Performance Standards

Interior Top Coat

Parameter	Results
Contrast Ratio	0.95 minimum
Y-Reflectance	80% minimum
Washability	Flats: rating of 5 or better, non-flats: 7 or better. Simple Green cleaner will be used. Water based marker (Crayola Orange) Ketchup (Heinz) Mustard (Grey Poupon) Lipstick (Cover Girl 570) Juice (Ocean Spray Cranberry)
Odor Test	Minimum rating of 6
Chemical Component Limitations	Does not contain the prohibited chemicals listed at the bottom of this page as ingredients.
VOC (EPA Method 24)	Flats: ≤ 50 g/L Non-flats: ≤ 100 g/L

Exterior Top Coat

Parameter	Results
VOC (EPA Method 24)	Flats: ≤ 50 g/L Non-flats: ≤ 100 g/L
Contrast Ratio	0.95 minimum
Y-Reflectance	80% minimum
Flexibility	No Cracking, flaking, or peeling upon bending.
Accelerated Weathering and Water Resistance	After testing in accelerated aging apparatus, must show no blistering after 24 hours After 500 hours, good color retention plus no blistering, cracking, peeling, flaking, or chalking.
Chemical Component Limitations	Does not contain the prohibited chemicals listed at the bottom of this page as ingredients.

Interior / Exterior Top Coat

Parameter	Results
VOC (EPA Method 24)	Flats: ≤ 50 g/L Non-flats: ≤ 100 g/L
Contrast Ratio	0.95 minimum
Y-Reflectance	80% minimum
Odor Test	Substantially lower odor than conventional latex paints
Accelerated Weathering and Water Resistance Hydrostatic Pressure Resistance Wind Driven Rain Washability	Flats: rating of 5 or better, non-flats: 7 or better. Simple Green cleaner will be used. Water based marker (Crayola Orange) Ketchup (Heinz) Mustard (Grey Poupon) Lipstick (Cover Girl 570) Juice (Ocean Spray Cranberry)
Flexibility	No Cracking, flaking, or peeling upon bending.
Accelerated Weathering and Water Resistance	After testing in accelerated aging apparatus, must show no blistering after 24 hours After 1000 hours, good color retention plus no blistering, cracking, peeling, flaking, or chalking.
Chemical Component Limitations	Does not contain the prohibited chemicals listed at the bottom of this page as ingredients.

Interior / Exterior Primer

Parameter	Results
Adhesion	50% adhesion or better over wood, metal, plastic or other intended substrates.
Odor Test	Minimum rating of 6
Chemical Component Limitations	Does not contain the prohibited chemicals listed at the bottom of this page as ingredients.
VOC (EPA Method 24)	≤ 100 g/L

Anti-Corrosive Top Coat

Parameter	Results
Contrast Ratio	0.95 minimum
Y-Reflectance	80% minimum
Odor Test	Substantially lower odor than conventional latex paints. Only for interior or interior/exterior coatings.
Cyclic Prohesion	Minimum of ASTM 8 rusting after one complete cycle of cyclic prohesion test.
Adhesion	50% adhesion or better over metal after 1 week cure at ambient conditions.
Flexibility	No Cracking, flaking, or peeling upon bending.
Accelerated Weathering and Water Resistance	After testing in accelerated aging apparatus, must show no blistering after 24 hours. After 1000 hours, good color retention plus no blistering, cracking, peeling, flaking, or chalking.
Chemical Component Limitations	Does not contain the prohibited chemicals listed at the bottom of this page as ingredients.
VOC (EPA Method 24)	≤ 250 g/L

Anti-Corrosive Primer

Parameter	Results
VOC (EPA Method 24)	≤ 250 g/L
Odor Test	Substantially lower odor than conventional latex paints. Only for interior or interior/exterior coatings.
Cyclic Prohesion	Minimum of ASTM 8 rusting after one complete cycle of cyclic prohesion test.
Adhesion	50% adhesion or better over metal after 1 week cure at ambient conditions.
Flexibility	No Cracking, flaking, or peeling upon bending.
Chemical Component Limitations	Does not contain the prohibited chemicals listed at the bottom of this page as ingredients.

High Build Top Coat

Parameter	Results
VOC (EPA Method 24)	≤250 g/L
Contrast Ratio	0.95 minimum
Y-Reflectance	80% minimum
Washability	Flats: rating of 5 or better, non-flats: 7 or better. Simple Green cleaner will be used. Water based marker (Crayola Orange) Ketchup (Heinz) Mustard (Grey Poupon) Lipstick (Cover Girl 570) Juice (Ocean Spray Cranberry) For interior products.
Odor Test	Minimum rating of 6. Only for interior or interior/exterior coatings. For interior products.
Flexibility	No Cracking, flaking, or peeling upon bending. For exterior products.
Accelerated Weathering and Water Resistance	After testing in accelerated aging apparatus, must show no blistering after 24 hours. After 1000 hours, good color retention plus no blistering, cracking, peeling, flaking, or chalking. For exterior products.
Chemical Component Limitations	Does not contain the prohibited chemicals listed at the bottom of this page as ingredients.
Note	Properties have been tested on coatings which were applied at the thickness recommended on the manufacturer’s label for this high build product

High Build Primer

Parameter	Results
VOC (EPA Method 24)	≤ 100 g/L
Adhesion	50% adhesion or better over metal after 1 week cure at ambient conditions.
Odor Test	Minimum rating of 6. Only for interior or interior/exterior coatings. For interior products.
Flexibility	No Cracking, flaking, or peeling upon bending. For exterior products.
Chemical Component Limitations	Does not contain the prohibited chemicals listed at the bottom of this page as ingredients.
Note	Properties have been tested on coatings which were applied at the thickness recommended on the manufacturer’s label for this high build product

Interior / Exterior Above & Below Grade Waterproof

Parameter	Results
VOC (EPA Method 24)	≤ 100 g/L
Hydrostatic Pressure Resistance	No blistering, adhesion loss, softening or discoloration and water droplets (max 6) when tested at 10 psi
Wind Driven Rain	No visible water leaks and less than 3.2 oz weight gain when tested at 98 m/h
Adhesion	50% Adhesion or better over concrete
Odor Test	Minimum rating of 6
Chemical Component Limitations	Does not contain the prohibited chemicals listed at the bottom of this page as ingredients.

Interior / Exterior Wood & Concrete Coatings

Parameter	Results
VOC (EPA Method 24)	≤ 100 g/L
Chemical Stain Resistance	No blistering, lifting, wrinkling, peeling or discoloration
Adhesion	Minimum 50% adhesion after 1 week cure at ambient conditions
Odor Test	Low Odor Minimum 6 for paints that claim interior use
Chemical Component Limitations	Does not contain the prohibited chemicals listed at the bottom of this page as ingredients.

Interior / Exterior Wood & Concrete Stain

Parameter	Results
Chemical Stain Resistance	No blistering, lifting, wrinkling, peeling or discoloration
Adhesion	Minimum 50% adhesion after 1 week cure at ambient conditions
Odor Test	Low Odor Minimum 6 for paints that claim interior use
Chemical Component Limitations	Does not contain the prohibited chemicals listed at the bottom of this page as ingredients.
VOC (EPA Method 24)	≤ 250 g/L

Interior / Exterior Clear Wood Finishes

Parameter	Results
VOC (EPA Method 24)	≤ 250 g/L
Chemical Stain Resistance	No blistering, lifting, wrinkling, peeling or discoloration
Adhesion	Minimum 50% adhesion after 1 week cure at ambient conditions
Odor Test	Low Odor Minimum 6 for paints that claim interior use
Chemical Component Limitations	Does not contain the prohibited chemicals listed at the bottom of this page as ingredients.

Low Emitting Coatings


This standard is for coatings which meet the emissions requirements of The U.S. Green Building Council LEED 2009 For Schools, and California Department of Health Services Section 01350. The product must be tested by a qualified laboratory according to the California Department of Public Health Standard Small-Scale Environmental Chamber test, and found to meet this standard. The paint must also be evaluated by CRGI and found to meet or exceed all other Green Wise Standards performance requirements for the appropriate Green Wise Product Category, and not contain any chemical on the Chemical Component Limitations listed on the Green Wise Prohibited Substance Form. This standard does not include California Proposition 65 chemical restrictions.

This standard is for coatings which meet the emissions requirements of The U.S. Green Building Council LEED 2009 For Schools, and California Department of Health Services Section 01350. The product must be tested by a qualified laboratory according to the California Department of Public Health Standard Small-Scale Environmental Chamber test, and found to meet this standard. The paint must also be evaluated by CRGI and found to meet or exceed all other Green Wise Standards performance requirements for the appropriate Green Wise Product Category, and not contain any chemical on the Chemical Component Limitations listed on the Green Wise Prohibited Substance Form. This standard does not include California Proposition 65 chemical restrictions.

These standards have been chosen because they correlate with environmentally preferred characteristics of paint.

CRGI is accredited by Laboratory Accreditation Bureau for the test methods used in the Green Wise testing program which are listed in the CRGI Scope of Accreditation. Please click the link below.

CRGI Scope of Accreditation

In each category, a product must meet all standards to earn the CRGI Green Wise Certification mark.
The gloss level of the paint determines its VOC limit, according to EPA standards.
Flat paints will have a gloss less than 5 when measured at a 60 degree angle, or less than 15 at 85 degrees.
Non-flat paints will have a gloss equal to or greater than 5 when measured at a 60 degree angle, or greater than or equal to 15 at 85 degrees.

The following chemical compounds are not used as ingredients in the manufacture of the listed product: methylene chloride, 1,2 dichlorobenzene, phthalates, isophorone, formaldehyde, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, and the following heavy metals: antimony, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, lead, and mercury.