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      • AFM Safecoat Sealers for Off-Gassing
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      • How do I know if a product is really safe?
      • How to Test a New Product for Chemical Sensitivity
      • Samples
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      • All About Mold
      • How to Improve Energy Performance with the Electric Meter
      • PowerCost Monitor FAQ
      • Basic Principles of Composting
      • Using Marmoleum for Countertops and Wainscotings
      • Can a wood butcher block countertop be permanently sealed?
      • Sustainable Solutions to Common Problems
      • Is solid wood T-1-11 safe for interior use?
      • View All Learning Center
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      •  
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      • What is the safest primer to use to get rid of tobacco smells in a home?
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      •  
      •  
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      •  
      •  
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      • Core Products HydrOxi Pro
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      Top Articles

      • Why Is Our Flooring Different?
      • Why we don't sell luxury vinyl tile!
      • How to Buy a Green Floor: 7 Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
      • The Truth About Paint
      • AFM Safecoat Sealers for Off-Gassing
      • ECOS Non-Toxic, Zero VOC Paint
      • How do I know if a product is really safe?
      • How to Test a New Product for Chemical Sensitivity
      • All About Mold
      • Sustainable Solutions to Common Problems
      • Samples

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Paints & Coatings

AFM Safecoat Sealers for Off-Gassing

by Jay Watts, Technical Director, American Formulating & Manufacturing (AFM)

 

Wherever possible and appropriate, we incorporate surface sealing properties into AFM Safecoat products such as paints and clear finishes. Many chemically sensitive individuals have successfully controlled off-gassing materials using Safecoat, to the extent that they can tolerate environments that were intolerable before.

Every indoor air quality problem, and every surface, is different, so there are no guarantees. But follow these basic rules and critical steps for the best chance of success:

#1 Identify the problem

It's crucial to understand exactly what it is on the surface that's causing the problem. Is it a finish, is it in a material under a finish (such as drywall under paint) or is it something 'under' the surface (an example of subsurface contamination might be smelly carpet padding under carpet).

The closer the sealer can get to the off-gassing material, the more effective it's likely to be. Sealing works best when dealing with chemical emissions. Off-gassing from organic and related sources, such as food, pet odors, mold and mildew contamination, cigarette smoke and fragrances typically can not be sealed.

#2 Select the right AFM sealer #3 Prepare the surface

Proper surface preparation is absolutely required for good results. Tips are on our product data sheets and of course on the cans, but ultimately responsibility for understanding the surface and what needs to be done to make it ready to accept the sealer lies with the installer. Here are a few general tips for preparing your surface:

Any surface sheen needs to be de-glossed. Mechanical de-glossing is the best. There are some chemical de-glossers such as TSP, but these can leave unwanted residue on the surface that inhibit sealer adhesion, and so are discouraged.

All patching and repairs should be done and allowed ample time to cure. Consult the manufacturers of these products for appropriate cure times.

Always make sure your surfaces are clean, dry and dust free.

#4 Apply the sealer properly

Environmental conditions during and following application are very important. Water-based products dry and cure more effectively when surface and air temperature are in the mid 70's with humidity at 50% or lower. If colder or more humid conditions are present, allow more time for drying and between coats.

#5 Promote drying/curing

To promote curing and a stronger, faster seal, move air over the coated surface constantly. Simple ventilation is necessary but rarely sufficient. Use of household or, if available, commercial fans will promote evaporation of all moisture in the coating, which is ultimately necessary for creating a strong film on the surface.

Application techniques affect drying/curing times. Thicker coats dry more slowly than thinner ones.

Multiple thin coats are always better than fewer thick ones.

The ultimate results will depend upon the severity of the contamination, methods of application, number of coats and environmental conditions affecting the installation. Many times a multiple coat application (3+ coats) will be necessary to solve a significant off-gassing problem. There are no hard and fast rules on how many coats will be necessary, as each indoor air quality problem tends to be unique and as such to require individualized handling of the problem. The following chart gives some basic reference points with regard to the effect of various AFM Safecoat products upon formaldehyde off-gassing from plywood.

Formaldehyde off-gassing reduction analysis using SafeCoat products

Sample         Primer Coat                             Finish Coat                        Formaldehyde Evaporation mg. Per liter
A                  Uncoated Plywood                 Uncoated Plywood                                 3.20
B                  Transitional Primer                 0 VOC Semi-Gloss                  .                .03
C                  0 VOC Semi-Gloss                  0 VOC Semi-Gloss                                   .04
D                  Polyureseal BP Gloss             Polyureseal BP Gloss                               .02

For a visual demonstration, view how Safecoat Hard Seal Blocks Emissions

Finally, the biggest qualifier to success is personal tolerance to the offending chemistry and the products used to mitigate the pollution. Accordingly, AFM strongly recommends that all users and applicators, especially those sensitive to chemicals, test products for personal tolerance before using. Test samples of all AFM Safecoat products are available for this purpose from Green Building Supply at 800-405-0222.

Common emission sources and AFM product remedies

PAINT
Best: Repaint with Safecoat Transitional Primer and AFM Zero VOC Custom Color Paint

Clear Sealer: Safecoat Hard Seal (note: Hard Seal creates surface sheen.)

CARPETING
Safechoice 3-Part System: Shampoo, CarpetSeal & Lockout

FLOORING
Wood: Safecoat Polyureseal BP
Concrete: Safecoat Mexeseal
Vinyl: Safecoat Hard Seal

FURNITURE or CABINETRY
Clear Sealer: Safecoat Hard Seal or Safecoat Acrylac
Pigmented: Safecoat Transitional Primer;
then apply AFM Zero VOC Custom Color Paint;
then apply Acrylacq

SUBFLOORS - OSB, Plywood, Particle Board
Safecoat Safe Seal

EXTERIOR SHEATHING
Safecoat Safe Seal

GROUT
Safecoat Grout Sealer

Copyright © 2011 American Formulating & Manufacturing   All rights reserved.

Sustainable Solutions for Common Problems Preventive and Curative Solutions to Indoor Air Pollution How Should I Deal with Off-Gassing from a Melamine Desk? Sources of Indoor Air Pollution (VOCs)

Green Building Supplies: cabinet doors - marmoleum - hard wood floor cleaner - countertops - eco friendly cleaning products - wool carpeting - eco friendly products - us floors bamboo - cork floor - wood floor underlayment


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