SDS, Product Data & Safety

For detailed information, including technical, chemical, safe handling and usage, select your product from the list below.

A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is designed to convey a product's physical and chemical characteristics which may include: hazardous ingredients, fire, explosion, reactivity, health hazard data, and precautions for safe handling and use.

Behr and Lead Paint

Behr has never made a paint product that contained lead pigment. However, for many years prior to 1978, other paint manufacturers did make paint that contained lead pigments. Why should that concern you? Because paint containing lead pigments can be very hazardous to your health, especially for small children and pregnant women. This is particularly true when old paint containing lead pigment is sanded or scraped off a wall or other surface. The dust from sanding can contain lead particles that might be breathed in or swallowed. Cracking or peeling is also a concern. If a young child eats peeling paint containing lead pigment, they can significantly raise the level of lead in their bodies. This can lead to brain damage and other health risks.

We are concerned about your health and want to make sure you are aware of the risks associated with sanding or scraping old paint. That is why we began putting lead warning statements on our products several years ago despite the fact that our products have never contained lead pigments. It's also why Behr has actively participated in setting the national standards for lead warnings with the National Paint and Coatings Association (NPCA) and the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG). Lead was a common ingredient in paint for over a hundred years. In 1978, federal regulations were passed that banned the use of lead in any consumer paints. This is why certain precautions must be taken when working on a home that was built prior to 1978.

Controlling exposure to lead or other hazardous substances requires the use of proper protective equipment, such as a properly fitted respirator (National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH) approved), proper containment with plastic sheets or other containment devices, and cleanup with a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Arresting) vacuum and a wet mop. Before you start your project, find out how to protect yourself and your family by contacting the National Lead Information Hotline at 1-800-424-LEAD or log on to www.epa.gov/lead. We have also provided brochures to our retailers that you can pick up free of charge wherever Behr paint is sold.

Color Sample - IMPORTANT HEALTH AND SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING! CAUSES EYE AND SKIN IRRITATION. MAY CAUSE RESPIRATORY TRACT IRRITATION. MAY CONTAIN: CRYSTALLINE SILICA AND TITANIUM DIOXIDE. Avoid contact with skin and eyes and avoid breathing vapors, spray mist and sanding dust.

Sanding, grinding or abrading may release sanding dust, which may be harmful if inhaled and has been shown to cause lung damage or cancer with long term exposure. Do not breathe dusts, vapor, or spray mist. To avoid breathing in dust, vapors, and spray mist, open windows and doors or use other means to ensure fresh air entry during application, drying, sanding, and/or abrading. If properly used, a respirator (NIOSH approved with particulate pre-filter) may offer additional protection and should be used if adequate ventilation cannot be provided; obtain professional advice before using. If you experience eye watering, headaches, or dizziness during application or drying, increase fresh air or leave the area. Avoid contact with eyes and skin. Wash thoroughly after handling. Close container after each use.

FIRST AID: If you experience difficulty in breathing, leave the area to obtain fresh air. If continued difficulty is experience, get medical assistance immediately. In case of eye contact, flush immediately with plenty of water for at least 20 minutes and get medical attention; for skin, wash thoroughly with soap and water. If swallowed, get medical attention immediately. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN – DO NOT TAKE INTERNALLY.

Links & Resources

Lead Paint Safety: A Field Guide for Painting, Home Maintenance, and Renovation Work
Testing Your Home For Lead by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guide. "Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home (English} ):"
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guide. Environmental Protection Agency (En Español)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention / Lead

The information contained in the SDS sheets posted on this website was compiled from sources considered to be reliable; however, Behr Process LLC cannot guarantee that the information is in all respects complete or accurate. The MSDS sheets are not substitutes for the instructions for substrate preparation or the instructions, precautions or warnings for use of our products contained on the product labels. Users should always carefully read the product labels before using any of our products.