Linetec contributes to LEED, Green Building

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The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System represents the U.S. Green Building Council's effort to provide a national standard for what constitutes a "green building". Through its use as a design guideline and third-party certification tool, it aims to improve occupant well-being, environmental performance and economic returns of buildings using established and innovative practices, standards and technologies.

Commonly asked questions regarding Metal Finishing and LEED

Q.	Is powder paint more "green" than liquid paint?
A.	Not necessarily. It is a common misperception that powder is more environmentally-friendly than liquid paint (e.g. Kynar/Hylar). The truth is that it depends entirely on the application process and how VOCs (volatile organic compounds from solvents used) are handled. Powder is by nature relatively free of VOC’s, regardless of application process. Liquid paint – which involves airborne solvents – is not. However, if liquid paints are sprayed using the right equipment, the VOC’s can be captured and converted to harmless water vapor. This equipment is commonly called an oxidizer or incinerator. Applicators that have and use this equipment can apply liquid paints without significant VOC emissions, achieving the same level of “green” as powder.


Q.	How can I find out if my product manufacturer uses an oxidizer when applying liquid paints?
A.	Not all manufacturers have oxidizers. The information may be found on the company’s literature or website. If not, you can request a signed letter from the manufacturer certifying that an oxidizer is utilized for your project. You can also specify use of an oxidizer in your specifications for Finishes (Linetec offers an Environmental spec for Kynar and Baked Enamel finishes).

Q.	How can I tell if a manufacturer or finisher has a good track record for compliance with environmental regulations?
A.	The EPA now has a website called ECHO that lists every company’s environmental emissions and violations. The information is searchable by company name and/or location. The website can be found at www.epa.gov/echo.

Q.	What about use of chrome pretreatment on aluminum prior to powder coating or liquid painting? I hear that is some real nasty stuff.
A.	Chrome is proven to be the best pretreatment available for maximum longevity and performance in exterior environments. If handled properly, including adequate waste treatment there is not a significant environmental concern. There are some alternative chrome-free pretreatments, but there is no clear field test data or history to show the adhesion and performance are equal to chrome. In Linetec’s opinion, the chrome-free pretreatments are not as robust and forgiving to variations in the application process. They can perform close to chrome in a lab setting, but in a production environment the results are much different. For these reasons, AAMA requires chrome pretreatment for the high-end paint specifications. In order to ensure maximum performance and least risk, Linetec uses chrome pretreatment for all paints (powder, baked enamel and Kynar).

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