Arizona Air Pollution Control Regulations
Written October 17, 2019
Maricopa County regulates printing in Rule 304, Screen Printing Operations. The rule does not apply to circuitry printing or standalone coating operations. Facilities with total emissions of volatile organic compounds of less than 25 tons per year and 4,200 pounds per month do not need to meet the material VOC limits.
Those screen-printing facilities with emissions above the threshold must use inks and coatings with no more than 400 grams of VOC per liter; adhesives with no more than 150 grams of VOC per liter; and special purpose inks with no more than 800 grams of VOC per liter. Special purpose inks are defined as printing on polyethylene, polyester and foil substrates for food packaging.
Extreme performance inks are defined as an ink or coating used in screen printing on a non-porous substrate that is designed to withstand either more than two years of outdoor exposure or exposure to industrial grade chemicals, solvents, acids, detergents, vacuum forming, embossing, molding or temperatures exceeding 170 degrees F. If your facility meets or exceeds the emission threshold, then you need to maintain material use records for all products used by your facility.
If you are using compliant materials, i.e., those that meet the VOC content limits referenced above, you can maintain monthly material usage records. Facilities that emit less than 225 pounds of volatile organic compounds per month must comply with the recordkeeping requirements.
Digital printing operations are covered by Rule 305, Other Graphic Arts Operations. Under this regulation, any operation that emits 25 tons per calendar year and 4200 pounds of VOCs per month must limit the VOC emissions from al inks, varnishes, coatings or adhesives to 300 grams per liter, as applied or install an add on control device that reduces emissions from the dryer vent by at least 90% by weight with an minimum overall capture and control efficiency of at least 65% by weight.
Manufacturers and suppliers selling product into the district must provide a safety data sheet or product data sheet the includes the material name, manufacturer's name, specific mixing instructions, and VOC content as supplied. The VOC content requirement does not apply to radiation cured inks and coatings.
Those screen-printing facilities with emissions above the threshold must use inks and coatings with no more than 400 grams of VOC per liter; adhesives with no more than 150 grams of VOC per liter; and special purpose inks with no more than 800 grams of VOC per liter. Special purpose inks are defined as printing on polyethylene, polyester and foil substrates for food packaging.
Extreme performance inks are defined as an ink or coating used in screen printing on a non-porous substrate that is designed to withstand either more than two years of outdoor exposure or exposure to industrial grade chemicals, solvents, acids, detergents, vacuum forming, embossing, molding or temperatures exceeding 170 degrees F. If your facility meets or exceeds the emission threshold, then you need to maintain material use records for all products used by your facility.
If you are using compliant materials, i.e., those that meet the VOC content limits referenced above, you can maintain monthly material usage records. Facilities that emit less than 225 pounds of volatile organic compounds per month must comply with the recordkeeping requirements.
Digital printing operations are covered by Rule 305, Other Graphic Arts Operations. Under this regulation, any operation that emits 25 tons per calendar year and 4200 pounds of VOCs per month must limit the VOC emissions from al inks, varnishes, coatings or adhesives to 300 grams per liter, as applied or install an add on control device that reduces emissions from the dryer vent by at least 90% by weight with an minimum overall capture and control efficiency of at least 65% by weight.
Manufacturers and suppliers selling product into the district must provide a safety data sheet or product data sheet the includes the material name, manufacturer's name, specific mixing instructions, and VOC content as supplied. The VOC content requirement does not apply to radiation cured inks and coatings.