SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN AQMD RULES AND REGULATIONS 

September 25, 2008 465-1 

RULE 465 POLYESTER RESIN OPERATIONS 

Adopted 2-6-97 

(Amended 6-4-98, 9-25-08) 

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 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 

224 WASTE MATERIAL 

300 STANDARDS

301 PROCESS AND CONTROL REQUIREMENTS 

302 SPRAY APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS 

303 CLEANING MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS 

304 STORAGE AND DISPOSAL REQUIREMENTS 

400 ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS

401 CALCULATION FOR DETERMINING VOC WEIGHT PER VOLUME OF MATERIAL 

402 CALCULATION FOR DETERMINING PERCENT MONOMER (STYRENE) CONTENT AS 

APPLIED 

403 CALCULATION FOR DETERMINING PERCENT CONTROL EFFICIENCY AND VOC 

MASS EMISSION RATE 

404 CALCULATION FOR DETERMINING OVERALL SYSTEM EFFICIENCY 

405 OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE PLAN 

406 PROCEDURE FOR PROCESSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE PLAN 
SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN AQMD RULES AND REGULATIONS 

465-2 September 25, 2008 

500 MONITORING AND RECORDS 

501 RECORD KEEPING 

502 TEST PROCEDURES 
SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN AQMD RULES AND REGULATIONS 

September 25, 2008 465-3 

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 September 25, 2009, the 

provisions of Section 303 shall not apply to the cleaning of 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 September 25, 2009. 

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 SPRAY EQUIPMENT: Equipment used to apply materials by charging 

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

465-4 September 25, 2008 

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 

September 25, 2008 465-5 

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 90%, 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. 
SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN AQMD RULES AND REGULATIONS 

465-6 September 25, 2008 

303 CLEANING MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS: 

 303.1 Prior to September 25, 2009, a 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 September 25, 2009, 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 mass 

concentration and volumetric flowrate, pursuant to Section 502.6 and the following equation: 
SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN AQMD RULES AND REGULATIONS 

September 25, 2008 465-7 

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] / 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. 

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. 
SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN AQMD RULES AND REGULATIONS 

465-8 September 25, 2008 

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 materials, 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: 

a. Prior to September 25, 2010, all 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 September 25, 2010, 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. 
SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN AQMD RULES AND REGULATIONS 

September 25, 2008 465-9 

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 4457-02 (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: 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. 
SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN AQMD RULES AND REGULATIONS 

465-10 September 25, 2008 

This Page Intentionally Left Blank