VOC stands for volatile organic compound. In brake cleaner, the term refers to organic chemicals that can evaporate into the air. On a product label or technical sheet, VOC content can also refer to a regulatory measurement, which does not necessarily count every ingredient that evaporates.
Why evaporation and VOC content are different
Some compounds are excluded from certain regulatory VOC definitions because they have low photochemical reactivity. Acetone, for example, appears on the EPA's VOC exemption list. That is why a solvent can evaporate quickly without every evaporating ingredient counting toward a particular VOC limit.
A VOC exemption describes how an ingredient is counted for a particular rule. It does not establish that a finished brake cleaner is safe for every use or complies with every applicable requirement.
What should a shop check?
Use the label, current safety data sheet and technical information for the exact formula you buy. Product names alone do not identify its ingredients or VOC content. Ask the supplier which requirements its stated VOC figure addresses, and follow the product's handling and use instructions.
Looking for the New Jersey brake cleaner rule?
Read our New Jersey brake cleaner VOC rule guide for the separate state-specific discussion. This introductory article explains the term; it does not replace that guide.
