Many states are either considering —
or have already put into place — regulations
that limit volatile organic compounds
(VOCs). And there is more and
more talk about a mandatory national
standard. VOCs, in the form of solvents,
have long been a basic ingredient in
paints and finishes, particularly oil-base
products.
Since I work in California, a state
that enacted VOC regulations three
years ago, I've had a head start on learning
to cope with the new regulations
and the products they've spawned. It has
been neither as disastrous nor as easy as
you may have heard. What it has been
is confusing and frustrating. Although I
do paint somewhat differently than I
used to because of the