Does the VOC Content of the Sealer Meet Current Federal and Local Regulations?

If you plan to use a solvent-based sealer, be sure to check the volatile organic compound, or VOC, content of the product to make sure it doesn't exceed acceptable levels in your area. The federal government as well as state and local agencies have mandated certain maximum allowable levels of volatile VOCs that concrete sealers are permitted to contain. Certain states default to the federal mandates while some set their own. At the local level, some counties and air-management districts set their own maximum VOC levels.

Not all solvent-based sealers contain the same amount of VOCs, points out Chris Sullivan, national technical director and regional sales manager for QC Construction Products, and author of the popular technical blog, Sullivan's Corner. For example, xylene is a common solvent found in concrete sealers and produces VOCs, while acetone, another common solvent found in concrete sealers, is considered an exempt solvent and produces no VOCs. The other key factor, notes Sullivan, is the solids content. The higher the solids content, the lower the liquid solvent and VOC content. You can find out the solids and VOC content for a sealer by looking at the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) or specification sheet for the product.

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