National Clothesline

The California Air Resources Board is being asked to back down from the phase-out of perchloroethylene in drycleaning that it adopted two years ago.

A petition filed by the Korean-American Cleaners Association of California (KCAC) urges the board to reconsider its decision because the phase-out could drive many of its members out of business, especially in view of the current economic situation.

KCAC also said that in formulating its ban CARB did not take into account California fire code requirements for drycleaning facilities, which could require installation of fire suppression systems where high-flash hydrocarbon cleaning systems are used. This makes the cost of such solvents far greater than CARB estimated.

Requiring a fire suppression sprinkler system could preclude drycleaners from using high-flash systems in leased spaces since landlords may not allow the installation of sprinklers. Without the high-flash options, which include hydrocarbon, silicone and glycol ether solvents, cleaners’ options would be reduced.

Of the remaining options, neither wetcleaning nor liquid carbon dioxide suffice as perc replacements, the KCAC petition says. Liquid carbon dioxide systems are too expensive for many cleaners while wetcleaning systems may not be acceptable for garments with labels that specify drycleaning as the proper care method.

“Absent an updated economic analysis that accounts for both current economic conditions as well as California’s fire suppression system requirements, it is simply not possible for the board to make an informed decision regarding this matter,” the petition said.

“Therefore, the ban on perchloroethylene based drycleaning machines should be lifted immediately… to provide economic relief and relief from the California fire suppression system requirements to the drycleaning industry.”

While the CARB rules don’t completely eliminate perc until 2023, the phasing out of the solvent in California is already underway. The rules have disallowed the sale of perc drycleaning machines in the state for the past year. As of July 1, 2010, the rules prohibit operation of perc machines in co-residential facilities. That date is also the deadline for removal of any converted drycleaning machines — vented machines that have been modified to closed loop.

Also by that date, any machine that is 15 years old or older or any machine for which the age can’t be determined must be removed. Thereafter, perc machines must be replaced when they become 15 years old.

A similar petition by the Korean association was turned down last year by CARB. At that time, CARB said cleaners have viable perc alternatives. The viability is proven by the fact that those alternatives have established market share, particularly high-flash hydrocarbon solvents. Further, CARB noted, the state provides grants of up to $10,000 to cleaners who convert to water-based or liquid carbon dioxide systems.

In its new petition, KCAC reiterated its concerns for the practicality of the available alternatives and added to its argument for modifying the rules by pointing to the weak economy, which makes it harder for cleaners to buy new equipment, and to the recently raised concern of the fire code requirements for cleaning plants using high-flash solvents.

The fire code concern was also raised by the California Cleaners Association in a letter to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger “asking for assistance… in resolving this regulatory conundrum.”

Most cleaners who have moved away from perc to comply with the CARB rules have chosen hydrocarbon or silicone solvents, classified as III-A under the fire code. Most municipalities have been issuing permits for these machines without requiring sprinkler systems because of their built-in fire suppression systems and the fact that low volumes of the solvent are stored on site.

National Fire Protection Association regulations say that sprinklers are not required if less than 300 gallons of Class III-A solvents are stored on site. However, the California fire marshall has a different view, believing that the state code requires sprinklers whenever a building contains a drycleaning establishment using Class III-A solvents.

“Enforcement of this interpretation of the fire code will pose an impossible financial burden on small drycleaners struggling to comply with the requirement to phase out the use of perchloroethylene,” the CCA letter said.

The letter asks Gov. Schwarzenegger to delay implementation of the perc phase-out and seeks an exemption from the fire sprinkler requirements for “Establishments installing safe, modern machines and storing limited quantities of solvent on site.”