According to PPG Industries’ automotive refinish business, more collision shops are transitioning to waterborne basecoat from solvent-based systems in anticipation of new air quality regulations in California and Canada.

STRONGSVILLE, OH - According to PPG Industries’ automotive refinish business, more collision shops are transitioning to waterborne basecoat from solvent-based systems in anticipation of new air quality regulations in California and Canada. Intended to reduce VOC atmospheric emissions and improve air quality, the coming regulations have led more than 700 collision shops to adopt Envirobase High Performance and Aquabase Plus waterborne basecoats by PPG.  

To help ensure shops’ smooth conversion, PPG initiated a waterborne conversion program more than a year ago in California called “Convert with Confidence.” The program provides shop owners, managers and technicians with training, advice and support before, during and after conversion. A similar program is underway in Canada.  

As a surprise to some, many California shops that converted recently to waterborne are located in regions still under no mandate to use waterborne technology. “We want to be ahead of the game, because eventually we’ll be forced to do it,” said Lisando Allende, Co-Owner of Uptown Body & Fender, Oakland, CA. “If we do it sooner, we’ll have more experience when the time comes to comply with the VOC regulations.”  

In California, VOC regulations will take effect in stages, beginning with the densely populated southern part of the state, known as the South Coast California Air Quality District, on July 1. In Canada, regulations will take effect nationwide Jan. 1, 2010.