). That’s why we use paints certified to contain low or no VOCs by industry-independent testing organizations such as Greenguard, Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), and Green Seal. We use low VOC paints in many of our custom homes and our clients could not be more pleased with the performance and health benefits. But, what is low-VOC, and why are consumers increasingly choosing to buy low-VOC products? (This is only for latex paint, a common type used in household painting.) But considering how steep the potential penalty is for non-compliance, it is a smarter move to insist on using VOC compliant paint every time. Why Use Low VOC Paint? For paint to actually call itself "low-VOC," the EPA requires that it have no more than 250 grams per liter (g/l) of VOCs for flat and latex paint--oil-based paints can have up to 380 g/l. Protect Your Environment –When you decide to have the exterior of your home or business painted, you should still choose low-VOC paints. The low-VOC paints aren't yet used on all car coatings, and of course this does nothing to reduce the massive amounts of VOCs emitted by driving the car, but every little bit helps. Most painter’s tapes were designed with traditional VOC-containing paints in mind; that is, they are not engineered to hold well on paints that do not contain the same chemical components found in most. Low VOC and “green paints” seem to be the catchphrases these days when looking for healthier paint. Some are better than others, while some smell worse than full-fledged oil paint. Skip to Main Content. Be wary of paint brands that claim they have no odor. Now, not all water-based paints are low in VOCs, but we’ve taken extra care to ensure that our VOC ‘count’ is as low as possible. For easy checking, most paint can have this information on the side or back of the label. "Volatile organic compounds" are the smelly chemicals in conventional paint. The current standard for a paint to be labeled low-VOC requires that it have fewer than 250 g/L; zero-VOC paints have to meet a less-than 5 g/L requirement. It releases NO toxic emissions into the air, and is free from carcinogens, petrochemicals and hazardous fumes of any kind. Many customers are surprised to learn that most of these Zero VOC paints still have an odor. Low-VOC, water-based paints are generally better choices, but some may contain other harmful ingredients. However, recent advancements in technology have made it possible to make paint with no VOC in it. Zero VOC Stains & Polyurethane . Even though some manufacturers claim Zero-VOCs, the paint may still use colorants, biocides and fungicides with some VOC’s. While lower VOCs are a good thing, some manufacturers of low VOC paint struggle with emissions. The bright-blue floor plays a starring role in this loft play space. Talk to your energy efficient and green home builder about the low VOC paint options they have available. Top Paint Brands Making Low and No VOC Paint. We took extra care to formulate it this way because we strongly believe that you should limit your exposure to VOCs as much as you can. One example of this is the use of low-VOC paint. While this may be a good thing, DIY painters and contractors have encountered a challenge with low and zero VOC paints: tape not sticking. But in this booming eco-friendly market, the vast amount of information on VOCs can be overwhelming. Behr Premium Plus Enamel Low … Many paint manufacturers have solvent-free paints in their product line. According to the study, “the results demonstrate that paint VOC content should not be used as a proxy for paint VOC emissions into indoor air, as there is no correlation between the two measures. Low, or zero, VOC paint is specifically developed to offer little to no odor, and be environmentally friendly as well. 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