Solvents
Construction Information Sheet 27 (rev2)
Document Status
Current
Supplement
Core Supplement
Series
Construction Information Sheet
Abstract
Solvents are chemical substances. In construction products they act as carriers for surface coatings such as paints, varnishes, adhesives and pesticides. The most common solvents encountered in construction are: white spirit - found in paints, varnishes and cleaning products; xylene - found in paints, adhesives and pesticides; 1-butanol - found in natural and synthetic resins, paints and lacquers. Many construction products contain mixtures of solvents. Exposure to solvents can have serious effects on workers' health. Anyone who uses solvents, or is responsible for managing of supervising their use, should be aware that they may be a hazard to health and that safe working practices must be used to minimise the risk. This sheet advises on how to use solvents safely.
History
Supersedes the 1998 edition.
Subjects
- Coverings and surface finishes
- Surface finishes
- Paints/varnishes
- Materials
- Special subject areas
- Dangerous substances (asbestos, explosives, etc)
- Health and safety
Publisher History
The Health and Safety Executive work to protect the health and safety of people in the workplace by minimising risks. They achieve this through research, information and advice, promoting training, new or revised regulations and codes of practice, inspection, investigation and enforcement.
Information
NBS
NBS has produced specification systems and information products for construction industry professionals for more than 40 years. The National Building Specification is the recognised UK national standard and is used by over 5,000 organisations. NBS is part of RIBA Enterprises Ltd.
Accuris
We connect trusted knowledge to customers' workflows – mitigating risk, increasing efficiency and accelerating innovation For more than 60 years, leading R&D and engineering-intensive organizations have relied on us to achieve on-time, on-budget delivery of complex projects and new products. We deliver an unparalleled combination of technical content and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies to surface answers from the vast universe of technical knowledge, both inside and outside the organization. In a single interface, we connect the dots between information scattered across many different sources, allowing technical professionals to make better, more informed decisions faster.