GB 30981.2-2025 Limit of harmful substances of coatings - Part 2: Industrial coatings English
1 Scope
This document specifies the product classification and coating hazard marking, 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 industrial coatings and accessory materials.
This document is applicable to on-site application and in-factory application, as well as various industrial coatings and supporting accessory materials used for decoration, protection, and other functions on the surfaces of substrates such as woodenware, metal, plastic, concrete, composite materials, glass, and ceramics.
This document is not applicable to aerospace coatings, nuclear grade protective coatings, and coatings for military equipment and facilities.
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 1766 Paints and varnishes - Rating schemes of degradation of coats
GB/T 1865 Paints and varnishes - Artificial weathering and exposure to artificial radiation - Exposure to filtered xenon-arc radiation
GB/T 3186 Paints, varnishes and raw materials for paints and varnishes - Sampling
GB/T 5206 Paints and varnishes - Terms and definitions
GB/T 6682 Water for analytical laboratory use - Specification and test methods
GB/T 6750 Paints and varnishes - Determination of density - Pyknometer method
GB/T 6822 Anti-fouling and anti-corrosive paint systems on ship hulls
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/T 9758.5 Paints and varnishes - Determination of “soluble” metal content - Part 5: Determination of hexavalent chromium content of the pigment portion of the liquid paint or the paint in powder form - Diphenylcarbazide spectrophotometric method
GB/T 9760-1988 Paints and varnishes - Preparation of acid extracts from paints in liquid or powder form
GB/T 18446 Binders for paints and varnishes - Determination of monomeric diisocyanates in isocyanate resins
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 chlorhydrocarbon content in coatings - Gas chromatographic method
GB/T 23993 Determination of formaldehyde content of waterborne coatings - Spectrophtometric method with acetylacetone
GB/T 25011 Test method and determination for DDT content of marine antifouling paints
GB/T 26085 Test method and determination of total tin in antifouling paints for ship
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 33395 Determination of asbestos in coatings
GB/T 34675-2017 Determination of volatile organic compound (VOC) content in radiation curable coatings
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 41764 Determination of photoinitiator content in radiation curable coatings - Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method
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
water-borne coatings
type of coatings in which water constitutes the primary component of the volatiles, and during application of which, the water content exceeds 50% (mass fraction)
Note 1: Powder coatings to which water is added during use are considered water-borne coatings.
Note 2: Water-borne radiation curable coatings are radiation curable coatings.
[Source: GB/T 5206-2015, 2.274, modified]
3.2
solvent-borne coatings
type of coatings in which organic solvents constitute the primary components of the volatiles
Note 1: Solvent-borne coatings to which water is added as a co-solvent are generally termed "water-thinnable solvent-borne coatings" and are also known as "solvent-borne coatings allowing water to be intentionally added".
Note 2: Powder coatings to which organic solvents are added during use are considered solvent-borne coatings.
Note 3: Non-water-borne radiation curable coatings are radiation curable coatings.
3.3
radiation curable coatings
type of coatings cured via radiation curing
Note 1: Examples include ultraviolet light (UV) curable coatings, and electron beam (EB) curable coatings.
Note 2: Radiation curable powder coatings are powder coatings.
[Source: GB/T 35602-2017, 3.8, modified]
3.4
solvent-free coatings
type of solvent-borne coatings in which the content of nonvolatiles under application conditions measured by the specified method is not less than 95% (mass fraction)
Note 1: Solvent-free coatings generally contain no or very small amounts of volatile non-reactive organic solvents.
Note 2: Reactive organic solvents, also known as active diluents, are compounds that can dissolve or disperse the film-forming material and participate in the film-forming reaction, becoming part of the non-volatile component retained in the coating film.
[Source: GB/T 35602-2017, 3.10, modified]
3.5
powder coatings
well dispersed thermoplastic or thermosetting resin particles
Note: This product is typically blended with pigments, fillers, and additives, and able to maintain its finely divided state under appropriate storage conditions, and form a continuous coating film after being melted and/or cured. Hot-melt particulate coatings (including hot-melt pavement marking coatings) are powder coatings.
[Source: GB/T 21782.14-2010, 2.5, modified]
3.6
accessory material
type of accessory materials used during coating application or coating maintenance processes to improve substrate conditions, coating application properties, coating compatibility, coating film performance, etc.
Examples: Putty, color paste, diluents (including those used for spray gun cleaning), curing agent, paint remover, interface agent, repair paste, blending solvent, anti-blushing agent, retarder and staining agent.
…
4 Product classification and coating hazard marking
4.1 Product classification
The models and classifications classified by product type are as follows:
——Type W, water-borne coating;
——Type S, solvent-borne coating;
——Type F, solvent-free coating;
——Type R, radiation curable coating;
——Type P, powder coating;
——Type A, accessory material.
4.2 Coating hazard marking
The coating hazard marking includes:
a) Description segment: Coating hazard;
b) Standard code and serial number segment: GB 30981.2;
c) A characteristic segment comprising the following three data segments:
1) Product model;
2) The self-declared content of total lead (Pb) (mg/kg), expressed as "Pb ≤ self-declared value or limit value specified in this document";
3) If meeting the requirements of 5.3, the product belongs to coatings suitable for applications involving close contact with human bodies and shall be marked as "C" to indicate that the coating allows for close contact; if not meeting the requirements of 5.3 or having not been tested according to 5.3 (for specified items), the product belongs to coatings not suitable for applications involving close contact with human bodies and shall be marked as "NC" to indicate that the coating does not allow for close contact.
Wherein a space is used to separate a) and b); hyphens ("-") are used to connect b) and c), and to connect the data segments within c).
Example 1:
Product:
Solvent-borne polyurethane sealing primer for interior furniture decoration/finishing, meeting the requirements of 5.3, with a total lead (Pb) content of 8mg/kg.
Marking:
Coating hazard GB 30981.2-S-Pb ≤ 90-C.
Example 2:
Product:
An OEM electrophoretic paint for anticorrosion of passenger car substrates, meeting the requirements of 5.2 instead of 5.3, with a total lead (Pb) content of 120mg/kg.
Marking:
Coating hazard GB 30981.2-W-Pb ≤ 1000-NC.
5 Requirements
5.1 The VOC content limits for industrial coatings and putties (excluding special functional coatings, powder coatings, and zinc-aluminum flake coatings) shall be as specified in Tables 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 respectively.
Contents
Foreword
Introduction
1 Scope
2 Normative references
3 Terms and definitions
4 Product classification and coating hazard marking
4.1 Product classification
4.2 Coating hazard marking
5 Requirements
6 Test methods
6.1 Sampling
6.2 Test methods
7 Inspection rules
7.1 Type inspection
7.2 Judgment of inspection rules
8 Marking
9 Document implementation
Annex A (Normative) Determination of total hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] content
A.1 Principle
A.2 Reagents and materials
A.3 Instruments and equipment
A.4 Test procedures
A.5 Precision
Bibliography
GB 30981.2-2025 Limit of harmful substances of coatings - Part 2: Industrial coatings English
1 Scope
This document specifies the product classification and coating hazard marking, 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 industrial coatings and accessory materials.
This document is applicable to on-site application and in-factory application, as well as various industrial coatings and supporting accessory materials used for decoration, protection, and other functions on the surfaces of substrates such as woodenware, metal, plastic, concrete, composite materials, glass, and ceramics.
This document is not applicable to aerospace coatings, nuclear grade protective coatings, and coatings for military equipment and facilities.
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 1766 Paints and varnishes - Rating schemes of degradation of coats
GB/T 1865 Paints and varnishes - Artificial weathering and exposure to artificial radiation - Exposure to filtered xenon-arc radiation
GB/T 3186 Paints, varnishes and raw materials for paints and varnishes - Sampling
GB/T 5206 Paints and varnishes - Terms and definitions
GB/T 6682 Water for analytical laboratory use - Specification and test methods
GB/T 6750 Paints and varnishes - Determination of density - Pyknometer method
GB/T 6822 Anti-fouling and anti-corrosive paint systems on ship hulls
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/T 9758.5 Paints and varnishes - Determination of “soluble” metal content - Part 5: Determination of hexavalent chromium content of the pigment portion of the liquid paint or the paint in powder form - Diphenylcarbazide spectrophotometric method
GB/T 9760-1988 Paints and varnishes - Preparation of acid extracts from paints in liquid or powder form
GB/T 18446 Binders for paints and varnishes - Determination of monomeric diisocyanates in isocyanate resins
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 chlorhydrocarbon content in coatings - Gas chromatographic method
GB/T 23993 Determination of formaldehyde content of waterborne coatings - Spectrophtometric method with acetylacetone
GB/T 25011 Test method and determination for DDT content of marine antifouling paints
GB/T 26085 Test method and determination of total tin in antifouling paints for ship
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 33395 Determination of asbestos in coatings
GB/T 34675-2017 Determination of volatile organic compound (VOC) content in radiation curable coatings
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 41764 Determination of photoinitiator content in radiation curable coatings - Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method
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
water-borne coatings
type of coatings in which water constitutes the primary component of the volatiles, and during application of which, the water content exceeds 50% (mass fraction)
Note 1: Powder coatings to which water is added during use are considered water-borne coatings.
Note 2: Water-borne radiation curable coatings are radiation curable coatings.
[Source: GB/T 5206-2015, 2.274, modified]
3.2
solvent-borne coatings
type of coatings in which organic solvents constitute the primary components of the volatiles
Note 1: Solvent-borne coatings to which water is added as a co-solvent are generally termed "water-thinnable solvent-borne coatings" and are also known as "solvent-borne coatings allowing water to be intentionally added".
Note 2: Powder coatings to which organic solvents are added during use are considered solvent-borne coatings.
Note 3: Non-water-borne radiation curable coatings are radiation curable coatings.
3.3
radiation curable coatings
type of coatings cured via radiation curing
Note 1: Examples include ultraviolet light (UV) curable coatings, and electron beam (EB) curable coatings.
Note 2: Radiation curable powder coatings are powder coatings.
[Source: GB/T 35602-2017, 3.8, modified]
3.4
solvent-free coatings
type of solvent-borne coatings in which the content of nonvolatiles under application conditions measured by the specified method is not less than 95% (mass fraction)
Note 1: Solvent-free coatings generally contain no or very small amounts of volatile non-reactive organic solvents.
Note 2: Reactive organic solvents, also known as active diluents, are compounds that can dissolve or disperse the film-forming material and participate in the film-forming reaction, becoming part of the non-volatile component retained in the coating film.
[Source: GB/T 35602-2017, 3.10, modified]
3.5
powder coatings
well dispersed thermoplastic or thermosetting resin particles
Note: This product is typically blended with pigments, fillers, and additives, and able to maintain its finely divided state under appropriate storage conditions, and form a continuous coating film after being melted and/or cured. Hot-melt particulate coatings (including hot-melt pavement marking coatings) are powder coatings.
[Source: GB/T 21782.14-2010, 2.5, modified]
3.6
accessory material
type of accessory materials used during coating application or coating maintenance processes to improve substrate conditions, coating application properties, coating compatibility, coating film performance, etc.
Examples: Putty, color paste, diluents (including those used for spray gun cleaning), curing agent, paint remover, interface agent, repair paste, blending solvent, anti-blushing agent, retarder and staining agent.
…
4 Product classification and coating hazard marking
4.1 Product classification
The models and classifications classified by product type are as follows:
——Type W, water-borne coating;
——Type S, solvent-borne coating;
——Type F, solvent-free coating;
——Type R, radiation curable coating;
——Type P, powder coating;
——Type A, accessory material.
4.2 Coating hazard marking
The coating hazard marking includes:
a) Description segment: Coating hazard;
b) Standard code and serial number segment: GB 30981.2;
c) A characteristic segment comprising the following three data segments:
1) Product model;
2) The self-declared content of total lead (Pb) (mg/kg), expressed as "Pb ≤ self-declared value or limit value specified in this document";
3) If meeting the requirements of 5.3, the product belongs to coatings suitable for applications involving close contact with human bodies and shall be marked as "C" to indicate that the coating allows for close contact; if not meeting the requirements of 5.3 or having not been tested according to 5.3 (for specified items), the product belongs to coatings not suitable for applications involving close contact with human bodies and shall be marked as "NC" to indicate that the coating does not allow for close contact.
Wherein a space is used to separate a) and b); hyphens ("-") are used to connect b) and c), and to connect the data segments within c).
Example 1:
Product:
Solvent-borne polyurethane sealing primer for interior furniture decoration/finishing, meeting the requirements of 5.3, with a total lead (Pb) content of 8mg/kg.
Marking:
Coating hazard GB 30981.2-S-Pb ≤ 90-C.
Example 2:
Product:
An OEM electrophoretic paint for anticorrosion of passenger car substrates, meeting the requirements of 5.2 instead of 5.3, with a total lead (Pb) content of 120mg/kg.
Marking:
Coating hazard GB 30981.2-W-Pb ≤ 1000-NC.
5 Requirements
5.1 The VOC content limits for industrial coatings and putties (excluding special functional coatings, powder coatings, and zinc-aluminum flake coatings) shall be as specified in Tables 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 respectively.
Contents of GB 30981.2-2025
Contents
Foreword
Introduction
1 Scope
2 Normative references
3 Terms and definitions
4 Product classification and coating hazard marking
4.1 Product classification
4.2 Coating hazard marking
5 Requirements
6 Test methods
6.1 Sampling
6.2 Test methods
7 Inspection rules
7.1 Type inspection
7.2 Judgment of inspection rules
8 Marking
9 Document implementation
Annex A (Normative) Determination of total hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] content
A.1 Principle
A.2 Reagents and materials
A.3 Instruments and equipment
A.4 Test procedures
A.5 Precision
Bibliography
