Renegade Parts Washers Awarded The "Clean
Air Solvent Certificate"
Clean Air Solvent (CAS) Certification
Program
Rule 1171(Solvent Cleaning Operations)
and
Rule 1122 (Solvent Degreasers) are two
key components of the AQMD’s ozone reduction
strategy, as these rules control VOC
emissions from numerous uses of solvents in
industrial, commercial, and general purpose
cleaning and degreasing activities. Recent
amendments to Rule 1171 and Rule 1122
lowered the VOC content limits of solvents
in several usage categories. Effective
January 1, 2003, Rule 1171 and Rule 1122
require cleaning materials used in repair
and maintenance operations and cold
cleaners, respectively, to contain no more
than 25 grams of VOC per liter of cleaning
solvent as applied. The most common and
effective cleaners that meet this criteria
are water-based or aqueous cleaners that
contain little or no VOCs, although other
options such as VOC exempt compounds are
also available to the user.
The low VOC requirement of the rules and the
availability of the new solvents generate a
new class of solvent called Clean Air
Solvent (CAS). In order to be qualified, the
clean air solvent has to meet all of the
following criteria:
•
VOC concentration is no more than 25 grams
of VOC per liter of material, as applied;
•
Composite vapor pressure is no more than 5
mm Hg of VOC at 20°C (68°F);
•
Reactivity is not higher than toluene; and,
•
Contains no compounds classified as
Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) by the
federal Clean Air Act, Ozone-Depleting
Compounds (ODCs), or Global Warming
Compounds (GWCs).
Manufacturers, suppliers, and users can
apply for certification of CASs that meet
the qualifications mentioned above. This
certification is valid for five years and
can be renewed upon approval by the AQMD.
The certificate becomes invalid if the
material is reformulated or changed such
that it does not meet the qualifications of
a CAS. The procedures for compliance with
this provision are outlined in detail under
Rule 102 (Definition of Terms),
Rule 301 (Permit Fees), and the Clean
Air Solvent Protocol.