ASTM International

Standard Practice for Determining Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Content of Paints and Related Coatings
 N D3960

Annotation

This practice measures the volatile organic compound (VOC) content of solventborne and waterborne paints and related coatings as determined from the quantity of material released from a sample under specified bake conditions and subtracting exempt volatile compounds and water if present.

NOTE 1-The regulatory definition, under the control of the U.S. EPA, can change. To ensure currency, contact the local air pollution control agency.

Certain organic compounds that may be released under the specified bake conditions are not counted toward coating VOC content because they do not participate appreciably in atmospheric photochemical reactions. Such negligibly photochemically reactive compounds are referred to, as exempt volatile compounds in this practice.

NOTE 2-Information on the US EPAdefinition of VOC and a list of the current US EPA approved exempt volatile compounds which have been used in coatings, are provided in Appendix X3.

VOC content is calculated as a function of (1) the volume of coating less water and exempt volatile compounds, and (2) the volume of coating solids, and (3) the weight of coating solids.

The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard.

This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.