Maryland Air Pollution Control Regulations
Written October 17, 2019
Maryland has adopted a final rule (Rule 26.11.19.18) governing VOC emissions from screen printing and digital imaging facilities. Both screen and digital printing facilities with actual total VOC emissions of at least 20 pounds per day are covered by this rule. When calculating VOC emissions, facilities can exclude any emissions associated with printing on untreated sign paper.
Untreated sign paper has been defined as a paper used in screen-printing to prepare a temporary, light-weight sign or poster such as grocery store signs that are sensitive to water and water-based inks. If your screen printing facility is covered by the regulation, then inks with no more than 3.3 pounds per gallon VOC, less water, less exempt solvents, as applied must be used. There are several exceptions. Inks used on untreated paper can contain up to 5.6 pounds of VOC per gallon, less water and exempt solvents, as applied, and conductive inks can contain up to 8 pounds of VOC per gallon.
There are also requirements in the rule that pertain to screen reclamation products. Screen reclamation products can contain no more than 1 pound of VOC per gallon; ink removal products no more than 3.3. pounds of VOC per gallon; and Haze removers no more than 4 pounds of VOC per gallon.
A person who owns or operates a digital imaging facility that is subject to this regulation may not cause the discharge of VOC emissions into the atmosphere in excess of 100 pounds on any day from all digital printing at the premises. Facilities subject to this rule must maintain records of monthly consumption of materials.
Untreated sign paper has been defined as a paper used in screen-printing to prepare a temporary, light-weight sign or poster such as grocery store signs that are sensitive to water and water-based inks. If your screen printing facility is covered by the regulation, then inks with no more than 3.3 pounds per gallon VOC, less water, less exempt solvents, as applied must be used. There are several exceptions. Inks used on untreated paper can contain up to 5.6 pounds of VOC per gallon, less water and exempt solvents, as applied, and conductive inks can contain up to 8 pounds of VOC per gallon.
There are also requirements in the rule that pertain to screen reclamation products. Screen reclamation products can contain no more than 1 pound of VOC per gallon; ink removal products no more than 3.3. pounds of VOC per gallon; and Haze removers no more than 4 pounds of VOC per gallon.
A person who owns or operates a digital imaging facility that is subject to this regulation may not cause the discharge of VOC emissions into the atmosphere in excess of 100 pounds on any day from all digital printing at the premises. Facilities subject to this rule must maintain records of monthly consumption of materials.