Being in the hardwood floor covering industry, you know that understanding VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) regulations is a routine part of doing business. It was recently announced that three states in the Northeast U.S. (New York, Connecticut, and Delaware) are working towards lowering VOC limits to 275 grams/liter for certain wood coatings.
If you are a distributor of these products or a contractor using these products, you need to be aware of these regulatory changes, or you may face the possibility of fines.
Six states are now following the trend of adopting lower VOC regulations for wood floor coating products. As VOCs come down, it makes oil-modified urethane products a less viable option for the future. As manufacturers reformulate to reduce the VOCs of their urethane products, the products became more and more difficult to work with, and coverage rate is reduced. The increase in solid content being added to a current formula is the reason for a thicker formulation but is needed to lower the VOC.
Advances in waterbased technology make products much easier to use and offer a number of advantages over oil-modified urethane. Waterbased products dry and cure much faster, tend to have lower VOCs, and are in many cases harder and more durable. There have been many innovative breakthroughs in the waterbased category, making this sustainable option the choice for the future.
Source: NWFA’s online magazine – Hardwood Floors Magazine