Starting next year, Tianjin will switch entirely to water-based, environmentally friendly coatings.

　　To comprehensively enhance the management of painting operations in Tianjin’s motor vehicle repair industry and effectively control emissions of volatile organic compounds and other pollutants, the Municipal Transportation Commission and the Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau jointly issued yesterday the “Comprehensive Implementation Plan for the Management of Painting Operations in Tianjin’s Motor Vehicle Repair Industry” (hereinafter referred to as the “Implementation Plan”).

　　To comprehensively enhance the management of painting operations in Tianjin’s motor vehicle repair industry and effectively control emissions of volatile organic compounds and other pollutants, the Municipal Transportation Commission and the Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau jointly issued yesterday the “Comprehensive Implementation Plan for the Management of Painting Operations in Tianjin’s Motor Vehicle Repair Industry” (hereinafter referred to as the “Implementation Plan”). Drawing extensively on advanced domestic and international practices, the Plan sets forth requirements for upgrading and retrofitting spray‑and‑bake equipment at painting facilities, vigorously promoting the use of waterborne and high-solids environmentally friendly coatings and efficient painting processes, and advancing the establishment of regionally centralized body‑and‑paint centers.

　　Carry out comprehensive inspections and remediation. Conduct a thorough inspection of all motor vehicle repair enterprises in the city that engage in painting operations, and implement upgrades or retrofits for those lacking air pollution control facilities or whose existing facilities still fail to ensure stable compliance with emission standards. All such measures must be completed by July 31, 2018.

　　Strengthen enterprise monitoring. All motor vehicle repair enterprises in the city that engage in painting operations shall conduct regular monitoring of their air-purification efficiency and prepare monitoring reports for record‑keeping and future reference.

　　Vigorously promote environmentally friendly coatings. The city’s motor vehicle repair industry will accelerate the adoption of waterborne and high-solids, low-VOC coatings, taking the lead in using waterborne and high-solids coatings for basecoats and restricting the use of solvent-based paints. Effective June 1, 2018, all Class I motor vehicle repair enterprises in the city shall switch to waterborne, environmentally friendly coatings. Starting January 1, 2019, all motor vehicle repair facilities conducting painting operations throughout the city must transition to waterborne, environmentally friendly coatings; they are encouraged to adopt high‑efficiency coating processes such as electrostatic spraying. Processes like paint leveling and baking must be carried out within enclosed spray‑and‑bake booths, and spray guns used with solvent-based coatings must be cleaned in a sealed system.

　　Promote the establishment of regionally centralized body‑and‑paint centers. Implement stringent end‑of‑pipe control measures and ensure the safe, harmless disposal of hazardous waste, thereby achieving an overall upgrade in painting technologies and equipment. Encourage motor vehicle repair enterprises that conduct painting operations to collaborate with body‑and‑paint centers, fostering the industry’s transition toward centralized, resource‑efficient, and environmentally friendly painting practices. By the end of 2017, our city had already completed a demonstration line for body‑and‑paint centers, and painting operations have been gradually consolidated at these facilities. By June 30, 2018, the “Technical Specifications for Motor Vehicle Repair Body‑and‑Paint Centers in Tianjin” will be issued.

　　Implement comprehensive regulation of open-air painting operations. In accordance with the Regulations of Tianjin Municipality on Air Pollution Prevention and Control and other relevant laws and policies, illegal and non-compliant enterprises conducting open-air painting or operating without installed environmental purification equipment for paint application shall be subject to lawful enforcement.