Solvent limits in vehicle refinishing products
Check that vehicle refinishing products you manufacture, import, distribute or sell meet relevant solvent limits.
If you place vehicle refinishing products on the market that contain organic solvents (volatile organic compounds (VOCs)) you must ensure that they comply with the relevant limit value. These restrict the amount of solvent that the ready-to-use product can contain.
Manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers, including businesses that only mix paint, must check the VOC content of their products.
The table below shows the maximum VOC content limit values for vehicle refinishing products. These limit values do not apply to the:
- original coating of vehicles using refinishing materials
- coating of trailers or semi-trailers
- coating of vintage or historic vehicles
- use of vehicle refinishing products in an installation with a pollution prevention and control permit
The limit values are stated in grams per litre (g/l) when the product is ready to use. Except for preparatory and cleaning products, do not include any water content of the ready-to-use product in your calculations.
Maximum VOC content limit values for paints and varnishes
| Product* | Coating type | Limit value (g/l) |
|---|---|---|
| Preparatory and cleaning | Preparatory | 850 |
| Pre-cleaner | 200 | |
| Bodyfiller/stopper | All types | 250 |
| Primer | Surface/filler and general (metal) primer | 540 |
| Wash primer | 780 | |
| Topcoat | All types | 420 |
| Special finishes | All types | 840 |
*For a more detailed definition of the products covered, .