The effort to clean up the environment has, for a large part, been a voluntary relationship between Canadian bodyshops and the government. But, in what could be a harbinger of things to come, the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) is modifying this relationship and expects to enact legislation his summer governing bodyshops' roles in reducing emissions.

By Bob Blans

Spurred by environmental legislation in the U.S., bodyshop product manufacturers are already doing their part providing bodyshops with products that comply with Canadian federal and provincial standards and guidelines. But with Vancouver's move towards legislating bodyshop emissions, it appears more imperative than ever that the industry take serious steps to get into line -- and counteract the potential that provinces and municipalities will follow the city's initiative.

John Norris, executive director of the Hamilton District Autobody Repair Association (HARA) warns the industry must take a forward step on environmental issues. "Shops wonder why associations spend so much time on the environment. The reality is that if we don't do this and come [up] with a package that is viable for shops, the government will do it and [their proposal] will not be viable."

In Vancouver, it may be too late. The new GVRD Air Quality Regulatory Program is expected to be passed this summer and provides emission regulations for automotive refinishing facilities.

THE VANCOUVER REGULATIONS

The Vancouver legislation calls for a series of regulations that could well extend across the country if other government bodies follow their lead.

The regulations require that every autobody operator be responsible for running his shop with good air pollution control practices. Article 5.2 of the regulation states that operators should minimize the discharge of air contaminants so that the discharge:

• Does not exceed percent opacity in the air at the point of discharge
• Is not found as deposit beyond the premises of the automotive refinishing facility as determined by an officer.
• Does not cause odor beyond the premises of the automotive refinishing facility so as to cause a nuisance to a significant number of persons or the public.

Article 6 of the regulation states that operators must only use refinish products containing a VOC content that is less or equal to the maximum allowed as defined in the regulation.

Every operator must, in conducting spray-coating operations:

• Employ and operate either high-volume low-pressure (HVLP) spray guns or an alternate spray system capable of achieving an emission reduction equal to HVLP spray systems.
• Post at the facility notices supplied by the spray gun manufacturer setting out recommended spray gun operating parameters including the maximum inlet pressure; maximum atomizing pressure and air cap number required to achieve the desired emission reduction.

Further requirements under Article 6 include ventilation systems and overspray arrestors comprised of strainers and filters. Several other requirements are designed to ensure that the ventilation stack systems for spray coating operations and paint room ventilation comply. Another subsection deals with the cleaning and maintenance of spray application equipment.

Section 6.6 has specific requirements about good housekeeping practices to reduce the discharge of contaminants, VOCs in particular:

• Using only limited and measured quantities of VOC containing materials.
• Storing all VOC materials in closed containers.
• Minimizing the generation of unused paint.
• Promptly cleaning up all spills of VOC containing materials.
• Employing environmentally sound solvent storage, recycling treatment and disposal practices.
• Disposing of all VOC containing waste materials in closed containers.
• Shipping all VOC containing materials and recyclable waste materials in closed containers.
• Regularly cleaning spray booth ducting and ventilation systems.
• Masking or cleaning internal spray booth surfaces with appropriate cleaning agents, such as water or dry strippable low VOC spray coatings.

One last key element of section 6 is the requirement that every operator and technician successfully complete an Environmental Training Program and display the certificate so that it is visible to the public.

The Vancouver authority has included safeguards and monitoring processes into the regulations. Operators must regularly inspect their facilities, including spray booths, paint overspray arrestors, spray guns, enclosed spray wash systems and low emission spray gun cleaners.

Also, bodyshop managers must keep accurate records and supporting documentation which includes:

• Record of the types of VOC containing products received by the facility or shop, the product mixing instructions, the maximum VOC content in coatings for products, information about the supplier of products and the employees responsible for using and maintaining the products.
• Shops must also keep a record of inspection and maintenance. This includes dates and times, conditions of the shop during inspection and the person verifying the information. All records and supporting documentation must be kept for at least three years. Shops must be able to produce any records within 48 hours of request by a district director or officer.

Violation of any or all of the regulations are considered legal offenses under the GVRD Air Quality Management Bylaw.

ONE STEP FORWARD

According to Graham Currie the project leader of the GVRD program, most of the regulations are consistent with the Canadian Council Ministry of Environment recommendations.

Currie is optimistic about the project. "The industry seems to accept that we can work together to come to some kind of solution."

He notes the GVRD has worked closely during last few years on the program with the Automotive Retailer Association, The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC), the Canadian Association of Fleet Supervisors, the British Columbia Trucking Association, the Workman's Compensation Board of British Columbia and the British Columbia Automobile Association.

The bylaws, expected to be passed in June, offer a six-month transition period for shops to organize themselves towards compliance.

While Vancouver may be the first Canadian government to legislate compliance, the U.S. has normalized this type of legislation. California and New Jersey have strict regulations governing VOC emissions, Indiana, Wisconsin and Illinois have recently enacted bylaws of their own.

Larry Jefferies of CARSTAR Automotive Canada, chairman of the Automotive Industries Association of Canada (AIA) Paint Body and Equipment Council gives a more national perspective to VOC reduction in the refinish industry.

He says VOC legislation talk has been low key in Canada to this point, even though the issues of health, safety and environment should be more heavily prioritized.

"The average bodyshop person in Canada still hasn't figured that he needs Certificate of Approval on his emissions and it is amazing how many have not dealt with that yet," he says.

The main reason is the inconsistent application of requirements across the provinces.

"Part of what needs to happen is to change the working environment within the Canadian marketplace to create a level playing field so that those who have to invest are committed to invest. Those who can't or won't should not allowed to produce excess emissions anymore. That means that from 8,000 shops we go to a couple of thousand that are meeting all the requirements.

"Many shops don't realize how many tons they are putting out every year," he adds.

Jefferies anticipates the AIA Paint Body and Equipment Council taking a greater role with manufacturers to spread greater awareness about the VOC emission problems.

HARA's Norris believes that the industry can curb its emission problems and actually profit from the process. HARA has committed to a 45% emission reduction on VOCs by 2015 to the Province of Ontario as has the Canadian Paint Coatings Association

Norris says those reductions will effect bodyshops every day and add efficiencies to the process that will result in saving money while emitting less.

"[Bodyshop] properties become more valuable. It is easier for them to get zoning, easier to get funding, financing, mortgaging and all those good things. The image of the industry goes up," Norris notes. "There are a whole pile of positives for shops. It's not just emissions. There is a whole pile of financial incentives. And, let's face it you use less paint."

In Ontario, while legislated regulation is not yet afoot, it has been proposed that by January 1, 2002 all shops report the emissions of each type of VOC in their paint spray applications.

Paint spraybooth emissions in Ontario are estimated at 6,000 tons per year of VOCs

HARA has a program that will help shops reduce the cost that will be incurred as a result of the new reporting requirements. Details appeared in an article in the March issue of BODYSHOP Magazine.

Simply put, the reductions of VOCs benefit everyone. Cleaner air, less smog and reduced ozone levels are benefits everyone -- in the industry or not -- can appreciate. And according to industry experts, currently complying with environment initiatives is not onerous. Clean and efficient shops with well-trained environmentally conscious employees are more profitable in the long run.

And if the industry does not take the initiative to clean up, the government -- as Vancouver demonstrates -- most certainly will.

"We are the second largest emitter in the surface coating sector," insists Norris. "There is no doubt that the government would come in with a hammer if we did not take steps ourselves that are fair and reasonable to reduce emissions."

Bob Blans wishes to thank Ken Hine of Hine and Associates for providing background information for this story and alerting us to the Vancouver program. Also our sincere thanks to Graham Currie, GVRD program leader; John Norris, executive director HARA, and Larry Jefferies, AIA PBE Council.