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Glitsa American, Inc
327 South Kenyon Street
Seattle, WA 98108
206.763.2855
800.527.8111
swedish@glitsa.com |
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Recent News | Newsletters & Archived News | FAQs & Urban Legends
- Are Glitsa Swedish Finishes legal?
- Yes. Swedish finishes are categorized as Conversion Varnishes and are compliant in every state. Specific counties in Virginia do have more stringent VOC limits for wood floor finishes, making Glitsa's conversion varnishes (Swedish Finishes) available for sale in quart containers only. Likewise in Southern California, where Swedish Finishes can only be purchased in quart containers until July of 2006.
- Do Swedish finishes cause cancer or other health ailments?
- When handled with proper industry-standard safety equipment, Swedish finishes do not cause health problems. As with any finish application, Glitsa strongly recommends wearing goggles, gloves and a NIOSH-approved respirator with organic vapor or formaldehyde cartridges – wearing a respirator is a must when applying all professional wood floor finishes.
- What is all this I hear about VOC limits changing?
- In some states, certain counties or air districts are choosing to enact their own regulations, setting their own VOC limits for architectural coatings. Most of the changes taking place do not affect the conversion varnishes commonly known as Swedish Finishes. So, for most contractors in the industry, any changes in the VOC limits will not affect business whatsoever. Download the map below for more specific information.
- Glitsa has formaldehyde. Isn’t formaldehyde bad for you?
- First of all, you may be surprised to know that many foods and everyday household items contain formaldehyde: lipstick, toothpaste, soft drinks, apples, smoked foods, shampoo, kitchen cabinets, press board, laminates, carpeting, wine, beer, cigarette smoke, paper towels, draperies, permanent-press clothes, and fingernail polish. The largest producer of formaldehyde, more than any man-made device, is Mother Nature! Formaldehyde is a natural byproduct of incomplete combustion (smoke), fermentation (alcohol), and other naturally occurring chemical reactions (metabolic processes). That said, yes – formaldehyde is bad for you if inhaled in significant quantities. However, as with these other examples, the trace amounts of formaldehyde present in Swedish Finish after the finish has completely hardened are so minute that no physical side effects take place. When the finish is fully cured, no amounts of formaldehyde have been detected.
- Are Glitsa Swedish Finishes going to be around next year too?
- There is no sign that the federal VOC regulations implemented in 1999 will receive further modifications.
Glitsa American’s industry-leading Swedish Finishes are here to stay. Glitsa has been a pioneer in quality for decades and commits to continued superior quality well into the future.
VOC Chart and Map Download
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