Understanding Clear Chem

Why ClearChem matters in today’s specification world

As architects and design professionals continue to emphasise indoor air quality, occupant health, and transparency — so too does the need for coatings and finishes that align with these goals. That’s where ClearChem comes in.

ClearChem is a third-party-administered (via Berkeley Analytical Associates) program that allows manufacturers to make self-declared environmental claims about a product’s volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and content.

Key points:

• It’s built on ISO 14021 (self-declared environmental claims) and aligned with the CDPH Standard Method V1.2 for VOC emissions.
• ClearChem provides a public product registry where specifiers, architects, and project teams can access declarations of compliance.
• Because it’s self-declared (rather than full third-party certification), the responsibility lies with the manufacturer, but backed by actual test data and quality systems.

For a design professional specifying coatings for interior building environments, ClearChem gives assurance that a product has been tested, declared, and can contribute credibly to low-emitting materials (LEM) goals (for example in LEED v4 EQ credits) without having to dig through opaque data.

How Westcoat incorporates ClearChem

At Westcoat, we recognize that beyond performance and durability, coatings must also meet evolving environmental and specification criteria. We’re proud to offer a growing range of products declared under ClearChem, which supports the ask from architects and specifiers for documented low-emitting materials—not just in name, but in traceable data.

Westcoat ClearChem-declared product lines include:

• EC‑36 100% Solids Epoxy
• SC‑10 Acrylic Topcoat
• EC‑15 Moisture Vapor Barrier (MVB)
• EC‑102 Polyaspartic (under our EC-series)
• Temper-Crete SL (EC-24 and TC-24)
• EC‑11 Water-Based Epoxy
• SC‑65 Water-Based Polyurethane Sealer
• SC‑42 Water-Based Acrylic Sealer

Each of these products has been documented in the ClearChem product registry under our manufacturer listing. (See our Westcoat page on ClearChem for specific listing numbers and test dates.)

What this means for architects & specification writing

1. Clarified product claims.
Rather than relying solely on manufacturer marketing statements, you can specify a Westcoat product with a ClearChem declaration attached. That means a searchable public entry confirming that the product passed a 14-day emissions test (CDPH method) and is aligned with ClearChem Standard BkA-CC-01.

2. Spec writing and LEM credits.
In LEED v4 and other green building programs, specifying “low-emitting materials” for coatings, sealers, adhesives, etc., is required for certain credits (e.g., Indoor Environmental Quality). Because ClearChem is accepted by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) as a documentation path, using Westcoat products with clear declarations streamlines the spec-to-documentation process.

3. Transparency + performance.
While low-emitting is important, you also demand performance durability, adhesion, resistance, etc. Westcoat’s declared products don’t sacrifice performance to achieve low emissions—they deliver coatings that meet the functional demands of concrete finishing, moisture mitigation, topcoats, etc., with the added benefit of documented emissions compliance.

4. Risk mitigation for compliance.
When a product has its ClearChem listing and declared data, the specifier and project team reduce their risk of using products with ambiguous claims. The transparency and standardized format of the declaration provide defensible documentation for submittals, QA/QC, and owner reviews.

How to evaluate and specify ClearChem-declared coatings

When you’re reviewing or specifying coatings with a ClearChem claim (for instance, from Westcoat), consider the following:

Check the listing number and date: Ensure the product is current and the declaration reflects the correct version of the product you intend to use.

Match the product description: Ensure the Westcoat product (e.g., EC-11 Water-Based Epoxy) aligns with the declared version; if there have been formulation updates, the declaration should reflect that.

Understand the scope: ClearChem covers VOC emissions and content for interior building use. If your project has exterior-only coatings or unusual substrates, confirm applicability.

Use exact language in specs: For example, you might write, “Westcoat EC-11 Water-Based Epoxy, ClearChem listed, bearing Declaration #XXXX, tested per CDPH V1.2.”

Cross-reference performance specs: Low-emitting is one requirement—but ensure the product also meets your substrate, durability, traffic, finish and maintenance criteria.

Submittal transparency: Require that product submittals include the ClearChem declaration PDF or link, so reviewers have access to the source documentation.

Owner/tenant considerations: Many owners now ask for occupant-health data. ClearChem declarations may support that portion of project narrative (e.g., for WELL Building Standard, or healthy interiors).

Why Westcoat focuses on ClearChem for multiple product lines

Industry expectation: As more projects require LEM documentation upfront, coatings manufacturers must deliver performance and specification clarity.

Streamlined documentation: With a ClearChem-listed product, specifiers don’t have to chase down test reports or negotiate proprietary data — the declaration is public and standardized.

Competitive specification edge: By offering coatings that are both high-performance and documented via ClearChem, Westcoat gives architects and specification writers an advantage when bidding projects with strict indoor environmental or health criteria.

Alignment with future trends: Building standards are evolving. Programs like WELL, Fitwel, and re-imagined LEM credits will increasingly demand transparent material declarations. Investing in ClearChem aligns with that trend now.

For architects and specifiers, specifying coatings is no longer just about aesthetics, durability or cost. It’s increasingly about health, indoor environment quality, transparency, and documentation. When you choose a product line like Westcoat’s ClearChem-declared coatings, you’re choosing a partner who understands that specification community imperative.

In your next specification package or finish schedule, consider inserting the ClearChem declaration alongside the performance data for the product. That small addition can make a significant difference in review cycles, owner confidence and compliance with modern interior environmental standards.