The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) will host a public workshop to present and solicit information on and comments for Proposed Amended Rule 1168 – Adhesive and Sealant Applications  – on Sept. 1 at 1:00 pm EDT (10:00 am Pacific). The meeting will be held virtually, with an agenda and Zoom meeting link available here.

SCAQMD will be accepting comments on its proposed amendments through Sept. 15. The proposed amendments are tentatively scheduled for a public hearing before SCAQMD’s Governing Board on Nov. 4, 2022.

In preparation for the public workshop, SCAQMD provided a Preliminary Draft Proposed Amended Rule 1168 and Preliminary Draft Staff Report. Notably, the proposal includes the following:

  • Delays to the effective date for certain categories where the technology assessment has demonstrated more time would be needed;
  • Created further subcategories to better characterize and refine VOC limits;
  • Prohibited the use of Para-Chlorobenzotrifluoride (pCBtF) and Tertiary-Butyl Acetate (t-BAc); and
  • Allowed certain categories to maintain higher VOC limits due to the prohibition on pCBtF and t-BAc or because a newly created subcategory of adhesive or sealant requires a higher VOC limit.

The workshop is the fifth in a series kicked off  in February 2022 whereby stakeholders were invited work with SCAQMD staff and provide input on the technology assessments – and the status of exempt solvents (e.g., PCBTF) – for the following categories:

  • Single Ply Roof Membrane Sealant
  • All Other Roof Sealants
  • Top and Trim Adhesive
  • PVC Welding Cement
  • CPVC Welding Cement
  • ABS to PVC Transition Cement

Rule 1168 was adopted in April 1989 to reduce VOC emissions from adhesive and sealant applications. The rule has been amended 14 times. The last amendment was in October 2017 and included VOC limit reductions for 18 categories and new Quantity and Emissions Reporting (QER) requirements.

In compliance with the regulation, SCAQMD will report on the results of the technology assessments to the Stationary Source Committee prior to the implementation date for these categories.

More information on Rule 1168 may be found at https://www.aqmd.gov/home/rules-compliance/compliance/vocs/adhesive-and-sealants.

ACA monitors and engages in regulatory activity, including Rule 1168, through its Consumer Products Committee.

Contact ACA’s Rhett Cash for more information.