Massachusetts Governor Signs Law Banning the Use of Lacquer Sealer Floor Finishing Products

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick on July 2 signed into law regulations banning the use of lacquer sealer products for finishing floors. The law effectively bans the use of wood lacquer sealers for any commercial floor finishing operations. Fines and penalties are severe and include possible jail terms. The ban is effective 180 days after signature - approximately Dec. 29, 2010.

ACA and its Massachusetts Paint Council strongly opposed the legislation noting that the fires which it is intended to mitigate were caused by the improper use of flammable lacquer sealers, and that "the real problem is lack of training for workers in the safe handling and use of such products."

Since the release of communications from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the State Fire Marshall informing workers to extinguishing pilot lights and ventilate work areas, there have not been additional fires. ACA maintains that banning useful floor finishing products is not the answer; instead focus should remain on improved training and communication requirements.

The language of the law is available at: http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/seslaw10/sl100154.htm

For more information: contact ACA's David Darling or Alison Keane.

Date Posted: July 15, 2010