Environmental Requirements

VOC Levels: The requirements for Exterior flat and low sheen is 50 grams per litre, for Exterior gloss it is 75 grams per litre and for Latex primer for galvanized iron and zincalume the limit is 60 grams per litre

The VOC levels for all Astec paints are less and in many cases significantly less than the VOC limits of this GECA standard.

Levels should not exceed 40 g/m2 of dry film.

Titanium dioxide and Zink oxide levels were found compliant with the requirements of this criterion.

Architectural coatings must not contain any of the glycol ethers listed in this criteria, please refer to the following: http://www.geca.org.au/standards/GECA%2023-2005%20-%20Architectural%20Coatings.pdf

There are no Glycol Ethers used in the product range, this is apparent following review of formulation for all products review of MSDS for all ingredients

Sb, Ba, Cd, Pb, Cr, Hg, and Arsenic or any toxic heavy metals and their compounds shall not be added during production.

No heavy metals are used in the product range under assessment this is apparent following a review of MSDS for all production ingredients.

All plastic packaging containers must have a plastic resin identification code clearly visible on each container. Before use, packaging must not be impregnated, labelled, coated or otherwise treated in a manner that would prevent recycling. Paint containers must be made of materials that are able to be recycled.

The Astec Paints product is marketed in a steel can, these are fully recyclable. Other requirements in this criterion are not applicable to this assessment.

Approved paints should not contain substances listed as carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research of Cancer (lists 1A, 2B) at a rate of exposure not exceeding one twentieth (1/20) of those defined by exposure standards determined by the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (Work safe Australia).

GECA has reviewed MSDS for all production ingredients, some products contain Celica, Celica is classed as class 1a carcinogen. However the user is not exposed to this substance as it is contained in the paint matrix and therefore this is an allowable use of a carcinogenic substance. No other carcinogens are contained in the nominated product range.

Alkyl phenol alkoxylates APEO’s) shall not be added during production.

A review of MSDS for all production ingredients and a review of ingredients lists found no APEO’s are added to the product during manufacturing.

The solvents used to clean the production equipment of architectural coatings must not contain ozone depleting substances as listed in Annex A, Annex B and Annex C of the Montreal Protocol

Production machinery is easily washed in water, the machinery does not require the use of any cleaning solvents. GECA is satisfied that the Astec Paints products are fully compliant with this criterion. A review of product formulations and MSDS for all ingredients finds no Ozone depleting substances are contained in the nominated product range or the cleaning chemicals used on site.

* using ethylene glycol as an integral part of the paint formulation.

A review of product formulations and MSDS for all ingredients finds no aromatic hydrocarbon solvents, halogenated solvents or ethylene glycol are contained in the nominated product range