Beijing revises mandatory VOC content limits for architectural coatings and adhesives

On April 1, the Beijing Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau issued a revised version of the city’s mandatory local standards called the Limit Standards of Volatile Organic Compounds of Architectural Coatings and Adhesives (DB11/1983-2022). These standards will come into effect on Oct. 1, replacing the current version of the standards (DB11/3005-2017). The new standards cover a wider range of products and have stricter limits on volatile organic compound (VOC) content for some of the products already regulated by the current standards.

Main changes in the new standards

1. New categories of regulated products — Hot melt and other types of coatings are added to the list of regulated waterproof coatings.
2. Stricter limits for some products — The VOC content limit for exterior wall coating is lowered from 100 g/L to 80 g/L.
3. The VOC content limit is imposed on water-based coating for decorative panels, fireproof coating, etc.
4. Test methods, inspection rules and packaging labeling rules are revised.

Revised VOC content limits for architectural coatings

The VOC content limits are revised as shown in the table below.

^a The VOC content limit for coatings containing effect pigments.
^b The VOC content limit for polyurea waterproof coatings.

The full text of the latest standards (in Chinese) is available at
http://sthjj.beijing.gov.cn/bjhrb/index/xxgk69/sthjlyzwg/jczf/325751771/index.html