【Haichuan Anti-Corrosion Knowledge】5 Latest Anti-Corrosion and Environmental Protection Policies; Failing to Understand New Regulations Can Lead to Shutdowns for Rectification

Thread Content

Failing to understand the latest regulations on corrosion prevention and environmental protection means that all efforts put into construction are in vain. In mild cases, fines will be imposed; in severe cases, work must be halted for corrective actions, resulting in devastating losses! Those who work in factory management and anti-corrosion construction are aware that new regulations regarding anti-corrosion and environmental protection have been introduced recently. Five key new rules have a direct impact on the survival of factories – many factories still use old methods for carrying out these tasks, not realizing that the regulations have changed. Even though they spend money on anti-corrosion measures, they may still be fined thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars due to violations, and they are forced to suspend operations for rectification, which disrupts their production schedule and leads to greater losses Today, we’ll get straight to the point and explain these 5 latest regulations on corrosion prevention and environmental protection in clear terms. We’ll also share 4 practical tips to avoid problems, each accompanied by real-world examples; even beginners can easily follow them, understand the new regulations, carry out construction in compliance with them, avoid shutdowns for corrections, and save both time and money! Let me highlight the key points for everyone: 5 new regulations on corrosion prevention and environmental protection – remember them to avoid mistakes (this directly affects whether work can continue, so don’t be lazy): ① Regulation 1: Controls on VOCs have been tightened further; the VOC content in industrial anti-corrosion coatings must be ≤420 g/L. Water-based and solvent-free coatings should be preferred, while solvent-based coatings with high VOC levels are prohibited. These requirements are in line with the GB/T 50393-2017 standard ； ② Rule 2: The use of coatings containing prohibited ingredients such as heavy metals and isocyanates is strictly prohibited; they must meet the limits for hazardous substances specified in GB30981 ； ③ Rule 3: Spraying must be carried out in a closed environment; outdoor or night-time spraying is strictly prohibited, and waste gas collection and treatment equipment must be installed ； ④ Rule 4: Environmental impact assessment approval is required for anti-corrosion construction; work may not commence without such approval ； ⑤ Rule 5: Compliance records must be traceable throughout the entire process; any deficiencies or falsifications will result in penalties upon discovery. Companies are encouraged to conduct self-inspections using the corresponding checklists. Method 1: Align with the new regulations to select compliant coatings accurately, thereby preventing violations at the source. Many factories have been shut down for rectification; the root cause is that they failed to understand the new regulations and chose the wrong coatings, resulting in either excessive VOC levels or the presence of prohibited ingredients, thus committing violations from the very beginning. Correct approach: Follow the 5 new regulations to select the right paint. Keep these 2 points in mind: ① Give priority to paints with low VOC levels, solvent-free, or water-based; ensure that the VOC content is ≤420 g/L, and avoid paints that use solvents with high VOC levels ； ② When making purchases, check the test reports to ensure that there are no prohibited ingredients such as heavy metals or isocyanates; prefer products free of isocyanates, as this meets the new regulations regarding the control of harmful substances. Avoid buying low-quality, non-compliant paints just to save money. Case: The petrochemical plant next to us failed to fully understand the new regulations regarding VOCs and hazardous substances; it used coatings with high VOC levels and isocyanates, which led to violations being detected during an environmental inspection. A fine of 30,000 yuan was imposed, and the plant had to stop operations to replace the coatings. Together with the loss in production capacity, the total loss exceeded 100,000 yuan. Later, in accordance with the new regulations, a low-VOCs water-based paint from Enkanishin was selected; its VOCs content was well below the standard, and it contained no heavy metals or isocyanates. Subsequent inspections were successful, and there were no more instances where shutdowns for corrective actions were required due to issues with the paint. Method 2: Standardize the construction process to meet the requirements of new regulations and avoid violating key restrictions. The new regulations stipulate that spraying must be carried out in a closed environment and that environmental impact assessments must be obtained; this is one of the most common violations. Many factories, in an effort to save time, carry out spraying outdoors or at night, or start work without obtaining the necessary environmental impact assessments, which results in them being ordered to stop operations for rectification. Correct approach: Complete all necessary procedures before starting construction, and follow standard operating procedures during construction: ① Obtain environmental impact assessment approval before construction; if less than 10 tons of solvent-based paint are used per year, an environmental impact report is required ； ② Construct a sealed spraying workshop equipped with waste gas collection and treatment facilities; spraying in the open air or at night is strictly prohibited to avoid uncontrolled emissions. Case: A friend’s anti-corrosion engineering company opted for outdoor spraying of steel pipes to save time; it had not obtained the necessary environmental impact assessment approval. After being reported by the public, the environmental protection authorities investigated the matter, imposed a fine of 20,000 yuan on the company, ordered it to suspend operations for rectification, and had it remove the outdoor spraying equipment as well as obtain the required environmental impact assessment – all of which caused a delay of nearly half a month in the project timeline. Later, the environmental impact assessment procedures were completed in accordance with the new regulations; a sealed workshop was built, waste gas treatment equipment was installed, and construction was carried out in a proper manner, after which no further orders to suspend work for rectification were issued. Method 3: Improve compliance records and retain traceable documentation to avoid a lack of evidence. The latest regulations stipulate that comprehensive compliance records must be kept for anti-corrosion work to ensure full traceability; if such records are missing or incorrectly filled out, even if the work is compliant, it will still be required to stop and make corrections. Many factories ignore this, ending up being inspected needlessly and forced to shut down, which is not worth it. Correct approach: Maintain 3 types of records and conduct self-inspections using the self-check sheet: ① Material records, including coating test reports and supplier qualifications ； ② Construction record sheet, documenting construction time, techniques used, waste gas treatment procedures, and environmental impact assessment approval documents ； ③ Maintain a testing record, conduct regular tests on VOC emissions and coating quality, and keep the test reports. Case: Our factory failed to update its records in accordance with the new regulations, nor did it conduct self-inspections using the corresponding checklists. During an environmental inspection, we were unable to provide complete documentation for traceability, which led to us being deemed in violation of the rules. We were ordered to suspend operations for 3 days to complete all the necessary records, and we were also fined 15,000 yuan. Later, the three types of records were improved in accordance with the new regulations; regular self-inspections were carried out using the checklists, and all relevant documents were properly kept. As a result, all subsequent inspections were passed successfully, and there were no more interruptions in operations due to issues with the records. Method 4: Proactive self-inspection + compliance with new regulations to avoid forced shutdowns. Many factories \"react passively\" to new regulations, waiting until problems are detected before making corrections; as a result, they not only face fines but also have to shut down, incurring even greater losses. The key to implementing the new regulations is proactive compliance – conducting self-inspections in advance and aligning with the new rules in order to avoid being forced to suspend operations. Correct approach: 2 steps to complete the task: ① Conduct monthly self-inspections in accordance with the new regulations and the self-check sheet, focusing on checking the compliance of the coatings, the standardization of the installation process, and the completeness of the records, and address any minor issues promptly ； ② Contact the local environmental protection authorities in advance to inquire about the details of the new regulations, and draw on the experiences of compliant companies to avoid violations due to misunderstandings. Case: A chemical company with which we worked in the past reacted passively to the new regulations, failing to conduct self-inspections in advance. During the inspections, it was found that its coatings had peeled off and its VOC emissions were above the allowed levels; as a result, it was fined 120,000 yuan and had to shut down for repairs for nearly 10 days, resulting in total losses of almost 300,000 yuan. Thereafter, self-inspections were carried out on a monthly basis in accordance with the established procedures, minor issues were addressed promptly, and the environmental protection authorities were contacted in advance to clarify the details of the new regulations. No problems were detected thereafter, completely eliminating the risk of shutdowns for rectification. Pro tip: Avoid mistakes in anti-corrosion construction by mastering the 5 latest regulations, following the 4 best practices – choosing materials in compliance with standards, carrying out construction properly, keeping records, and conducting regular self-inspections – to prevent work stoppages for rectifications and reduce fines! Interaction: When carrying out anti-corrosion work at your factory, have you been asked to stop operations for rectification due to a lack of understanding of the new regulations? Have you run into any issues related to VOCs or environmental impact assessments? Let’s discuss in the comments section; let’s work together to fully understand the new rules and avoid compliance pitfalls~