Concrete floor coatings are an excellent way to add durability, aesthetics, and protection to garage floors, basements, commercial buildings, and patios. Like with any building or home furnishing material, volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are a concern with floor coatings. These substances can pose risks to human health and the environment, so it’s important for homeowners, business owners, and contractors to be aware of these potential risks and how to mitigate them.
At Brush Brothers Coatings, we take these concerns seriously and want you to have all the tools you need to make the right decisions for your home or business. If you’re considering adding a coating to your concrete floors, keep reading to discover what VOCs in floor coatings are, why they matter for your health and the environment, and how to choose safe options for your next project.
What Are VOCs?
Volatile organic compounds are substances that readily off-gas (evaporate) into the air due to their high vapor pressure. They’re found in all kinds of products, including cleaning supplies, paints, building materials, resins, solvents, and floor coatings.
When it comes to floor coatings, VOCs are released into the air both during and after application, impacting air quality.
Health and Environmental Concerns
The reason VOCs are so concerning is that they affect air quality, both indoors and outdoors. Like with other pollutants, these substances can have adverse effects on both your health and the environment.
Health Risks
Inhaling VOCs can cause many short-term symptoms, including irritation in the eyes, nose, and throat, along with headaches and dizziness. Think of how it feels to be in a freshly-painted room without proper ventilation — that’s the VOCs at work. Long-term exposure can cause liver and kidney damage, central nervous system issues, and even have carcinogenic effects.
Children, the elderly, and people with respiratory issues are most vulnerable to these risks; however, that doesn’t mean VOC exposure is safe for the average adult.
Environmental Impact
When all those chemicals evaporate into the air, it creates indoor air pollution. However, the VOCs don’t stay in one place; they spread through the air, making their way outdoors and contributing to ground-level ozone and smog. They also indirectly contribute to climate change by reacting with nitrogen oxides and sunlight to create a greenhouse gas known as tropospheric ozone.
VOCs can also contaminate bodies of water, impacting aquatic organisms and potentially affecting its suitability for human use. Furthermore, it can contribute to acid rain, which is known to harm ecosystems and damage buildings and infrastructure.
VOC Regulations in Floor Coatings
Because of VOCs’ potential for harm, various organizations have established regulations limiting their use.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s National Volatile Organic Compound Emission Standards aim to control ozone levels. Ozone contributes to smog, causing negative health and environmental effects. By limiting the VOC content of consumer products, these regulations are estimated to reduce VOC emissions by 90,000 tons per year.
In Utah, floor coatings must not exceed 500 g/L of VOCs. However, if you want to work toward LEED certification, you’re only allowed half that amount: 250 g/L.
Low-VOC and VOC-Free Floor Coatings
If you aim to reduce VOC levels in your home or business, opt for products labeled as low-VOC or VOC-free. These products will typically have certification labels from environmental organizations such as Green Seal, GREENGUARD, etc.
When you do your part to minimize VOCs, you improve indoor air quality, decrease your contribution to outdoor smog, earn LEED points, and can use the space quicker after coating application.
Comparing Coating Options
When you’re choosing between different floor coating options, keep in mind that water-based coatings typically have a lower VOC content than solvent-based coatings. Here’s how the VOC emissions of different coatings compare:
- Epoxy: Often higher VOCs unless water-based or low-VOC formulas are used.
- Polyurethane: Traditionally solvent-based, but newer low-VOC options available.
- Polyaspartic: Known for fast cure times but may vary in VOC content.
- Urethane: Look for water-based formulations with less VOCs.
Tips for Choosing the Right Coating for Your Project
Consider the ventilation of the space when deciding between floor coatings. If it’s outdoors, there’s less risk of adverse health effects. If it’s indoors, it’s essential to minimize VOCs as much as possible to protect occupants from respiratory issues and irritation.
It’s a good idea to work with a professional to choose the right solution for your project. At Brush Brothers Coatings, we’ll be with you every step of the way, from selecting the ideal products to providing reliable application services. Contact us today for expert advice and eco-friendly floor coating solutions.
