A wood board half coated in a dry clear finish beside a clean brush

Polyurethane, shellac, and lacquer: VOCs and labels

Clear finishes are label names. Here is what EPA says about solvents and airflow.

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Label names

Polyurethane, shellac, lacquer, varnish, and sealer are names makers use on their labels. The label says what the product is and how to apply it.

Solvents

EPA says: "Paints, varnishes and wax all contain organic solvents." EPA says these products "can release organic compounds while you are using them, and, to some degree, when they are stored."

VOCs

EPA says VOCs "include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects."

Ventilation

EPA says to "Increase ventilation when using products that emit VOCs" and to "Meet or exceed any label precautions." EPA says that if a label says to use the product in a well-ventilated area, "go outdoors or in areas equipped with an exhaust fan to use it."

Low VOC labels

Low VOC and zero VOC are the maker's label terms. We do not check them or say what they mean for your home.

Rags and applicators

Massachusetts' Department of Fire Services says: "The oils in some paints, stains, and varnishes release heat as they dry. If oily rags and applicators are left in a pile, a box, or the trash, the heat can remain trapped and cause a fire that quickly spreads to nearby combustibles." Follow the label and your local fire officials.

This is general information, not legal or safety advice.

Sources: EPA, Volatile Organic Compounds' Impact on Indoor Air Quality; Massachusetts Department of Fire Services (mass.gov), Disposing of oily rags.

FAQ

Does a low VOC label mean a finish is fine indoors?

We do not say so. Low VOC is the maker's label term. Follow the label and EPA's ventilation lines.

What about coats and recoat times?

We do not say. The label gives coats and recoat times.

General information only. Follow every product label and increase ventilation when you finish, as EPA advises. State fire and health agencies warn that rags used with some oil-based stains and finishes can catch fire on their own: never leave them in a pile, and dry and dispose of them as the label and your local fire officials direct. CPSC says to anchor furniture with drawers, doors, and shelves to the wall. In an emergency, call 911.

A bare wood stool on a plain drop cloth below a tall window between sheer curtains

Ventilation for finishing: what EPA says

EPA lines on airflow.

Two closed unlabeled tins, grey and white, on two stacked wood sample boards

Water-based and oil-based finishes: reading the label

Both terms are the maker's.

A closed unlabeled metal tin beside a blank sheet of paper on a workbench

Reading a finish label before you start

The label sets the steps.

Next: ventilation