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COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

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The Pennsylvania Code website reflects the Pennsylvania Code changes effective through 53 Pa.B. 8238 (December 30, 2023).

25 Pa. Code § 129.77. Control of emissions from the use or application of adhesives, sealants, primers and solvents.

§ 129.77. Control of emissions from the use or application of adhesives, sealants, primers and solvents.

 (a)  This section applies to the owner or operator of a facility that uses or applies one or more of the following at the facility on or after January 1, 2012:

   (1)  An adhesive, sealant, adhesive primer or sealant primer subject to the VOC content limits in Table V.

   (2)  An adhesive or sealant product applied to the listed substrate subject to the VOC content limits in Table VI.

   (3)  A surface preparation solvent or cleanup solvent.

 (b)  On or after January 1, 2012, an owner or operator of a facility may not use or apply at the facility an adhesive, sealant, adhesive primer or sealant primer that exceeds the applicable VOC content limit in Table V or VI, except as provided elsewhere in this section.

 (c)  On or after January 1, 2012, an owner or operator of a facility may not use or apply at the facility a surface preparation or cleanup solvent that exceeds the applicable VOC content limit or composite partial vapor pressure requirements of this section, except as provided elsewhere in this section.

 (d)  The VOC content limits in Table VI for adhesives or sealants applied to particular substrates apply as follows:

   (1)  If an owner or operator of a facility uses or applies at the facility an adhesive or sealant subject to a specific VOC content limit in Table V, the specific limit is applicable rather than the adhesive-to-substrate limit in Table VI.

   (2)  If an owner or operator of a facility uses or applies at the facility an adhesive to bond dissimilar substrates together, the applicable substrate category with the highest VOC content limit is the limit for this use.

 (e)  An owner or operator of a facility subject to this section using or applying a surface preparation solvent or cleanup solvent at the facility may not:

   (1)  Except as provided in paragraph (2) for single-ply roof membrane, use materials containing VOCs for surface preparation, unless the VOC content of the surface preparation solvent is less than 70 grams per liter of material or 0.6 pound of VOC per gallon of material.

   (2)  Use materials containing VOCs for surface preparation or cleanup when applying single-ply roof membrane, unless the composite partial vapor pressure, excluding water and exempt compounds, of the surface preparation solvent or cleanup solvent is less than or equal to 45 mm mercury at 20° C.

   (3)  Except as provided in subsection (f), use cleanup solvent materials containing VOCs for the removal of adhesives, sealants, adhesive primers or sealant primers from surfaces, other than from the parts of spray application equipment, unless the composite partial vapor pressure of the solvent is less than or equal to 45 mm mercury at 20° C.

 (f)  Removal of an adhesive, sealant, adhesive primer or sealant primer from the parts of spray application equipment shall be performed by one or more of the following methods:

   (1)  Using an enclosed cleaning system, or an equivalent cleaning system as determined by the test method identified in subsection (z).

   (2)  Using a solvent with a VOC content less than or equal to 70 grams of VOC per liter of material or 0.6 pound of VOC per gallon of material.

   (3)  Soaking parts containing dried adhesive in a solvent if the composite partial vapor pressure of the solvent, excluding water and exempt compounds, is less than or equal to 9.5 mm mercury at 20° C and the parts and solvent are in a closed container that remains closed except when adding parts to or removing parts from the container.

 (g)  An owner or operator of a facility using or applying at the facility an adhesive, sealant, adhesive primer, sealant primer, surface preparation solvent or cleanup solvent subject to the VOC content limits of this section may comply with the requirements of this section through the use of add-on air pollution control equipment if the following requirements are met:

   (1)  The VOC emissions from the use of all noncomplying as applied adhesives, sealants, adhesive primers, sealant primers, surface preparation solvents and cleanup solvents subject to this section are reduced by an overall efficiency of at least 85%, by weight.

     (i)   The capture efficiency of the system shall be determined in accordance with subsection (y)(1).

     (ii)   The control efficiency of the system shall be determined in accordance with subsection (y)(2).

   (2)  The combustion temperature is continuously monitored and recorded daily if a thermal incinerator is operated.

   (3)  Inlet and exhaust gas temperatures are continuously monitored and recorded daily if a catalytic incinerator is operated.

   (4)  Control device efficiency is monitored continuously and recorded daily if a carbon absorber or control device other than a thermal or catalytic incinerator is operated.

   (5)  Operation records sufficient to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of this section are maintained in accordance with subsections (o), (p) and (q).

   (6)  The following information is also recorded and maintained:

     (i)   Daily records of the volume used each day of each noncomplying as applied adhesive, sealant, adhesive primer, sealant primer, surface preparation solvent and cleanup solvent.

     (ii)   Daily records of the hours of operation of the add-on air pollution control equipment.

     (iii)   Records of all maintenance performed on the add-on air pollution control equipment, including the date and type of maintenance.

   (7)  The control equipment is approved, in writing, by the Department in an operating permit.

   (8)  The owner or operator of a facility that intends to comply with this section using add-on air pollution control equipment may apply to the Department for an extension to the compliance date specified in subsections (a)—(c).

     (i)   The Department will approve the extension request if the request meets the requirements in subparagraph (ii).

     (ii)   The extension request must:

       (A)   Be received, in writing, by January 1, 2012.

       (B)   Include the date by which a permit application or request for plan approval will be submitted.

       (C)   Demonstrate to the Department’s satisfaction that an extension is necessary.

     (iii)   An extension will be automatically revoked if the recipient fails to comply with its terms by the dates specified in it.

 (h)  An owner or operator of a facility subject to this section shall store or dispose of all absorbent materials, including cloth or paper, which are moistened with adhesives, sealants, primers, surface preparation solvents or cleanup solvents subject to this section, in nonabsorbent containers at the facility that are kept closed except when placing materials in or removing materials from the container.

 (i)  An owner or operator of a facility subject to this section may not solicit, require or specify the use or application of an adhesive, sealant, adhesive primer, sealant primer, surface preparation solvent or cleanup solvent if the use or application would result in a violation of this section, unless the emissions are controlled through the use of add-on air pollution control equipment as specified in subsection (g). The prohibition of this subsection applies to all written or oral contracts created on or after January 1, 2012, under which an adhesive, sealant, adhesive primer, sealant primer, surface preparation solvent or cleanup solvent subject to this section is to be used or applied at a facility in this Commonwealth.

 (j)  An owner or operator of a facility subject to this section who uses or applies an adhesive, sealant, adhesive primer or sealant primer subject to this section may not add solvent to the adhesive, sealant, adhesive primer or sealant primer in an amount in excess of the manufacturer’s recommendation for application, if this addition causes the adhesive, sealant, adhesive primer or sealant primer to exceed the applicable VOC content limit listed in Table V or VI, unless the emissions are controlled through the use of add-on air pollution control equipment as specified in subsection (g).

 (k)  This section does not apply to the use or application of the following compounds or products:

   (1)  Adhesives, sealants, adhesive primers or sealant primers being tested or evaluated in a research and development, quality assurance or analytical laboratory, if records are maintained as required in subsections (p) and (q).

   (2)  Adhesives, sealants, adhesive primers or sealant primers that are subject to other sections in this chapter or Chapter 130 (relating to standards for products).

   (3)  Adhesives and sealants that contain less than 20 grams of VOC per liter of adhesive or sealant, less water and less exempt compounds, as applied.

   (4)  Cyanoacrylate adhesives.

   (5)  Adhesives, sealants, adhesive primers or sealant primers that are sold or supplied by the manufacturer or supplier in containers with a net volume of 16 fluid ounces or less, or a net weight of 1 pound or less, except plastic cement welding adhesives and contact adhesives.

   (6)  Contact adhesives that are sold or supplied by the manufacturer or supplier in containers with a net volume of 1 gallon or less.

 (l)  This section does not apply to the use of adhesives, sealants, adhesive primers, sealant primers, surface preparation solvents or cleanup solvents in the following operations:

   (1)  Tire repair operations, if the label of the adhesive states, ‘‘For tire repair only.’’

   (2)  The assembly, repair and manufacture of aerospace components or undersea-based weapons systems.

   (3)  The manufacture of medical equipment.

   (4)  Plaque laminating operations in which adhesives are used to bond clear, polyester acetate laminate to wood with lamination equipment installed prior to July 1, 1992. An owner or operator claiming an exemption under this paragraph shall record and maintain operational records sufficient to demonstrate compliance with this exemption, in accordance with subsections (o)—(q).

 (m)  This section does not apply if the total VOC emissions from all adhesives, sealants, adhesive primers and sealant primers used or applied at the facility are less than 200 pounds or an equivalent volume, per calendar year. An owner or operator of a facility claiming exemption under this subsection shall record and maintain operational records sufficient to demonstrate compliance with this exemption, in accordance with subsections (o)—(q).

 (n)  This section does not apply to the use or application of a noncomplying adhesive, sealant, adhesive primer, sealant primer, surface preparation solvent or cleanup solvent if the total volume of noncomplying adhesives, sealants, primers, surface preparation and cleanup solvents used or applied facility-wide does not exceed 55 gallons per calendar year. An owner or operator of a facility claiming exemption under this subsection shall record and maintain operational records sufficient to demonstrate compliance with this exemption, in accordance with subsections (o)—(q).

 (o)  Except as provided in subsection (p), each owner or operator subject to this section shall maintain records demonstrating compliance with this section, including the following information:

   (1)  A list of each adhesive, sealant, adhesive primer, sealant primer, surface preparation solvent and cleanup solvent product in use and in storage.

   (2)  A data sheet or material list which provides the product name, manufacturer identification and use or material application for each product included on the list required under paragraph (1).

   (3)  The VOC content of each product on the list required under paragraph (1), as supplied.

   (4)  Catalysts, reducers or other components used and the mix ratio.

   (5)  The VOC content or vapor pressure of each product on the list required by paragraph (1), as applied, if solvent or other VOC is added to the product before application.

   (6)  The volume purchased or produced of each product on the list required under paragraph (1).

   (7)  The monthly volume used or applied as part of a manufacturing process at the facility of each product on the list required under paragraph (1).

 (p)  For an adhesive, sealant, adhesive primer and sealant primer product subject to the laboratory testing exemption of subsection (k)(1), the person conducting the testing shall make and maintain records of all products used, including the following information:

   (1)  The product name.

   (2)  The product category of the material or type of application.

   (3)  The VOC content of the material.

 (q)  Records made to determine compliance with this section shall be:

   (1)  Maintained onsite for 5 years from the date the record is created.

   (2)  Made available to the Department upon receipt of a written request.

 (r)  Except as otherwise provided in this section, the VOC and solids content of nonaerosol adhesives (including one-part moisture cure urethane adhesives and silicone adhesives), sealants, adhesive primers, sealant primers, surface preparation solvents and cleanup solvents shall be determined using one of the following:

   (1)  EPA Reference Method 24, Determination of Volatile Matter Content, Water Content, Density, Volume Solids, and Weight Solids of Surface Coatings, found at 40 CFR 60, Subpart D, Appendix A, including updates and revisions.

   (2)  SCAQMD Method 304, Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) in Various Materials, SCAQMD, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765 USA, including updates and revisions.

 (s)  The weight volatile matter content and weight solids content for one-part or multiple part reactive adhesives, except one-part moisture cure urethane adhesives and silicone adhesives, shall be determined using the EPA Reference Method, Determination of Weight Volatile Matter Content and Weight Solids Content of Reactive Adhesives, found at 40 CFR 63, Subpart PPPP, Appendix A, including updates and revisions.

 (t)  The identity and concentration of exempt organic compounds shall be determined using one of the following:

   (1)  ASTM D4457, Standard Test Method for Determination of Dichloromethane and 1,1,1-Trichloroethane in Paints and Coatings by Direct Injection into a Gas Chromatograph, ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, P. O. Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959 USA including updates and revisions.

   (2)  SCAQMD Method 303, Determination of Exempt Compounds, SCAQMD, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765 USA, including updates and revisions.

 (u)  The VOC content of a plastic cement welding adhesive or primer shall be determined using SCAQMD Method 316A, Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) in Materials Used for Pipes and Fittings, SCAQMD, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765 USA, including updates and revisions.

 (v)  To determine if a diluent is a reactive diluent, the percentage of the reactive organic compound that becomes an integral part of the finished material shall be determined using SCAQMD Method 316A, Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) in Materials Used for Pipes and Fittings, SCAQMD, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765 USA, including updates and revisions.

 (w)  The composite partial vapor pressure of organic compounds in cleaning materials shall be determined by the following procedure:

   (1)  Quantifying the amount of each compound in the blend using gas chromatographic analysis, using the following methods:

     (i)   ASTM E260, Standard Practice for Packed Column Gas Chromatography, ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, P. O. Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959 USA, for organic content, including updates and revisions.

     (ii)   ASTM D3792, Standard Test Method for Water Content of Coatings by Direct Injection Into a Gas Chromatograph, ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, P. O. Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959 USA, for water content, including updates and revisions.

   (2)  Calculating the composite partial vapor pressure using the following equation:

 n

  (Wi)(VPi)/MWi

 i=1

 PPc =


 kn

 Ww/MWw + We/MWe + Wi/MWi

 e=1i=1

 Where:

 PPc = VOC composite partial vapor pressure at 20° C, in mm mercury.

 Wi = Weight of the ‘‘i’’th VOC compound, in grams, as determined by ASTM E260.

 Ww = Weight of water, in grams, as determined by ASTM D3792.

 We = Weight of the ‘‘e’’th exempt compound, in grams, as determined by ASTM E260.

 MWi = Molecular weight of the ‘‘i’’th VOC compound, in grams per g-mole, as given in chemical reference literature.

 MWw = Molecular weight of water, in grams per g-mole (18 grams per g-mole).

 MWe = Molecular weight of the ‘‘e’’th exempt compound, in grams per g-mole, as given in chemical reference literature.

 VPi = Vapor pressure of the ‘‘i’’th VOC compound at 20° C, in mm mercury, as determined by subsection (x).

 (x)  The vapor pressure of each single component compound shall be determined from one or more of the following:

   (1)  ASTM D2879, Standard Test Method for Vapor Pressure-Temperature Relationship and Initial Decomposition Temperature of Liquids by Isoteniscope, ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, P. O. Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959 USA, including updates and revisions.

   (2)  The most recent edition of one or more of the following sources:

     (i)   Vapour Pressures of Pure Substances, Boublik, Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, New York.

     (ii)   Perry’s Chemical Engineers’ Handbook, Green and Perry, McGraw-Hill Book Company.

     (iii)   CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, CRC Press.

     (iv)   Lange’s Handbook of Chemistry, McGraw-Hill Book Company.

     (v)   Additional sources approved by the SCAQMD or other California air districts.

 (y)  If air pollution control equipment is used to meet the requirements of this section, the owner or operator shall make both of the following determinations:

   (1)  The measurement of capture efficiency shall be conducted and reported in accordance with the EPA Technical Document ‘‘Guidelines for Determining Capture Efficiency,’’ issued January 9, 1995.

   (2)  The control efficiency shall be determined in accordance with one of the following:

     (i)   EPA Reference Method 25, Determination of Total Gaseous Nonmethane Organic Emissions as Carbon, found at 40 CFR 60, Subpart D, Appendix A, including updates and revisions.

     (ii)   EPA Reference Method 25A, Determination of Total Gaseous Organic Concentration Using a Flame Ionization Analyzer, found at 40 CFR 60, Subpart D, Appendix A, including updates and revisions.

     (iii)   EPA Reference Method 25B, Determination of Total Gaseous Organic Concentration Using a Nondispersive Infrared Analyzer, found at 40 CFR 60, Subpart D, Appendix A, including updates and revisions.

     (iv)   CARB Method 100, Procedures for Continuous Gaseous Emission Stack Sampling, California Air Resources Board, 1001 ‘‘I’’ Street, Post Office Box 2815, Sacramento, CA 95812 USA, including updates and revisions.

 (z)  The active and passive solvent losses from the use of an enclosed spray gun cleaning system or equivalent cleaning system, as listed in subsection (f)(1), shall be determined using the SCAQMD method, General Test Method for Determining Solvent Losses from Spray Gun Cleaning Systems, dated October 3, 1989, SCAQMD, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765 USA, including updates and revisions.

   (1)  The test solvent for this determination shall be a lacquer thinner with a minimum vapor pressure of 105 mm of mercury at 20° C.

   (2)  The minimum test temperature shall be 15° C.

 (aa)  Another test method may be used to determine the VOC or solids content of a product if the request for approval of the test method meets the following requirements:

   (1)  The request is submitted to the Department in writing.

   (2)  The request demonstrates that the test method provides results that accurately determine the concentration of VOCs in the product or its emissions.

   (3)  The Department approves the request in writing.

 (bb)  For adhesive, sealant, adhesive primer or sealant primer products that do not contain reactive diluents, grams of VOC per liter of product thinned to the manufacturer’s recommendation, less water and exempt compounds, shall be calculated according to the following equation:

 Grams of VOC per liter of product, as applied = Ws - Ww - We
Vm - Vw - Ve

 Where:

 Ws = weight of volatile compounds, in grams.

 Ww = weight of water, in grams.

 We = weight of exempt compounds, in grams.

 Vm = volume of material, in liters.

 Vw = volume of water, in liters.

 Ve = volume of exempt compounds, in liters.

 (cc)  For adhesive, sealant, adhesive primer or sealant primer products that contain reactive diluents, the VOC content of the product is determined after curing. The grams of VOC per liter of product thinned to the manufacturer’s recommendation, less water and exempt compounds, shall be calculated according to the following equation:

 Grams of VOC per liter of product, as applied = Wrs - Wrw - Wre
Vrm - Vrw - Vre

 Where:

 Wrs = weight of volatile compounds not consumed during curing, in grams.

 Wrw = weight of water not consumed during curing, in grams.

 Wre = weight of exempt compounds not consumed during curing, in grams.

 Vrm = volume of material not consumed during curing, in liters.

 Vrw = volume of water not consumed during curing, in liters.

 Vre = volume of exempt compounds not consumed during curing, in liters.

 (dd)  For low-solids adhesive, sealant, adhesive primer or sealant primer products, grams of VOC per liter of product thinned to the manufacturer’s recommendation, including the volume of water and exempt compounds, shall be calculated according to the following equation:

 Grams of VOC per liter of product, as applied = Ws - Ww - We
Vm

 Where:

 Ws = weight of volatile compounds, in grams.

 Ww = weight of water, in grams.

 We = weight of exempt compounds, in grams.

 Vm = volume of material, in liters.

 (ee)  Percent VOC by weight shall be calculated according to the following equation:

 

   % VOC by weight = [(Wv/W)] x 100

 Where:

 Wv = weight of VOCs, in grams.

 W = weight of material, in grams.

 (ff)  To convert from grams per liter (g/l) to pounds per gallon (lb/gal), multiply the result (VOC content) by 8.345 x 10-3 (lb/gal/g/l).

Table V. VOC Content Limits for Adhesives, Sealants, Adhesive Primers and Sealant Primers, As Applied



Adhesive, sealant, adhesive primer or
sealant primer category
VOC content limit (pounds VOC per gallon, less water and exempt compounds)* VOC content limit (grams VOC per liter, less water and exempt compounds)*
Adhesives
 ABS welding 3.3 400
 Ceramic tile installation 1.1 130
 Computer diskette jacket manufacturing 7.1 850
 Contact bond 2.1 250
 Cove base installation 1.3 150
 CPVC welding 4.1 490
 Indoor floor covering installation 1.3 150
 Metal to urethane/rubber molding or  casting 7.1 850
 Multipurpose construction 1.7 200
 Nonmembrane roof installation/repair 2.5 300
 Outdoor floor covering installation 2.1 250
 Perimeter bonded sheet vinyl flooring  installation 5.5 660
 Plastic cement welding, other than ABS,  CPVC or PVC welding 4.3 510
 PVC welding 4.3 510
 Sheet rubber installation 7.1 850
 Single-ply roof membrane installation/  repair 2.1 250
 Structural glazing 0.8 100
 Thin metal laminating 6.5 780
 Tire retread 0.8 100
 Waterproof resorcinol glue 1.4 170
Sealants
 Architectural 2.1 250
 Marine deck 6.3 760
 Nonmembrane roof installation/repair 2.5 300
 Roadway 2.1 250
 Single-ply roof membrane 3.8 450
 Other 3.5 420
Adhesive Primers
 Automotive glass 5.8 700
 Plastic cement welding 5.4 650
 Single-ply roof membrane 2.1 250
 Traffic marking tape 1.3 150
 Other 2.1 250
Sealant Primers
 Marine deck 6.3 760
 Nonporous architectural 2.1 250
 Porous architectural 6.5 775
 Other 6.3 750

 *The VOC content is determined as the weight of VOC per volume of product, less water and exempt compounds, as specified in subsections (bb) and (cc) or as the weight of VOC per volume of product, as specified in subsection (dd).

Table VI. VOC Content Limits for Adhesive or Sealant Products Applied to Particular Substrates, As Applied



Adhesive or Sealant Products
Applied to the Listed
Substrate
VOC content limit (pounds VOC per gallon, less water and exempt compounds)* VOC content limit (grams VOC per liter, less water and exempt compounds)*
Fiberglass 1.7 200
Flexible vinyl 2.1 250
Metal 0.3 30
Porous material 1.0 120
Rubber 2.1 250
Other substrates 2.1 250

 *The VOC content is determined as the weight of VOC per volume of product, less water and exempt compounds, as specified in subsections (bb) and (cc) or as the weight of VOC per volume of product, as specified in subsection (dd).

Authority

   The provisions of this §  129.77 amended under section 5(a)(1) and (8) of the Air Pollution Control Act (35 P.S. §  4005(a)(1) and (8)).

Source

   The provisions of this §  129.77 adopted December 24, 2010, effective December 25, 2010, 40 Pa.B. 7340; amended June 27, 2014, effective June 28, 2014, 44 Pa.B. 3929. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (355201) to (355212).

Cross References

   This section cited in 25 Pa. Code §  121.1 (relating to definitions); 25 Pa. Code §  129.51 (relating to general); 25 Pa. Code §  129.67a (relating to control of VOC emissions from flexible packaging printing presses); 25 Pa. Code §  129.67b (relating to control of VOC emissions from offset lithographic printing presses and letterpress printing presses); 25 Pa. Code §  129.74 (relating to control of VOC emissions from fiberglass boat manufacturing materials); 25 Pa. Code §  129.96 (relating to applicability); 25 Pa. Code §  129.111 (relating to applicability); and 25 Pa. Code §  130.703 (relating to exemptions and exceptions).



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