On March 21, the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued a notice [1] to solicit public comments on two new mandatory national standards for coatings, namely the Limit of Harmful Substances of Marine Coatings and the Limit of Harmful Substances of Interior Floor Coatings.
Limit of Harmful Substances of Marine Coatings
The Limit of Harmful Substances of Marine Coatings is devised to impose a limit on substances in marine coatings which are harmful to human health and the environment, including VOCs (only those contained in marine coating for steel ships), solvents of which the use is restricted, heavy metal, biocides, asbestos, etc.
It stipulates terms and definitions, product classification, requirements, testing methodologies, examination rules, and packaging and labelling concerning marine coatings. The standard is applicable to various marine coatings which are used as major materials for hulls, such as steels, light-weight alloy, and fiber-reinforced plastics. Meanwhile, as fireproof coatings are subject to the regulation of specialized authorities, it is specifically noted that they are not included in the application scope of the standard.
Limit of Harmful Substances of Interior Floor Coatings
The Limit of Harmful Substances of Interior Floor Coatings provides terms and definitions, product classification, requirements, testing methodologies, examination rules, and packaging and labelling concerning the limit of harmful substances in interior floor coatings. And such substances include VOCs; methanol; HDI and TDI; benzene, methylbenzene, ethyl benzene, and dimethylbenzene; heavy metal; ethylene glycol ether; various phthalates; etc.
The standard is applicable to various interior floor coatings which are used as decorative and protective (or antistatic, corrosion-proof, or anti-skid) materials for floors, painted on floor base surfaces which are made of cement mortar, concrete, stones, plastic cement or steels, and glued majorly using organic polymers as adhesives. It is expected that the standard will greatly facilitate technological advances and eco-friendly development of the interior floor coatings industry.
Any interested parties can submit their comments or suggestions on the two standards via the contact information below before April 12.
Email: KJBZ@miit.gov.cn
Tel: 010-68205241
