to a painted surface by 

brush, roller or airbrush.

(8) AUTOMOTIVE REFINISHING FACILITY means any shop, business, 

location, or parcel of land where motor vehicles or mobile equipment or 

their associated parts and components are coated, including autobody 

collision repair shops. Automotive refinishing facility does not include 

the original equipment manufacturing plant where the motor vehicle or 

mobile equipment is completely assembled.

(9) CLEAR COATING means any automotive coating that is formulated with 

materials that do not impart color and is specifically labeled and 

formulated for application over a color coating or clear coating.

(10) COATING means a material which is applied to a surface and forms a 

film in order to beautify, preserve, repair, or protect such a surface.

(11) COLOR COATING means any pigmented automotive coating, excluding 

automotive adhesion promoters, primers, and multi-color coatings, that 

require a subsequent clear coating and which is applied over a primer, 

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Rule 1151 (Cont.) (Amended September 5, 2014)

adhesion promoter or color coating. Color coatings include 

metallic/iridescent color coatings.

(12) ELECTROSTATIC SPRAY APPLICATION means any method of spray 

application of automotive coatings where an electrostatic attraction is 

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

(13) EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM means any combination of capture 

systems and control devices used to reduce VOC emissions from 

automotive coating operations.

(14) EXEMPT COMPOUNDS are as defined in Rule 102-Definition of Terms.

(15) GRAMS OF VOC PER LITER OF COATING LESS WATER AND 

LESS EXEMPT COMPOUNDS, OR REGULATORY VOC, is the 

weight of VOC per combined volume of VOC and coating solids and shall 

be calculated by the following equation:

Grams of VOC per Liter of Coating, Less 

Water and Less Exempt Compounds = W W W

V V V

s w es

m w es

− −

− −

Where: Ws = weight of volatile compounds in grams

Ww = weight of water in grams

Wes = weight of exempt compounds in grams

Vm = volume of material in liters

Vw = volume of water in liters

Ves = volume of exempt compounds in liters

(16) GRAMS OF VOC PER LITER OF MATERIAL, OR ACTUAL VOC, is 

the weight of VOC per volume of material and shall be calculated by the 

following equation:

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

V

s w es

m

Where: 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

(17) HIGH-VOLUME, LOW-PRESSURE (HVLP) means spray application 

equipment designed to atomize 100 percent by air pressure only and is 

operated between 0.1 and 10 pounds per square inch, gauge, (psig) air 

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Rule 1151 (Cont.) (Amended September 5, 2014)

atomizing pressure measured dynamically at the center of the air cap and 

at the air horns.

(18) METALLIC/IRIDESCENT COLOR COATING means any automotive 

coating that contains more than 0.042 pounds per gallon (5 grams per liter) 

of metal or iridescent particles as applied, where such particles are visible 

in the dried film.

(19) MOBILE EQUIPMENT means any device that may be drawn and/or 

driven on rails or a roadway including, but not limited to, trains, railcars, 

truck trailers, mobile cranes, bulldozers, street cleaners, and implements of 

husbandry or agriculture.

(20) MOTOR VEHICLE means any self-propelled vehicle, including, but not 

limited to, motorcycles, passenger cars, light-duty trucks and vans, 

medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles as defined in Section 1900, Title 

13, of the California Administrative Code. Additional examples include, 

but are not limited to, buses, golf carts, tanks, and armored personnel 

carriers.

(21) MULTI-COLOR COATING means any automotive coating that exhibits 

more than one color in the dried film after a single application, is 

packaged in a single container, and hides surface defects on areas of heavy 

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

(22) PRETREATMENT COATING means any automotive coating that 

contains a minimum of one-half (0.5) percent acid by weight and not more 

than 16 percent solids by weight necessary to provide surface etching and 

that is specifically labeled and formulated for application directly to bare 

metal surfaces to provide corrosion resistance and adhesion.

(23) PRIMER means any automotive coating that is specifically labeled and 

formulated for application to a substrate to provide 1) a bond between the 

substrate and subsequent coats, 2) corrosion resistance, 3) a smooth 

substrate surface, or 4) resistance to penetration of subsequent coats, and 

on which a subsequent coating is applied. Primers may be pigmented and 

include weld-through primers.

(24) SINGLE-STAGE COATING means any pigmented automotive coating, 

(excluding automotive adhesion promoters, primers and multi-color 

coatings), specifically labeled and formulated for application without a 

subsequent clear coating and that are applied over an adhesion promoter, a 

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Rule 1151 (Cont.) (Amended September 5, 2014)

primer, or a color coating. Single-stage coatings include single-stage 

metallic/iridescent coatings.

(25) SOLVENT CLEANING is as defined in Rule 1171 – Solvent Cleaning 

Operations.

(26) SPOT REPAIR means repair of an area on a motor vehicle, mobile 

equipment, or associated parts or components of less than one square foot 

(929 square centimeters).

(27) TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE COATING means any automotive coating 

specifically labeled and formulated for the purpose of temporarily 

protecting areas from overspray or mechanical damage.

(28) TRANSFER EFFICIENCY means the amount of coating solids adhering 

to the object being coated divided by the total amount of automotive 

coating solids sprayed, expressed as a percentage.

(29) TRUCK BED LINER COATING means any automotive coating, 

excluding color, multi-color, and single stage coatings, specifically labeled 

and formulated for application to a truck bed to protect it from surface 

abrasion.

(30) UNDERBODY COATING means any automotive coating specifically 

labeled and formulated for application to wheel wells, the inside of door 

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

motor vehicle.

(31) UNIFORM FINISH COATING means any automotive coating 

specifically labeled and formulated for application to the area around a 

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

to match the appearance of an adjacent area’s existing coating.

(32) VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUND (VOC) is as defined in Rule 102-

Definition of Terms. For the purpose of this rule, tertiary butyl acetate 

(TBAc) is not a VOC when used in automotive coatings other than color 

coatings and clear coatings.

The Executive Officer shall conduct a technical assessment on the use of 

TBAc as a non-VOC by December 31, 2016. In conducting the technical 

assessment, the Executive Officer shall consider all information available 

to the SCAQMD on TBAc including, toxicity, carcinogenic and health 

risk assessment studies. The Executive Office shall report to the 

Governing Board as to the appropriateness of maintaining TBAc as a nonVOC.

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Rule 1151 (Cont.) (Amended September 5, 2014)

(33) WELD-THROUGH PRIMER means an automotive coating designed and 

labeled exclusively to provide a bridging or conducting effect for 

corrosion protection following welding.

(d) Requirements

(1) A person shall not apply any automotive coating to a motor vehicle, 

mobile equipment, or associated parts or components of a motor vehicle or 

mobile equipment that contains VOC in excess of the limits specified in 

the Table of Standards below. Compliance with the applicable VOC 

content limits shall be based on VOC content, including any material 

added to the original automotive coating supplied by the manufacturer, as 

applied, less water and exempt compounds.

TABLE OF STANDARDS

VOC CONTENT LIMITS

Grams per Liter of Coating, Less Water and Less Exempt Compounds

AUTOMOTIVE COATING

CATEGORIES

Current Limit

g/L Lb/Gal

Adhesion Promoter 540 4.5

Clear Coating 250 2.1

Color Coating 420 3.5

Multi-Color Coating 680 5.7

Pretreatment Coating 660 5.5

Primer 250 2.1

Single-Stage Coating 340 2.8

Temporary Protective Coating 60 0.5

Truck Bed Liner Coating 310 2.6

Underbody Coating 430 3.6

Uniform Finishing Coating 540 4.5

Any Other Coating Type 250 2.1

(2) Most Restrictive VOC Limit

If any representation or information on the container of any automotive 

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

advertising, or technical literature that indicates that the automotive 

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

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Rule 1151 (Cont.) (Amended September 5, 2014)

one of the automotive coating categories listed in paragraph (d)(1), then 

the lowest VOC content limit shall apply.

(3) Alternative Compliance

(A) Emission Control System

A person may comply with the provisions of paragraph (d)(1), by 

using an approved emission control system, consisting of 

collection and control devices, provided such emission control 

system is approved pursuant to Rule 203 – Permit to Operate, in 

writing, by the Executive Officer for reducing emissions of VOC. 

The Executive Officer shall approve such emission control system 

only if the VOC emissions resulting from the use of non-compliant 

automotive coatings will be reduced to a level equivalent to or 

lower than that which would have been achieved by the 

compliance with the terms of paragraph (d)(1). The required 

efficiency of an emission control system at which an equivalent or 

greater level of VOC emission reduction will be achieved shall be 

calculated by the following equation:

C.E. = { } 100

1 (VOC /D )

1- (VOC /D )

(VOC )

(VOC ) 1

LWc c

LWn,Max n,Max

LWn,Max

LWc ×

















− − ×

Where:

C.E. = Control Efficiency, percent

VOCLWc = VOC Limit of Rule 1151, less water and 

less exempt compounds, pursuant to 

paragraph (d)(1).

VOCLWn,Max = Maximum VOC content of non-compliant 

automotive coating used in conjunction with 

a control device, less water and exempt 

compounds.

Dn,Max = Density of VOC solvent, reducer, or thinner 

contained in the non-compliant automotive 

coating containing the maximum VOC.

Dc = Density of corresponding VOC solvent, 

reducer, or thinner used in the compliant 

automotive coating system = 880 g/L.

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Rule 1151 (Cont.) (Amended September 5, 2014)

(B) Alternative Emission Control Plan

A person may comply with the provisions of paragraph (d)(1) by 

means of an Alternative Emissions Control Plan, pursuant to Rule 

108 – Alternative Emissions Control Plans.

(4) Exempt Compounds

A person shall not manufacture, sell, offer for sale, distribute for use in the 

District, or apply any automotive coating which contains any Group II 

Exempt Compounds as defined in Rule 102. 

(5) Carcinogenic Materials

A person shall not manufacture automotive coatings for use in the 

SCAQMD in which cadmium or hexavalent chromium was introduced as 

a pigment or as an agent to impart any property or characteristic to the 

automotive coatings during manufacturing, distribution, or use of the 

applicable automotive coatings.

(6) Transfer Efficiency

(A) A person shall not apply automotive coatings to any motor vehicle, 

mobile equipment or any associated parts or components to a 

motor vehicle or mobile equipment except by the use of one of the 

following methods:

(i) electrostatic application, or 

(ii) high-volume, low-pressure (HVLP) spray, or

(iii) brush, dip, or roller, or

(iv) Spray gun application, provided the owner or operator 

demonstrates that the spray gun meets the HVLP definition 

in paragraph (c)(17) in design and use. A satisfactory 

demonstration must be based on the manufacturer’s 

published technical material on the design of the spray gun 

and by a demonstration of the operation of the spray gun 

using an air pressure tip gauge from the manufacturer of the 

spray gun.

(v) Any such other automotive coating application methods as 

demonstrated, in accordance with the provisions of 

subparagraph (h)(1)(F), to be capable of achieving 

equivalent or better transfer efficiency than the automotive 

coating application method listed in clause (d)(6)(A)(ii), 

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Rule 1151 (Cont.) (Amended September 5, 2014)

provided written approval is obtained from the Executive 

Officer prior to use.

(B) A person shall not apply any automotive coating by any of the 

methods listed in subparagraph (d)(6)(A) unless the automotive 

coating is applied with properly operating equipment, operated 

according to procedures recommended by the manufacturer and in 

compliance with applicable permit conditions, if any.

(7) Solvent Cleaning, Storage and Disposal of VOC-Containing Materials

Solvent cleaning of application equipment, parts, products, tools, 

machinery, equipment, general work areas, and the storage and disposal of 

VOC-containing materials used in cleaning operations shall be carried out 

pursuant to SCAQMD Rule 1171 – Solvent Cleaning Operations.

(e) Prohibition of Possession, Specification and Sale

(1) For the purpose of this rule, no person that applies automotive coatings 

subject to this rule shall possess any automotive coating that is not in 

compliance with requirements of paragraph (d)(1), unless one or more of 

the following conditions apply:

(A) The automotive coating is for use at a facility that utilizes an 

approved emission control device pursuant to subparagraph 

(d)(3)(A) and the coating meets the limits specified in permit 

conditions.

(B) The automotive coating is for use at a facility that operates in 

compliance with an approved Alternative Emissions Control Plan 

pursuant to subparagraph (d)(3)(B), and the automotive coating is 

specified in the plan.

(C) The automotive coating is for use at a training center and the 

automotive coating is used for educational purposes, provided that 

the VOC emissions from automotive coatings not meeting the 

VOC limits of paragraph (d)(1) do not exceed twelve (12) pounds 

per day.

(D) The automotive coating is for use at a prototype motor vehicle 

manufacturing facility and the automotive coating is supplied by 

an assembly-line motor vehicle manufacturer specifically for use in 

the refinishing of a prototype motor vehicle, provided that the 

VOC emissions from all automotive coatings not meeting the VOC 

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Rule 1151 (Cont.) (Amended September 5, 2014)

limits of paragraph (d)(1) do not exceed twenty-one (21) pounds 

per day and 930 pounds in any one calendar year.

(2) For the purpose of this rule, no person shall solicit from, specify, or 

require any other person to use in the District any automotive coating 

which, when applied as supplied or thinned or reduced according to the 

manufacturer's recommendation for application, does not meet the:

(A) Applicable VOC limits required by paragraph (d)(1) for the 

specific application unless:

(i) The automotive coating is located at a facility that utilizes 

an approved emission control device pursuant to 

subparagraph (d)(3)(A), and the automotive coating meets 

the limits specified in permit conditions; or,

(ii) The automotive coating is located at a facility that operates 

in compliance with an approved Alternative Emissions 

Control Plan pursuant to subparagraph (d)(3)(B), and the 

automotive coating is specified in the plan; or

(iii) The automotive coating is specifically exempt pursuant to 

subdivision (j) of this rule.

(B) The requirements of paragraphs (d)(4) and (d)(5).

(3) For the purpose of this rule, no person shall supply, sell, offer for sale, 

market, blend, package, repackage or distribute any automotive coating for 

use within the District subject to the provisions in this rule which, when 

applied as supplied or thinned or reduced according to the manufacturer's 

recommendation for application, does not meet the:

(A) Applicable VOC limits required by paragraph (d)(1) for the 

specific application, unless:

(i) The automotive coating is for use at a facility that utilizes 

an approved emission control device pursuant to 

subparagraph (d)(3)(A), and the coating meets the limits 

specified in permit conditions; or,

(ii) The automotive coating is specifically exempt under 

subdivision (j) of this rule; or,

(iii) The automotive coating is for use at a facility that operates 

in accordance with an approved Alternative Emissions 

Control Plan pursuant to subparagraph (d)(3)(B), and the 

automotive coating is specified in the plan; and,

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Rule 1151 (Cont.) (Amended September 5, 2014)

(iv) The person that supplies, sells, offers for sale, markets, 

blends, packages, repackages or distributes the automotive 

coating keeps the following records for at least five years 

and makes them available to the Executive Officer upon 

request:

(I) Automotive coating name and manufacturer;

(II) Application method as recommended;

(III) Automotive coating category and mix ratio specific 

to the automotive coating;

(IV) VOC content of the automotive coating;

(V) Documentation such as manufacturer specification 

sheets, material safety data sheets, technical data 

sheets, or any other air quality data sheets that 

demonstrate that the material is intended for use as 

an automotive coating;

(VI) Current manufacturer specification sheets, material 

safety data sheets, technical data sheets, or air 

quality data sheets, which list the VOC content of 

each ready-to-spray automotive coating (based on 

the manufacturer’s stated mix ratio) and automotive 

coating components and VOC content of each 

solvent; and

(VII) Purchase records identifying the automotive coating 

category, name, and volume of automotive coatings.

(VIII) In addition, for sale to an end-user, the name and 

address of the person receiving the automotive 

coating, an acknowledgement warranting that the 

sale to an end-user will comply with this paragraph, 

including if use is for outside the District, and 

acknowledgement by the purchaser that this 

statement is correct.

(B) The requirements of paragraphs (d)(4) and (d)(5).

(4) For the purpose of this rule, no person shall solicit from, specify, require, 

offer for sale, sell, or distribute to any other person for use in the District 

any automotive coating application equipment which does not meet the 

requirements of subparagraph (d)(6)(A).

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Rule 1151 (Cont.) (Amended September 5, 2014)

(5) For the purpose of this rule, no person shall offer for sale, sell, supply, 

market, offer for sale or distribute an HVLP spray gun for use within the 

SCAQMD unless the person offering for sale, selling, marketing or 

distributing the HVLP spray gun for use within the SCAQMD provides 

accurate information to the spray gun recipient on the maximum inlet air 

pressure to the spray gun which would result in a maximum air pressure of 

10 pounds per square inch gauge (psig) air pressure measured dynamically 

at the center of the air cap and at the air horns based on the manufacturer’s 

published technical material on the design of the spray application 

equipment and by a demonstration of the operation of the spray 

application equipment using an air pressure tip gauge from the 

manufacturer of the gun. The information shall either be permanently 

marked on the gun, or provided on the company's letterhead or in the form 

of technical literature which clearly identifies the spray gun manufacturer, 

the seller, or the distributor.

(6) For the purpose of this rule, the requirements of paragraphs (e)(1), (e)(2), 

(e)(3) or (e)(4) shall apply to all written or oral agreements executed and 

entered into under the terms of which an automotive coating or an 

automotive coating application equipment shall be used at any location 

within the District.

(f) Recordkeeping Requirements

(1) Recordkeeping for VOC Emissions

Records of automotive coating usage shall be maintained pursuant to 

SCAQMD Rule 109 – Recordkeeping for Volatile Organic Compound 

Emissions, and shall at a minimum include the following information:

(A) Material name and manufacturer;

(B) Application method;

(C) Automotive coating category and mix ratio specific to the coating;

(D) Actual VOC and regulatory VOC, for the automotive coating;

(E) Documentation such as manufacturer specification sheets, material 

safety data sheets, technical data sheets, or any other air quality 

data sheets that indicate the material is intended for use as an 

automotive coating or solvent;

(F) Current manufacturer specification sheets, material safety data 

sheets, technical data sheets, or air quality data sheets, which list 

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Rule 1151 (Cont.) (Amended September 5, 2014)

the actual VOC and regulatory VOC, for each ready-to-spray 

automotive coating (based on the manufacturer’s stated mix ratio), 

automotive coating components, and the VOC content for each 

solvent; and,

(G) Purchase records identifying the automotive coating category, 

name, and the total volume of all coatings and solvents used.

(2) Recordkeeping Requirements for Emission Control System

Any person using an emission control system shall maintain daily records 

of key system operating parameters which will demonstrate continuous 

operation and compliance of the emission control system during periods of 

VOC emission producing activities. “Key system operating parameters” 

are those parameters necessary to ensure or document compliance with 

subparagraph (d)(3)(A), including, but not limited to, temperatures, 

pressure drops, and air flow rates.

(g) Administrative Requirements for Automotive Coating Manufacturers

(1) Compliance Statement Requirement

For each individual automotive coating, automotive coating component, 

and ready to spray mixture (based on the manufacturers stated mix ratio), 

the manufacturer shall include the following information on a product data 

sheet, or an equivalent medium:

(A) The actual VOC and regulatory VOC for automotive coatings (in 

grams per liter);

(B) The weight percentage of volatiles, water, and exempt compounds; 

and,

(C) The density of the material (in grams per liter).

(2) Labeling Requirements

(A) The manufacturer of automotive coatings or automotive coating 

components, including hardeners, with the exception of solvents 

such as reducers and thinners, shall include on all containers the 

applicable use automotive coating category, and the actual VOC 

and regulatory VOC content, as supplied (in grams of VOC per 

liter of material and in grams of VOC per liter of material, less 

water and exempt compounds).

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Rule 1151 (Cont.) (Amended September 5, 2014)

(B) The manufacturer of solvents, including reducers and thinners,

subject to this rule shall include on all containers the actual VOC 

for solvents, as supplied (in grams of VOC per liter of material).

(h) Test Methods

(1) Methods of Analysis

For the purpose of this rule, the following test methods shall be used: 

(A) VOC Content of Automotive Coatings

(i) United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. 

EPA) Reference Test Method 24, (Determination of 

Volatile Matter Content, Water Content, Volume Solids 

and Weight Solids of Surface Coatings, Code of Federal 

Regulations, Title 40 Part 60, Appendix A). The exempt 

compounds’ content shall be determined by South Coast 

Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Laboratory 

Test Method 303 (Determination of Exempt Compounds) 

contained in the SCAQMD "Laboratory Method of 

Analysis for Enforcement Samples" manual; or 

(ii) SCAQMD Method 304 [Determination of Volatile Organic 

Compounds (VOCs) in Various Materials] contained in the 

SCAQMD "Laboratory Method of Analysis for 

Enforcement Samples" manual.

(B) Exempt Perfluorocarbon Compounds

The following classes of compounds: 

cyclic, branched, or linear, completely fluorinated alkanes;

cyclic, branched, or linear, completely fluorinated ethers with

no unsaturations; 

cyclic, branched, or linear, completely fluorinated tertiary

amines with no unsaturations; and

sulfur-containing perfluorocarbons with no unsaturations and

with sulfur bonds only to carbon and fluorine, 

shall be analyzed as exempt compounds for compliance with 

paragraph (d)(1), only at such time as manufacturers specify which 

individual compounds are used in the formulation of the 

automotive coatings and identify the test methods, which have 

been approved by the U.S. EPA, CARB and the SCAQMD prior to 

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Rule 1151 (Cont.) (Amended September 5, 2014)

such analysis, that can be used to quantify the amounts of each 

exempt compound.

(C) Determination of Iridescent Particles in Metallic/Iridescent 

Coatings

The metal and silicon content of metallic/iridescent coatings shall 

be determined by SCAQMD Method 311 (Determination of 

Percent Metal in Metallic Coatings by Spectrographic Method) 

contained in the SCAQMD "Laboratory Method of Analysis for 

Enforcement Samples" manual.

(D) Acid Content in Pretreatment Automotive Coatings

The acid content of pretreatment automotive coatings shall be 

determined by ASTM Test Method D1613-06 (2012) (Acidity in 

Volatile Solvents and Chemical Intermediates Used in Paint, 

Varnish, Lacquer, and related products).

(E) Reflectance of Anti-Glare Safety Automotive Coatings

The reflectance of anti-glare safety automotive coatings shall be 

determined by ASTM Test Method D-523-08 (Specular Gloss).

(F) Transfer Efficiency

The transfer efficiency of alternative automotive coating 

application methods, as defined by clause (d)(6)(A)(v), shall be 

determined in accordance with the SCAQMD method "Spray 

Equipment Transfer Efficiency Test Procedure for Equipment 

User, May 24, 1989," and SCAQMD “Guidelines for 

Demonstrating Equivalency With District Approved Transfer 

Efficiency Spray Gun September 26, 2002.”

(G) Equivalent Test Methods

Other test methods determined to be equivalent by the Executive 

Officer, CARB, and the U.S. EPA, and approved in writing by the 

Executive Officer may also be used.

(2) Determination of Efficiency of Emission Control Systems

(A) The efficiency of the collection device of an emission control 

system as specified in subparagraph (d)(3)(A) shall be determined 

by the methods specified below:

(i) U.S. EPA method cited in 55 Federal Register (FR) 26865, 

June 29, 1990; or

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Rule 1151 (Cont.) (Amended September 5, 2014)

(ii) SCAQMD's "Protocol for Determination of Volatile 

Organic Compounds (VOC) Capture Efficiency"; or

(iii) Any other method approved by the U.S. EPA, CARB, and 

the District Executive Officer. 

(B) The efficiency of the control device of an emission control system 

as specified in subparagraph (d)(3)(A) and the VOC content in the 

control device exhaust gases, measured and calculated as carbon, 

shall be determined by USEPA Test Methods 25, 25A, or 

SCAQMD Method 25.1 (Determination of Total Gaseous NonMethane Organic Emissions as Carbon) as applicable. U.S. EPA 

Test Method 18, or CARB Method 422 shall be used to determine 

emissions of exempt compounds.

(3) Multiple Test Methods

When more than one test method or set of test methods are 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 the rule.

(i) Rule 442 Applicability

Any automotive coating, automotive coating operation or facility which is exempt 

pursuant to subdivision (j) from all or a portion of the VOC limits of subdivision 

(d) shall comply with the provisions of Rule 442 – Usage of Solvents.

(j) Exemptions

(1) This rule shall not apply to:

(A) Any automotive coating applied to motor vehicles or mobile 

equipment, or their associated parts and components, during 

manufacture on an assembly line that is subject to Rule 1115 -

Motor Vehicle Assembly Line Coating Operations;

(B) Any automotive coating that is expressly offered for sale, sold, or 

manufactured for use outside of the District or that is for shipment 

to other manufacturers for reformulation or repackaging;

(C) Any aerosol coating product; and

(D) Any automotive coating that is supplied, sold, offered for sale, 

marketed, manufactured, blended, packaged or repackaged for use 

in the District in 0.5 fluid ounces or smaller containers.

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Rule 1151 (Cont.) (Amended September 5, 2014)

(2) The requirements of paragraph (d)(1) shall not apply to automotive 

coatings applied for educational purposes at automotive coating training 

centers, which are owned and operated by automotive coating 

manufacturers, provided that the VOC emissions emitted at a automotive 

coating training center from automotive coatings not complying with 

paragraph (d)(1) do not exceed twelve (12) pounds per day.

(3) The requirements of paragraph (d)(1) shall not apply to automotive 

coatings supplied by an assembly-line motor vehicle manufacturer for use 

by a prototype motor vehicle manufacturing facility in the finishing of a 

prototype motor vehicle, provided that the VOC emissions at the prototype 

motor vehicle manufacturing facility from such topcoats do not exceed 21 

pounds in a calendar day and 930 pounds in a calendar year.

(4) The requirements of subparagraph (d)(6)(A) shall not apply to automotive 

graphic arts operations, truck bed liner coatings, or underbody coatings.

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