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Chapter 4 — RESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES

Section 4.504

California Green Building Standards Code (Title 24, Part 11) · 2022 edition · updated 2026-09-12 · California

POLLUTANT CONTROL 4.504.1 Covering of duct openings and protection of mechanical equipment during construction. At the time of rough installation, during storage on the construction site and until final startup of the heating, cooling and ventilating equipment, all duct and other related air distribution component openings shall be covered with tape, plastic, sheetmetal or other methods acceptable to the enforcing agency to reduce the amount of water, dust and debris, which may enter the system.

4.504.2 Finish material pollutant control. Finish materials shall comply with this section.

4.504.2.1 Adhesives, sealants and caulks. Adhesives, sealants and caulks used on the project shall meet the

requirements of the following standards unless more stringent local or regional air pollution or air quality management district rules apply:

  1. Adhesives, adhesive bonding primers, adhesive primers, sealants, sealant primers and caulks shall comply with local or regional air pollution control or air quality management district rules where applicable or SCAQMD Rule 1168 VOC limits, as shown in Table 4.504.1 or 4.504.2, as applicable. Such products also shall comply with the Rule 1168 prohibition on the use of certain toxic compounds (chloroform, ethylene dichloride, methylene chloride, perchloroethylene and trichloroethylene), except for aerosol products, as specified in Subsection 2 below.

  2. Aerosol adhesives, and smaller unit sizes of adhesives, and sealant or caulking compounds (in units of product, less packaging, which do not weigh more than 1 pound and do not consist of more than 16 fluid ounces) shall comply with statewide VOC standards and other requirements, including prohibitions on use of certain toxic compounds, of Califor- nia Code of Regulations, Title 17, commencing with Section 94507.

4.504.2.2 Paints and coatings. Architectural paints and coatings shall comply with VOC limits in Table 1 of the ARB Architectural Suggested Control Measure, as shown in Table 4.504.3, unless more stringent local limits apply. The VOC content limit for coatings that do not meet the definitions for the specialty coatings categories listed in Table 4.504.3 shall be determined by classifying the coating as a Flat, Nonflat or Nonflat-high Gloss coating, based on its gloss, as defined in subsections 4.21, 4.36 and 4.37 of the 2007 California Air Resources Board, Suggested Control Measure, and the corresponding Flat, Nonflat or Nonflathigh Gloss VOC limit in Table 4.504.3 shall apply.

4.504.2.3 Aerosol paints and coatings. Aerosol paints and coatings shall meet the Product-weighted MIR Limits for ROC in Section 94522(a)(2) and other requirements, including prohibitions on use of certain toxic compounds and ozone depleting substances, in Sections 94522(e)(1) and (f)(1) of California Code of Regulations, Title 17, commencing with Section 94520; and in areas under the jurisdiction of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District additionally comply with the percent VOC by weight of product limits of Regulation 8, Rule 49.

other requirements, including prohibitions on use of certain toxic compounds and ozone depleting substances, in Sections 94522(e)(1) and (f)(1) of California Code of Regulations, Title 17, commencing with Section 94520; and in areas under the jurisdiction of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District additionally comply with the percent VOC by weight of product limits of Regulation 8, Rule 49.

4.504.2.4 Verification. Verification of compliance with this section shall be provided at the request of the enforcing agency. Documentation may include, but is not limited to, the following:

  1. Manufacturer’s product specification.

  2. Field verification of on-site product containers.

Copyright © 2022 by, or licensed to, International Code Council, Inc. (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED); licensed to California Building Standards Commission pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions is authorized. Any unauthorized reproduction or distribution is a violation of the federal copyright act and the license agreement, and subject to civil and criminal penalties thereunder.

RESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES

TABLE 4.504.1 ADHESIVE VOC LIMIT 1, 2

Less Water and Less Exempt Compounds in Grams per Liter

ARCHITECTURAL APPLICATIONS VOC LIMIT
Indoor carpet adhesives 50
Carpet pad adhesives 50
Outdoor carpet adhesives 150
Wood flooring adhesive 100
Rubber floor adhesives 60
Subfloor adhesives 50
Ceramic tile adhesives 65
VCT and asphalt tile adhesives 50
Drywall and panel adhesives 50
Cove base adhesives 50
Multipurpose construction adhesives 70
Structural glazing adhesives 100
Single-ply roof membrane adhesives 250
Other adhesives not specifically listed 50
SPECIALTY APPLICATIONS
PVC welding
510
CPVC welding
490
ABS welding
325
Plastic cement welding
250
Adhesive primer for plastic
550
Contact adhesive
80
Special purpose contact adhesive
250
Structural wood member adhesive
140
Top and trim adhesive 250
SUBSTRATE SPECIFIC APPLICATIONS
Metal to metal
30
Plastic foams
50
Porous material (except wood)
50
Wood
30
Fiberglass 80
  1. If an adhesive is used to bond dissimilar substrates together, the adhesive with the highest VOC content shall be allowed.

  2. For additional information regarding methods to measure the VOC content specified in this table, see South Coast Air Quality Management District Rule

TABLE 4.504.2 SEALANT VOC LIMIT Less Water and Less Exempt Compounds in Grams per Liter

TABLE 4.504.3 VOC CONTENT LIMITS FOR ARCHITECTURAL COATINGS 2, 3

Grams of VOC per Liter of Coating, Less Water and Less Exempt Compounds

COATING CATEGORY VOC LIMIT
Flat coatings
50
Nonflat coatings
100
Nonflat-high gloss coatings 150
SPECIALTY COATINGS
Aluminum roof coatings
400
Basement specialty coatings
400
Bituminous roof coatings
50
Bituminous roof primers
350
Bond breakers
350
Concrete curing compounds
350
Concrete/masonry sealers
100
Driveway sealers
50
Dry fog coatings
150
Faux finishing coatings 350
Fire resistive coatings 350
Floor coatings 100
Form-release compounds 250
Graphic arts coatings (sign paints) 500
High temperature coatings 420
Industrial maintenance coatings
250
Low solids coatings1 120
Magnesite cement coatings 450
Mastic texture coatings 100
Metallic pigmented coatings 500
Multicolor coatings 250
Pretreatment wash primers 420
Primers, sealers and undercoaters 100
Reactive penetrating sealers 350
Recycled coatings 250
Roof coatings
50
Rust preventative coatings 250
Shellacs
Clear
Opaque
730
550
Specialty primers, sealers and undercoaters
100
Stains
250
Stone consolidants
450
Swimming pool coatings
340
Traffic marking coatings
100
Tub and tile refinish coatings
420
Waterproofing membranes
250
Wood coatings
275
Wood preservatives
350
Zinc-rich primers 340
  1. Grams of VOC per liter of coating, including water and including exempt compounds.

  2. The specified limits remain in effect unless revised limits are listed in subsequent columns in the table.

  3. Values in this table are derived from those specified by the California Air Resources Board, Architectural Coatings Suggested Control Measure, February 1, 2008. More information is available from the Air Resources Board.

SEALANTS VOC LIMIT
Architectural
250
Marine deck 760
Nonmembrane roof
300
Roadway
250
Single-ply roof membrane 450
Other 420
SEALANT PRIMERS
Architectural
Nonporous
Porous
250
775
Modified bituminous 500
Marine deck
760
Other 750

4-12 2022 CALIFORNIA GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODE

Copyright © 2022 by, or licensed to, International Code Council, Inc. (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED); licensed to California Building Standards Commission pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions is authorized. Any unauthorized reproduction or distribution is a violation of the federal copyright act and the license agreement, and subject to civil and criminal penalties thereunder.

4.504.3 Carpet systems. All carpet installed in the building interior shall meet the requirements of the California Department of Public Health, “Standard Method for the Testing and Evaluation of Volatile Organic Chemical Emissions from Indoor Sources Using Environmental Chambers,” Version 1.2, January 2017 (Emission testing method for California Specification 01350).

See California Department of Public Health’s website for certification programs and testing labs.

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DEODC/ EHLB/IAQ/Pages/VOC.aspx

4.504.3.1 Carpet cushion. All carpet cushion installed in the building interior shall meet the requirements of the California Department of Public Health, “Standard Method for the Testing and Evaluation of Volatile Organic Chemical Emissions from Indoor Sources Using Environmental Chambers,” Version 1.2, January 2017 (Emission testing method for California Specification 01350).

See California Department of Public Health’s website for certification programs and testing labs.

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DEODC/ EHLB/IAQ/Pages/VOC.aspx

4.504.3.2 Carpet adhesive. All carpet adhesive shall meet the requirements of Table 4.504.1.

4.504.4 Resilient flooring systems. Where resilient flooring is installed, at least 80 percent of floor area receiving resilient flooring shall meet the requirements of the California Department of Public Health, “Standard Method for the Testing and Evaluation of Volatile Organic Chemical Emissions from Indoor Sources Using Environmental Chambers,” Version 1.2, January 2017 (Emission testing method for California Specification 01350).

See California Department of Public Health’s website for certification programs and testing labs.

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DEODC/ EHLB/IAQ/Pages/VOC.aspx

4.504.5 Composite wood products. Hardwood plywood, particleboard and medium density fiberboard composite wood products used on the interior or exterior of the building shall meet the requirements for formaldehyde as specified in ARB’s Air Toxics Control Measure for Composite Wood (17 CCR 93120 et seq.) as shown in Table 4.504.5.

4.504.5.1 Documentation. Verification of compliance with this section shall be provided as requested by the enforcing agency. Documentation shall include at least one of the following:

  1. Product certifications and specifications.

  2. Chain of custody certifications.

  3. Product labeled and invoiced as meeting the Composite Wood Products regulation (see CCR, Title 17, Section 93120, et seq .).

  4. Exterior grade products marked as meeting the PS-1 or PS-2 standards of the Engineered Wood Associa

RESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES

tion, the Australian AS/NZS 2269, European 636 3S, and Canadian CSA O121, CSA O151, CSA O153 and CSA O325 standards.

  1. Other methods acceptable to the enforcing agency.

TABLE 4.504.5 FORMALDEHYDE LIMITS 1

Maximum Formaldehyde Emissions in Parts per Million

PRODUCT CURRENT LIMIT
Hardwood plywood veneer core 0.05
Hardwood plywood composite core 0.05
Particleboard 0.09
Medium density fiberboard 0.11
Thin medium density fiberboard2 0.13
  1. Values in this table are derived from those specified by the California Air Resources Board, Air Toxics Control Measure for Composite Wood as tested in accordance with ASTM E1333. For additional information, see California Code of Regulations, Title 17, Sections 93120 through 93120.12.
  2. Thin medium density fiberboard has a maximum thickness of 5 /16 inch (8 mm).

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