This week, specifying for the finishing touches as we fill the last cracks, smooth the rough surfaces and add a bit of slap. First, how the EU is doing away with high-gloss paints, and later on we have the newest products, who makes what and a look at the bottom line when the paint's dry a new european union law is set to strike at the heart of British government - well, at least knock loudly on its front door. The volatile organic compound (VOC) paints and varnishes directive will prevent decorators from using high-gloss paint, which means, among other things, that the world-famous door to 10 Downing Street will look less shiny in future. High-gloss paint is to be outlawed because the EU is imposing limits on organic solvents. These solvents give gloss paint its shine, but when drying give off VOCs, which in still, sunny conditions react with nitrogen oxide to produce smog (see "Organic solvents", opposite). The EU directive controlling VOC emissions from paints, varnishes and vehicle-finishing products has to be implemented by the British government in two stages on 1 January 2007 and 1 January 2010. Hugh Williams, technical manager at the British Coatings Federation, says that it's the second deadline manufacturers and specifiers should worry about (see table, right).
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