Code of practice for reducing dichloromethane emissions from use of paint strippers: preface

Official title: Code of practice for the reduction of dichloromethane emissions from the use of paint strippers in commercial furniture refinishing and other stripping applications

Preface

Background

Dichloromethane, also known as methylene chloride, was assessed as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) based on its potential to cause harm to the environment and to human health. It was concluded that current releases of dichloromethane could be sufficient to have adverse effects on some aquatic organisms and therefore harm the environment. As well, dichloromethane is classified as "probably carcinogenic to humans," with the principal route of human exposure to dichloromethane being inhalation. As a result, Environment Canada and Health Canada implemented a Strategic Options Process (1996-1997) that was responsible for gathering relevant technical, scientific, and economic information from which recommendations were made on how dichloromethane emissions could be reduced in Canada. All industrial, commercial, and consumer applications of dichloromethane were analyzed. Stakeholders from industry, environmental non-governmental organizations, and key federal government departments participated in the Strategic Options Process.

Dichloromethane is a versatile solvent used in a wide range of industrial processes, as well as being the active chemical in paint stripping formulations. Commercial paint stripping applications (for example, furniture restoration, auto body shops, etc.) used an estimated 1400 tonnes of dichloromethane in 1995. This usage resulted in an estimated 1300 tonnes of dichloromethane evaporation during the paint stripping process (total dichloromethane emissions from all sources in Canada in 1995 were estimated at 6300 tonnes). Commercial paint stripping operations constituted one of the largest source categories of dichloromethane emissions, with furniture restoration facilities representing approximately 70% of the use and release of dichloromethane from this source category. The final report from the Strategic Options Process produced a number of recommendations for the reduction of dichloromethane emissions. One such recommendation was to develop work practice guidelines for the commercial furniture refinishing and other stripping applications.

It has been suggested that the implementation of good work practices can conserve solvent use and minimize environmental releases, resulting in an estimated 20% solvent use reduction among commercial paint stripping operations. These work practices have been identified and described in the following code of practice.

This code of practice was developed by a multistakeholder Technical Working Committee (see Annex 1 for the list of Technical Working Committee members), which consisted of industry representatives (that is, furniture strippers, auto body shops, paint stripper formulators, solvent recovery firms), government personnel, and environmental non-governmental organizations.

The draft code of practice was distributed to stakeholders for comment. It was sent directly to the Technical Working Committee and environmental non-governmental organizations, and posted on the CEPA Registry. All stakeholders were invited to submit comments on the draft Code of Practice, and those organizations that provided comments are listed in Annex 2.

Environment Canada gratefully acknowledges the contributions of all participants who assisted in developing this code of practice. We also gratefully acknowledge Henderson Furniture Repair Limited for their contributions.

Inquiries and comments on this code of practice, as well as requests for additional copies of the code, should be directed to:

Head, Controls Development Section
National Office of Pollution Prevention
Environment Canada
Place Vincent Massey
351 St. Joseph Blvd 12th Floor
Gatineau (QC) K1A 0H3
Fax: 819-994-0007

Purpose

The purpose of this code of practice is to provide guidance for commercial paint stripping operations regarding activities that can serve to reduce emissions of dichloromethane into the environment. Although some training may be required, the owner/operator may attain several benefits by implementing the code, including, for example:

  • reduction in environmental (air, water, waste) emissions of a substance that has been found to be toxic as defined in CEPA
  • reduced paint stripper usage and waste generation, both of which will reduce operating costs
  • improved product quality and
  • enhancement of community relations and overall operating performance

Applying many of the work practices outlined in this code of practice to non-dichloromethane-based paint strippers or other chemicals may also achieve several of the benefits described above.

By reducing the environmental emissions of dichloromethane, it is possible that human exposure to dichloromethane may also be reduced. However, this code of practice is not intended to constitute advice for occupational health and safety. For this information, users are invited to contact the occupational safety and health authority having jurisdiction for their workplace, and/or their lawyer.

The work practices outlined below may not apply to all circumstances; therefore, individual facilities should determine which of the practices are most appropriate to their unique situation.

This code of practice is divided into two parts. Specifically, separate codes have been developed for:

  • commercial furniture restoration facilities (Part 1); and
  • miscellaneous commercial paint stripping facilities (Part 2).

The specific end-use sectors discussed in Part 2 of the code of practice are (i) metal parts paint strippers, (ii) auto body shops, and (iii) building restorers. Several of the work practices identified in the code of practice may apply to entities in other sectors, not identified above, that provide commercial paint stripping services.

Unless otherwise indicated, all references to paint strippers in the code of practice refer to dichloromethane-based paint strippers.

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