How Low-VOC Paints Enhance Commercial Spaces & Protect Your Business

Choosing the right paint for your commercial space can be overwhelming. With so many options, it’s easy to focus on colors and finishes and ignore something even more important: what’s in the paint itself. That’s where low-VOC paints come in, and they’re changing the game for commercial painters and business owners alike.

These paints create healthier and safer environments for everyone who walks through your doors. Moreover, they also offer an incredible finish. However, there are other reasons why you should consider them when planning a painting project for your office, retail store, or other commercial property.

Let’s now analyze how they and the help of painting contractors can transform your project from the ground up.

Paint roller with low-VOC paints for commercial painting projects

Understanding VOCs: The Hidden Danger in Traditional Paints

Many businesses consider color and shine when evaluating paint. However, another essential coating property to consider is VOCs.

VOC stands for volatile organic compound, and many of these are man-made compounds used to produce many products, including paint. 

These chemicals evaporate easily into the air at room temperature, which is why you’ve probably smelled them at least once in your lifetime. 

Their emissions come from an off-gassing process that happens with the use of adhesives or cleaning products and the installation of new building materials and furnishings. That typical strong and unpleasant smell is caused by the evaporation of these compounds. 

The strong, unpleasant smells that occur are caused by the evaporation of these compounds.

Their smell isn’t the only problem, though. Breathing in these fumes can lead to headaches, dizziness, and irritation of the eyes, nose, or throat. Plus, if you’re exposed to them for too long (especially in poorly ventilated spaces), you may end up with other serious health issues like respiratory problems or long-term organ damage. 

Additionally, VOCs contribute to air pollution, playing a role in the formation of ground-level ozone and smog.

Their hazards are so evident that most painting contractors don’t use standard paintings anymore unless extremely necessary. 

What Are Low-VOC Paints? A Safer Alternative for Your Business

Low-VOC paints are a healthier and more environmentally friendly option to traditional paints. Most paints that use water as a carrier instead of petroleum-based solvents are usually low-VOC. 

Since these eco-friendly paints have significantly reduced levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), they don’t pose the same damage as traditional paints. While standard paints release strong, toxic fumes, low-VOC paints limit these emissions, making them safer for indoor environments.

5 Key Benefits of Low-VOC Paints for Commercial Properties

Low-VOC paints are popular not just for aesthetics but also for their incredible benefits. From healthier air quality to better care of the environment, these paints offer many advantages you should consider. Here’s a list of some of them: 

Healthier Indoor Air Quality

As we said before, standard paints release strong fumes that irritate your eyes, nose, and throat, causing dizziness and headaches. Low-VOC paints drastically reduce those emissions, leading to a healthier environment for everyone. This is especially important in commercial places like restaurants, offices, and retail stores. 

Let’s be honest, nobody likes walking into a store just to breathe in strange odors! 

Safer For everyone

People with asthma, allergies, or chemical sensitivities are more prone to suffering many health issues when exposed to standard paints. Low-VOC paints are the best option for them because these paints don’t have the same harmful emissions as traditional ones.

They make it safer for employees, customers, or tenants to occupy the space during or shortly after the painting process. No harsh odors lingering for days means less downtime and a smoother transition back to work.

Eco-friendly

Low-VOC paints contribute to reducing air pollution by minimizing the release of volatile organic compounds into the atmosphere. Choosing these paints supports sustainability efforts and aligns with eco-conscious values, which is necessary for your business if you want to maintain a positive public image.

Compliant With regulations

Environmental standards have become stricter over the years, which is why many industries must meet VOC limits for painting and construction projects. To give you an idea, section 183(e) of the Clean Air Act establishes EPA zero/low VOC standards, which limit the quantity of volatile organic compounds that coating manufacturers and importers can use in their products and mandate container labeling requirements. 

VOC concentration restrictions for architectural coatings vary depending on the coating category, which ranges from anti-graffiti coatings and concrete protection coatings to waterproofing sealers and everything in between. 

Low-VOC paints help businesses stay compliant with all these regulations, avoiding potential fines or delays.

High-quality & durable

Modern low-VOC paints have come a long way. They now offer the same vibrant colors and long-lasting durability as standard paints, meaning that you don’t have to trade quality for health or environmental benefits.

The Hazards Of VOCs: Why You Should Avoid Traditional Paints

VOCs carry significant health and environmental hazards, making it crucial to minimize any exposure to them, especially in indoor areas. 

Here’s a list of some of their dangers:

  • VOCs can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, causing redness, discomfort, or coughing.
  • Breathing in VOCs may cause shortness of breath, wheezing, or exacerbation of asthma symptoms.
  • The strong fumes can lead to headaches, nausea, and dizziness, particularly in enclosed spaces.
  • Some VOCs, like benzene and formaldehyde, are classified as carcinogens and may increase the risk of certain cancers with repeated exposure.
  • Prolonged exposure to high levels of VOCs has been linked to liver, kidney, and central nervous system damage.
  • The elderly, children, pregnant people, and those with respiratory conditions or chemical sensitivities are especially at risk.
  • VOCs can interact with nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere, producing pollutants that contribute to climate change.
  • Improper disposal of VOC-containing products can lead to contamination of natural resources, affecting nature.

Practical Tips To Reduce VOC Exposure In Commercial Spaces

VOC dangers are particularly common during the initial installation and off-gassing of items such as paint and new carpets. It is crucial to keep newly refurbished and refreshed offices well-ventilated and off-limits for a while, as well as provide good, ongoing ventilation. According to EPA research, organic pollution levels are 2 to 5 times higher indoors than outdoors. 

Choosing low-VOC or zero-VOC paints and other products is also an excellent choice. While the cost difference is sometimes higher, the added value comes from a quicker return to normal operations, a healthier, more productive workplace, and alignment with the company’s green/eco goals and efforts.

Finally, while studies are mixed, and you may need an indoor jungle for the best results, some plants may help clean the air. According to the University of Florida, a few plants in the office are enough to improve indoor air quality and avoid high VOCs. Some of the most recommended are the snake plant, lady palm, ZZ plant, among others.

Consulting With Professionals To Find The Best Low-VOC Paint Solutions

Ready to transform your commercial space with professional painting services? ACP Painting specializes in delivering exceptional results using top-quality, low-VOC paints. Contact us at ACP Painting today for a consultation, and let us help you create a vibrant, eco-friendly environment that leaves a lasting impression!

ACP Painting, LLC. 
20987 N John Wayne Pkwy
Maricopa, AZ 85139
Phone: 480-785-6323