2.D.3.d - Coating Application

This source category comprises NMVOC emissions from the use of solvent-based products of three major sub-categories: Decorative coating applications, industrial coating applications and other non-industrial paint application The following product groups are taken into consideration:

• Application of paints and lacquers in Car repairing
• *Professional application of paints and lacquers for Construction and Building (emulsion paints for indoor application; silicate exterior paints; synthetic resin plasters / silicate; varnishes; primers and protection coatings; other coatings)
• Do-it-yourself application of paints and lacquers for Building (emulsion paints for indoor application; silicate exterior paints; synthetic resin plasters / silicate; varnishes; primers and protection coatings; other coatings)
• Application of paints and lacquers for Wood surfaces (wooden interiors, carpentry)

• Application of paints and lacquers for Manufacture of cars (primers, fillers, top coat / clear lacquers)
• Application of paints and lacquers for Car Repairing of commercial vehicles
• Application of paints and lacquers for Coil Coating
• Application of paints and lacquers for Boat Building
• Application of paints and lacquers for Wood surfaces (furniture)
• Other industrial paint application (such as paint spray, electrical appliances, mechanical engineering, automotive accessories, metal goods, wire enamel, synthetic materials, paper/foil)

‘NMVOC’ is defined in accordance with the VOC definition found in the EC solvents directive. For purposes of the definition of solvents, the term ‘solvent use’ is also defined in accordance with the EC solvents directive. 

An emission factor of 95% was allocated to all open applications (e. g. all decorative coating applications). For installation-related industrial applications specific emission factors were assessed and applied.

Data relevant for source category 2.D.3.d are recorded as of 1990. However, since 2000, a more detailed data collection procedure enables to follow the development of different applications, which altogether account for 35-47 % of total NMVOC emissions from solvent-based products.

For category 2.D.3.d coating applications, there is a significant dip in the time series in 1994 that may relate to an over-estimation for the years until 1994. This difference between 1993 and 1994 has to be mainly linked to the enhancement of the emission calculation method as from 1996. Since then national production and foreign trade statistics has been used for the calculation of product and solvent consumption instead of expert judgements. However, a recalculation could only be done backwards to the year 1994 due to the unavailability of production and foreign trade statistics in the necessary differentiation before (German reunification).

The clear decrease in the NMVOC emissions in 2.D.3.d has ended in 2015. The following seven applications caused major emissions and developments in category 2.D.3.d: Wooden furniture, Mechanical engineering, Varnishes DIY, Varnishes professional, Wooden interiors, Manufacture of cars and Corrosion protection

After the reunification of East and West Germany, the paints and coating application industries had economically good years. The emissions from 1990 to 1993 stayed on a high level. After 1993, this economic hype ended. In consequence, also the emissions declined.

A major reason for the decrease of overall emissions in this source category is the fulfillment of the Decopaint-Directive according to maximum solvent contents. The German “Blauer Engel” (“Blue Angel”) environmental quality seal supported this development by certifying a range of products, including low-solvent paints and lacquers.

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