as well as establishing the industry position. The activity with
the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design scheme in
the US is also of particular interest and causing some concern,
especially with regard to the intumescent coatings sector, where
they are moving towards introducing VOC restrictions to
products, driving the sector towards waterbased technologies in
that market.
Further efforts were made to promote the use of the recently
revised ISO 12944. BCF Information Note G028 was issued
in March 2018, to clarify
the changes that were
introduced, and presented
additional information in a
Q&A format, including what
happens to certificates for
products that refer to the
previous version of ISO
12944, and the comparison
between ISO 12944 and
Norsok M-501. In addition,
PCE International published
an article from the BCF
on the revised Standard in
their October-December
edition. Third party
certification for industrial
protective coatings against
standards such as ISO
12944 is also coming onto
the group’s radar, as this
approach appears to be
gaining traction beyond the
existing uses to e.g. test and certify intumescent coatings.
As usual, the progress with the various legislative mechanisms,
including REACH and CLP, as applied to chemical substances
used in the industry was a standing topic for discussion at
meetings. The developments regarding TiO 2 , isocyanates and BPA
were of particular interest, and much of the discussion revolved
around a review of the latest activities of the various CEPE task
forces that have been focussed on these issues.
BCF ANNUAL HANDBOOK 2019/20
Vehicle Refinish Group
Chaired by John Falder, HMG Paints
The Vehicle Refinish Group (VRG) this year moved its VOC
campaign onto a new phase. After fully completing and analysing
the 100 mystery shopping videos, of which a quarter had failed,
it was agreed that further pressure would be put on Defra
and the EU to stamp out the issue of solvent-based basecoat
non-compliance. In Autumn 2018, Tom Bowtell visited Poland,
where the problem is even worse than in the UK, and BCF are
encouraging CEPE to take
stronger action.
The VR meetings in
2018 were partially
held in conjunction with
the BCF’s Industrial
and Powder Coatings
Council. This was found
particularly effective given
the wide crossover of
topics for both groups.
Officials from Defra
attended the Summer
2018 meeting, and a
workshop was held on
the Government’s Clean
Air Strategy, which was
being consulted on at the
time.
The BCF wrote to
Defra Secretary of State
Michael Gove MP at the end of 2018, highlighting the lack of
enforcement, and widespread abuse of the VOC regulations for
VR paints. The VRG has also expressed concerns over potential
customs delays with Brexit, and also the perception by some
distributors in the UK that EU regulations on solvent based
paint no longer apply. The BCF instigated press activity on this
issue specifically, and is also maintaining pressure on Trading
Standards where specific complaints about distributors have
been made.
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