GB 30981.1-2025 Limit of harmful substances of coatings - Part 1: Architectural coatings English
1 Scope
This document specifies the product classification, requirements, inspection rules, marking, document implementation and describes the corresponding test methods related to the permissible limits of substances harmful to human health and the environment in architectural coatings and accessory materials.
This document is applicable to various types of wall coatings and their corresponding accessory materials that are directly applied on-site to decorate, protect, or provide other specific functions (such as mildew resistance, algae resistance, thermal insulation, etc.) for the inner and outer surfaces of buildings with cement-based or other non-metallic substrates. It is also applicable to various types of floor coatings and their corresponding accessory materials that are directly applied on-site to decorate, protect, or provide other specific functions (such as anti-static, corrosion resistance, slip resistance, etc.) for floor substrates made of cement mortar, concrete, stone, plastic, or steel.
This document is not applicable to waterproof coatings for buildings or coatings used for sports fields with surface layers made of synthetic materials.
2 Normative references
The following documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
GB/T 1725 Paints, varnishes and plastics - Determination of non-volatile-matter content
GB/T 1727 General methods for preparation of coating films
GB/T 3186 Paints, varnishes and raw materials for paints and varnishes - Sampling
GB/T 5206 Paints and varnishes - Terms and definitions
GB/T 6750 Paints and varnishes - Determination of density - Pyknometer method
GB/T 8170 Rules of rounding off for numerical values & expression and judgment of limiting values
GB/T 9754 Paints and varnishes - Determination of gloss value 20° , 60° and 85°
GB 15258 General rules for preparation of precautionary label for chemicals
GB/T 18446 Binders for paints and varnishes - Determination of monomeric diisocyanates in isocyanate resins
GB 18583 Indoor decorating and refurbishing materials - Limit of harmful substances of adhesives
GB/T 20777 Paints and varnishes - Examination and preparation of samples for testing
GB/T 23985-2009 Paints and varnishes - Determination of volatile organic compound (VOC) content - Difference method
GB/T 23986.2-2023 Paints and varnishes - Determination of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and/or semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC) content - Part 2: Gas-chromatographic method
GB/T 23990-2009 Determination of the contents of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene in coatings by gas chromatography
GB/T 23991 Determination of soluble harmful elements content of coatings
GB/T 23992-2009 Determination of chlorohydrocarbon content in coatings - Gas chromatographic method
GB/T 23993 Determination of formaldehyde content of waterborne coatings - Spectrophtometric method with acetylacetone
GB 30000 (all parts) Rules for classification and labelling of chemicals
GB/T 30646 Determination of phthalate plasticizers content in coatings - Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry method
GB/T 30647 Determination of harmful elements total content of coatings
GB/T 31414 Water based coatings - Determination of surfactant - Alkylphenol polyethoxylates
GB/T 34682-2017 Determination of volatile organic compound (VOC) content in reactive diluent containing coatings
GB/T 36488 Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in coatings
GB/T 37363.1 Determination of biocides content of coating materials - Part 1: Determination of isothiazolinones content
GB/T 41953 Paints and varnishes - Determination of water content of coating materials - Gas-chromatographic method
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in GB/T 5206 and the following apply.
3.1
building
a space or entity constructed using building materials, serving as a place for people to live and carry out various activities
Examples: Residences, office buildings, factories, warehouses, shopping malls, stadiums, exhibition halls, libraries, hospitals, schools, airports, stations, theaters, churches, etc.
[Source: GB/T 50504-2009, 2.1.4, modified]
3.2
wall coatings
wall coatings applied to the inner and outer surfaces of buildings with cement-based and other non-metallic substrates
3.3
flat coatings
a type of water-borne wall coating that forms a smooth and uniform surface with consistent color after application
3.4
textured coatings
a type of water-borne wall coating that produces visual decorative effects such as sand grain, texture, or three-dimensional patterns after application
Examples: Stone-like coatings, multicolor coatings, stippled coatings, sandstone effect coatings, etc.
3.5
floor coatings
floor coating materials composed of binders, aggregates, admixtures, or additives, applied on-site to a substrate surface to form an integrated layer with the substrate and fulfill specific functions
[Source: JC/T 2540-2019, 2.1, modified]
3.6
water-borne floor coatings
a type of floor coating that uses water as the main dispersion medium and synthetic resin as the base material
[Source: GB/T 22374-2018, 3.3, modified]
3.7
solvent-borne floor coatings
a type of floor coatings that primarily utilizes volatile organic solvents as the main dispersing medium, wherein such solvents do not become integral components of the coating film upon curing
[Source: GB/T 22374-2018, 3.4, modified]
3.8
solvent-free floor coatings
a type of floor coatings that utilizes reactive diluents as the dispersing medium, wherein these diluents remain as integral components of the film-forming substance after curing
[Source: GB/T 22374-2018, 3.5, modified]
3.9
accessory material
a type of auxiliary materials used during coating application or coating maintenance processes to improve substrate conditions, enhance coating application properties, ensure coating compatibility, and optimize film performance
Examples: Putty, color paste, diluents (including those used for spray gun cleaning), curing agent, paint remover, interface agent, repair paste, blending solution, anti-blushing agent, retarder and staining agent
3.10
volatile organic compound; VOC
organic compounds that participate in atmospheric photochemical reactions, or as defined in accordance with relevant provisions
[Source: GB 37822-2019, 3.1, modified]
3.11
volatile organic compounds content
VOC content
mass of the volatile organic compounds (3.10) present in a coating material, as determined under specified conditions
[Source: GB/T 23986.2-2023, 3.4, modified]
3.12
semi-volatile organic compound; SVOC
organic liquid and/or solid that evaporates spontaneously but slower than VOC at the prevailing temperature and pressure of the atmosphere with which it is in contact
[Source: GB/T 23986.2-2023, 3.2, modified]
3.13
semi-volatile organic compounds content
SVOC content
mass of the semi-volatile organic compounds (3.12) present in a coating material, as determined under specified conditions
[Source: GB/T 23986.2-2023, 3.5, modified]
3.14
biocide
a type of additives incorporated into coatings to prevent biological degradation caused by microorganisms from attacking the substrate, coating, or its film
Examples: In-can preservatives such as formaldehyde, methylisothiazolinone, chloromethylisothiazolinone, benzisothiazolinone, and N,N-bis(3-aminopropyl)dodecylamine; dry-film mold inhibitors like octylisothiazolinone, dichlorooctylisothiazolinone, carbendazim, chlorothalonil, and butyl 3-iodo-2-propynyl carbamate; as well as algaecides such as diuron, terbutryn, and zinc pyrithione. Some biocide varieties exhibit multiple functionalities.
[Source: GB/T 5206-2015, 2.27, modified]
3.15
application condition
the condition in which the product is ready for application after all components are mixed, provided that the application method and conditions comply with the requirements specified in the corresponding technical specifications of the product
[Source: GB/T 38597-2020, 3.5]
4 Product classification
Architectural coatings are categorized by product type into: Water-borne wall coatings, floor coatings, and accessory materials.
Water-borne wall coatings are categorized based on their application scenarios as follows:
——Interior wall coatings; among which, interior wall coatings are classified by coating structure into primers, intermediate coats, topcoats, and clear overcoats. Primers are further classified by film appearance into paints and varnishes; intermediate coats are subdivided by film effect into flat coatings and textured coatings; topcoats are subdivided by film effect into flat coatings, textured coatings, and effect pigment coatings; flat coatings are further categorized by gloss level (60°) into ≤10GU and >10GU.
——Exterior wall coatings; among which, exterior wall coatings are classified by coating structure into primers, intermediate coats, topcoats, and clear overcoats; primers are further divided by film appearance into paints and varnishes. Intermediate coats are further subdivided by film effect into flat coatings and textured coatings; topcoats are subdivided by film effect into flat coatings, textured coatings, and effect pigment coatings.
Floor coatings are classified by dispersion medium into: Water-borne, solvent-borne, and solvent-free types.
Accessory materials are classified by dispersion medium into: water-borne and solvent-borne types.
5 Requirements
5.1 The limit of harmful substances in water-borne wall coatings shall comply with the requirements specified in Table 1. When coating products are explicitly applicable to multiple purposes, the strictest limit requirements shall prevail.
