Singapore Consults on Two Standards for Water-based Paints

On April 4, 2022, the Enterprise Singapore published two draft standards for water-based paints. The consultation will end on May 5, 2022.

The standards apply to:

• water-based enamel paints – air-drying gloss paint for use on prepared and primed interior and exterior metal and wood surfaces.

• water-based primers for metal and wood – ready-to-use paints for use as primers in the protection of metal and wood surfaces, both indoors and outdoors.

The standards prohibit the use of:  

• formaldehyde-containing materials; 

• n-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) – a solvent used for paint and coating removal; 

• alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEOs) – a surfactant used in a wide range of coating formulations; and 

• epichlorohydrin – which is used as a solvent in paint, varnish and enamel formulations. 

In addition, the standards set out limits for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and heavy metals.

Table 1: Limits for Chemicals