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)
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.
Coating VOC (ASTM D6886 ) ≤ 50 g/

Exterior Top Coat

Parameter Results
Coating VOC (ASTM D6886 ) ≤ 50 g/
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
Coating VOC (ASTM D6886 ) ≤ 50 g/
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)
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.
Coating VOC (ASTM D6886 ) ≤ 100 g/

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.
Coating VOC (ASTM D6886 ) ≤ 100 g/

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.
Coating VOC (ASTM D6886 ) ≤ 100 g/

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.
Coating VOC (ASTM D6886 ) ≤ 100 g/L

Anti-Corrosive Primer

Parameter Results
Coating VOC (ASTM D6886 ) ≤ 100 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.

Specialty Coatings

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.
Coating VOC (ASTM D6886 ) ≤ 250 g/L

Exterior Wood and Concrete Stains

Parameter Results
Coating VOC (ASTM D6886 ) ≤ 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 Clear Wood Finishes

Parameter Results
Coating VOC (ASTM D6886 ) ≤ 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.

Interior Wood and Concrete Stains

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.
Coating VOC (ASTM D6886 ) ≤ 250 g/L

Above and Below Ground Water Proofer

Notes Requirement
Hydrostatic Pressure Resistance 9 No blistering, adhesion loss, softening or discoloration and water droplets (max 6) when tested at 10 psi
Wind Driven Rain 10 No visible water leaks and less than 3.2 oz weight gain when tested at 98 mph
Adhesion 6 50% Adhesion or better over concrete
Odor 3 Low Odor Minimum 6 for paints that claim interior use
Coating VOC (ASTM D6886 ) ≤ 100 g/L

Industrial Maintenance

Parameter Results
Coating VOC (ASTM D6886 ) < 100 g/L
Contrast Ratio 0.95 minimum
Y-Reflectance 80% minimum
Odor Test Substantially lower odor than conventional latex paints
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)
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.

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

  • In each category, a product must meet all standards to earn the CRGI Green Wise Certification mark.

The following chemical components are not used as ingredients in the manufacture of any Green Wise or Green Wise Gold Certified Product: methylene chloride, dichlorobenzene, phthalates, isophorone, formaldehyde, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, alkylphenol ethoxylates and the following heavy metals: antimony, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, lead, mercury.  Crystalline silica is also prohibited in free form (may be present as a trace level contaminant in other raw materials).