Architectural Coatings
latest updates affecting “green” coatings technology to better serve
customers’ needs in both commercial and residential spaces.
First, regulations at the local, state and national levels continue to influence product requirements. At the broadest level, the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Architectural and
Industrial Maintenance (AIM) Coating Emission Standards apply
to coating products. At a minimum, all states must comply with
these regulations. Regions and states or local air quality boards
can choose to set stricter regulations within their jurisdictions.
Independent of government regulations, third-party green
certifications also promote and regulate the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. These
buildings include everything from large-scale commercial structures to individual homes.
A few of the most popular U.S. green building certifications
include Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED),
U.S. GREENGUARD and the National Association of Home
Builders (NAHB) Model Green Home Building Guidelines. Each of
these third-party certifications has its own set of standards and criteria, which are typically updated and/or revised on a regular basis.
Aside from governmental regulations and third-party certifications, consumer preferences for environmentally friendly
products are also continuing to grow. In fact, more than half of
global consumers are attracted to companies that have demonstrated a certain level of social responsibility in their business
practices, according to The Nielsen Company.
But what do all of these updates mean?
For coatings professionals that have been a part of the industry for 20 years or more, these regulations, certifications and
consumer attitudes toward green products are relatively new developments. For example, the first formal LEED green building
standards, LEED v1, were established less than 20 years ago.
Also, the AIM Coating Emission Standards weren’t rolled out
on a national level until the late-1990s.
To help professionals stay on top of the latest developments,
coatings manufacturers often foresee the impending regulatory
updates and proactively innovate products that meet or exceed
tomorrow’s standards. In fact, PPG was one of the first pioneers
in the paint industry in developing new performance standards
for low- and zero-volatile organic compound (VOC) products,
allowing the products to meet a variety of governmental regulations and third-party standards nationwide.
Additionally, manufacturers’ Technical Data Sheets (TDS)
and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) now include regulatory compliance and certification details to help professionals
choose products that meet or exceed specific building standards.
Changes in Product Development
Several of these market and regulation changes also affect architectural coatings product development, especially in the case of
green and specialty product advancements.
Green Product Advancements
Changes in environmental regulations, for example, have
brought about several product developments. Manufacturers
have increased efforts over the last two decades around research
and development of low- and zero-VOC technology for paints
and stains. These eco-friendly paint products offer a multitude
of benefits for professionals and consumers alike, including low
odor and ease of application. It is important, however, to re-
member that colorants added to base paints may increase VOC
levels significantly, depending on color choice.
For example, while the U.S. EPA regulates that stains do not ex-
ceed 550 VOCs (g/L) for semi-transparent stains or 350 VOCs (g/L)
for opaque/solid color stains, PPG’s SIKKENS PROLUXE Wood
Finishes Rubbol stain has <100 grams of VOCs per liter (g/L).
The PPG PITTSBURGH PAINTS and PPG PAINTS brands
also offer various zero- and low-VOC paint options with low
odor for painting occupied spaces, including PPG Pittsburgh
Paints WONDER-PURE and PPG Paints SPEEDHIDE Zero interior zero-VOC latex paints.
It’s important to note that millennials appear more responsive
to sustainability actions and continue to demand green, or sustainable, products. In fact, 51 percent of millennials will pay extra
for sustainable products, as reported by The Nielsen Company.
Specialty Finishes Innovation
There also continues to be growth in specialty finishes for a variety of residential and commercial applications.
In particular, the trend of upcycling – or the process of transforming old or discarded materials into something both useful and environmentally friendly through reuse – is flourishing
among millennials, designers, DIYers and more. As such, products with performance properties that allow consumers and professionals to easily give new life to old materials are trending.
For example, PPG Paints BREAK-THROUGH! is a popular specialty finish product that provides excellent adhesion and
block resistance for a variety of surfaces, including floors, trim,
cabinets and railings, as well as metal, wood, concrete, many
plastics and more. Also, the recently improved, next generation
Break-Through! formula now has < 50 grams per liter VOC content and has improved application features like slightly higher
viscosity for easier handling and better flow and leveling for an
enamel-smooth finish with fewer brush marks, among others.
Other restorative products like HOMAX Aerosol Ceiling
and Wall Textures offer the ability to refresh and repair damaged walls and ceiling textures with convenient, easy-to-apply
aerosol solutions with ultra-fast dry results.
Further, premium paint-and-primer-in-one formulas are continuing to grow in popularity thanks to their outstanding performance and ease of application. PPG Pittsburgh Paints REGENCY
Interior Latex Paint is a paint-and-primer-in-one formula that
provides excellent coverage and resists household stains, while
maintaining a smooth application for a beautiful finish.
Adapting to Change
The world is an ever-changing place, and the architectural coatings industry is no different. In order to remain relevant, paint
and coatings professionals must stay informed to adapt to new
product and industry advances. CW
