Volume 17, Number 7
Dec 1993

More EPA Limits on CFCs

[The following notice is reprinted from ACTS FACTS, February 1994. It was taken from the Federal Register 69637-69678, December 30, 1993.]

As predicted in our February ACTS FACTS, another EPA Clean Air Act rule has been published which further restricts use of products containing chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). Included among banned products are string confetti, marine, sporting and personal safety horns, wall mounted factory and home intruder alarms, liquid packaging foams, and more.

Of special importance to photo artists and conservators are the regulations for 1) cleaning fluids and sprays for electronic and photographic equipment and 2) document preservation sprays such as Wei T'o.

1. Photo Dust Offs. Effective January 1, 1994, any person who sells or distributes any aerosol or pressurized dispenser of cleaning fluid for electronic and photographic equipment which contains a class I or class II CFC or HCFC must display a sign explaining that such a product can only be distributed to a commercial user. The sign also must state that the penalty for violating the prohibition can be up to $25,000 and individuals purchasing such products must present proof of their commercial status in the form of one or more of the commercial identification numbers required by the law.

2. Document Preservation Sprays. Only certain types of sprays are approved: sprays containing CFC-113 as a solvent and no other CFCs; sprays containing CFC-12 as a propellent but no other CFCs; sprays containing HCFC-141b as a solvent and no other class II substance; and sprays containing HCFC-22 as a propellant and no other class II substance.

These sprays are allowed to be "used solely on thick books, books with coated or dense paper and tightly bound documents. . . ." EPA also says they are "aware of formulations for document preservation sprays that do not use class I or class II substances." These words make it clear that the end is near for these CFC products.