The Future Looks Green: Why VOC Compliance is Better for Your Customers and Team

08-09-2017

Green Building is the wave of the future. More and more customers want environmentally-friendly services, from commercial clients vying for LEEDS certification of "green" facilities to residential clients concerned about the health and safety of their children and pets. If you want to stay relevant in today's market, green is the way to go – including VOC compliance.

So, what does that mean, and how does it impact you, as a concrete floor coating installer?

According to NIH and the National Library of Medicine, VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, are "organic compounds that easily become vapors or gases." They include solvents, paints, glues, and other products that are used and stored at home and at work – such as the coatings your team applies daily.

The health effects of VOCs go beyond an unpleasant smell, ranging from highly toxic to no known health effects. It depends on the nature of the compound and the level and length of exposure. To prevent the more dangerous effects, the US EPA regulates concrete protective coatings, setting a safe level of VOCs at no more than 400 g/L. (Different regions may have their own additional regulations for VOCs.)

"Long-term exposure to VOCs can cause damage to the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system," the NIH article explains. "Short-term exposure to VOCs can cause eye and respiratory tract irritation, headaches, dizziness, visual disorders, fatigue, loss of coordination, allergic skin reactions, nausea, and memory impairment."

Citadel's polyurea contains near-zero VOCs and fulfills the Federal Government's 2010 VOC requirements. Our floor coating produces no toxic fumes during the application process, where typical epoxy systems produce clouds of toxic fumes for hours after application. These fumes are dangerous to people installing the coating as well as people and pets in the general vicinity.

Staying in VOC compliance protects your customers from the health effects of short-term exposure and your team from the effects of long-term exposure.

Regulations will only get stricter in the future. Products with low or zero VOCs – and the service firms who use them – are in a good position to stay competitive in the market and attract environmentally-conscious clients.

Are you using the safest floor coatings for your clients and team? Schedule a talk with one of our experts to learn more about the best fit products for your concrete floor project.