Paint Booths

The Airflow Types Available Here, and What Changes Between Them

Cross draft (cross flow)

Air enters through filters in the front doors and travels the length of the cabin into a rear exhaust plenum. The iDEAL PSB-AFCF23B moves 9,500 CFM at 0.5 in. static pressure through a single 24 in. tube-axial fan; the RGI ECO 24 uses a 30 in. belt-drive fan with a 3 HP motor and 16 exhaust filters. RGI lists the extra-tall version as the ECO XL Front Air Flow booth; it keeps the filtered front doors but its listing describes the air travelling down the cabin rather than across it. Cross draft is the least demanding installation among the enclosed cabins here - no pit and no full-length ceiling plenum - which makes it the simplest full-size booth to fit into an existing building. If the job is parts rather than whole vehicles, the open face booths and the portable inflatables ask even less of the building.

Semi downdraft

Air is drawn from a filtered plenum in the ceiling of the cabin and pulled down and back into a rear exhaust plenum. The iDEAL PSB-SEMIDD26B rates 12,200 CFM at 0.5 in. static pressure on a 30 in. fan. RGI covers this style with the VECTOR (rear-center exhaust plenum) and the VECTOR T (back wall corner tower exhaust plenum), each offered single wall and as a double-wall PRO version. The VECTOR T 24 steps up to a 34 in. fan and a 5 HP motor, versus the 30 in. fan and 3 HP motor on the standard VECTOR 24.

Side downdraft

Air comes in through a full-length filtered ceiling plenum, flows down over the vehicle and is pulled into floor-level exhaust plenums on both sides. RGI states plainly why this style exists: side downdraft booths are an economical solution for shops that are not able to install a pit. The iDEAL PSB-SDD26B is the pressurized side-downdraft option at 14,000 CFM at 0.5 in. static pressure - the highest rated airflow of any iDEAL cabin here - using two 24 in. tube-axial exhaust fans. RGI's side downdraft line is the DELTA, DELTA PRO and DELTA XL.

Full downdraft

RGI describes downdraft as generally accepted as the best airflow style: air enters through a full-length filtered ceiling plenum and exits vertically into a filtered exhaust pit in the floor. This is the STEALTH line. It is also the type with the real construction requirement - the floor exhaust. A filtered floor plenum for the Stealth booth is listed as a separate accessory, not as an included component. Power scales with it: the STEALTH 24 single wall lists a 34 in. fan on a 5 HP motor, while the STEALTH 24 PRO double wall lists the same 34 in. fan on a 10 HP motor.

Open face

For small parts and projects, two open-face cabinets are listed. The iDEAL PSB-AFOFB1388 has a 13 ft W x 8 ft 6 in. H x 7 ft 6 in. D opening and pulls 7,983 CFM at 0.5 in. static pressure. The RGI IOF-888 gives a 7 ft 10 in. W x 6 ft 6 in. L x 8 ft H work area on a 24 in. fan and a 2 HP motor. RGI describes the IOF line as suited to woodwork, jamming and powder coating as well as general parts work; the iDEAL unit is described for spray painting and finishing applications.

The IOF listing also publishes a size table with 23 rows covering 20 distinct model codes, from the IOF-888 up to 16 ft wide and 14 ft x 16 ft x 9 ft boxes, with fans of 24 in., 30 in. and 34 in. and motors from 2 HP to 7.5 HP. Note that the table repeats several model numbers with different dimensions and motors (IOF-141410 appears at both 14 ft x 14 ft x 9 ft and 14 ft x 16 ft x 9 ft; IOF-14108 appears three times), so confirm the model code against the drawing. All sizes other than the IOF-888 are marked call for pricing.

Size, Ceiling Clearance and the XL Line

Every standard RGI cabin here - ECO, VECTOR, VECTOR T, DELTA, STEALTH and their PRO versions - shares the same interior height and outside height: 9 ft of work height inside and 11 ft 6 in. outside. Length is where they differ. Each is published in 24 ft, 27 ft and 30 ft models. The 24 ft ECO and VECTOR give 22 ft 6 in. of interior length; the 24 ft DELTA, VECTOR T and STEALTH give a full 24 ft.

Width follows the exhaust design. Booths that exhaust to the rear (ECO, VECTOR, VECTOR T) are 14 ft 4 in. wide outside. Booths that exhaust at the sides or through a floor vent (DELTA, STEALTH, DELTA PREP) are 16 ft 4 in. wide outside, and the STEALTH listing notes explicitly that the exhaust vent location is what makes the booth wider. Interior work width is 14 ft in every case.

The XL line - ECO XL, VECTOR XL, VECTOR TOWER XL, DELTA XL and STEALTH XL - exists for tall vehicles. It raises interior height from 9 ft to 12 ft and outside height from 11 ft 6 in. to 14 ft 6 in., and enlarges the drive-in door opening from 9 ft x 9 ft to 9 ft x 12 ft. The ECO XL, VECTOR TOWER XL and STEALTH XL listings note that lengths are available in increments of 5 ft. If your building cannot clear 14 ft 6 in. plus duct, the XL line is off the table regardless of budget.

The iDEAL cabins are shorter overall and suit lower buildings: 8 ft 10 in. outside height on the cross flow and open face models, 9 ft 5 in. on the side downdraft and 9 ft 7 in. on the semi downdraft.

Fans, Motors and Electrical Service

Plan for three-phase power. Every fixed booth here that publishes a motor specifies three phase as standard - 208-230/460V 60 Hz on the RGI line; 230/460 VAC 60 Hz NEMA-rated on the iDEAL cabins, and 208-230/460 VAC on the iDEAL mixing room - and both manufacturers list single-phase only as a paid option ("1 Phase Upgrade" on RGI, "1 Phase Electrical Configuration" on iDEAL). The DELTA XL listing publishes no motor line at all, so ask for its spec sheet. Motor sizes across the fixed models run from 1/2 HP on the iDEAL mixing room fan up to 10 HP on the STEALTH 24 PRO.

Lighting differs by brand and is worth checking against your own standard. RGI ships 4 ft, 4-tube LED T8 fixtures at 120V as standard. iDEAL ships T8 fluorescent lamps (32W, 5000K, 4 ft) as standard - 40 lamps in the 26 ft side downdraft and semi downdraft cabins, 24 lamps in the cross flow - with an LED lighting upgrade kit offered as an option. On the iDEAL open face booth and mixing room, the fixtures are listed as UL and ETL listed, Class 1 Div 2, Groups A, B, C and D.

Two data conflicts in the source listings are worth flagging rather than smoothing over. On the iDEAL PSB-SDD26B, the feature bullets say 3 HP motors while the specification table says 2 HP for each of the two 24 in. fans; the table is the more reliable of the two. On the iDEAL RS-1001, the product name and model row both say 1 Phase while the intake motor and exhaust VFD rows read 3 PH. Confirm the electrical configuration on the model spec sheet before you size the disconnect.

Comparison of Fixed Steel Booths

Two notes on reading this table. The single-wall DELTA 24 lists two 24 in. fans and two 3 HP motors, while the double-wall DELTA 24 PRO lists one 30 in. fan and one 3 HP motor - confirm against the model drawing. The DELTA XL listing publishes dimensions but no fan or motor line, so consult that model's spec sheet directly.

Single Wall vs. PRO Double Wall

Every RGI cabin is built from 18 ga. zinc galvanized steel panels, companion flanged and pre-punched at 6 in. on center for assembly with 1/4 in. nuts and bolts. The full-size cabins add a gabled roof for airflow, lighting and strength, and RGI describes its designs as weld-free to prevent weak points and corrosion. The PRO versions add a second wall. The DELTA PRO, VECTOR PRO and VECTOR T PRO listings state that double wall booths are insulated to decrease noise and ambient heat outside the cabin while keeping heated air inside, and the DELTA PRO and VECTOR T PRO name that insulation as soundproof and fire-resistant stone wool. The STEALTH PRO listing states the double wall construction without describing insulation - confirm it if heat retention is the reason you are stepping up. If you plan to add heat, the double wall keeps that heat where you paid to put it.

The enclosed RGI cabins - ECO, VECTOR, VECTOR T, DELTA and STEALTH, their PRO versions, and the ECO XL, VECTOR XL, VECTOR TOWER XL and STEALTH XL - include one set of drive-in doors with observation windows (9 ft x 9 ft opening; 9 ft x 12 ft on XL models), one 3 ft x 7 ft side access man door with observation windows, a Dwyer manometer kit and a hardware set with foam seal, latches and handles. The ECO and ECO XL use filter drive-in doors, since that is where their intake air comes from. The IOF-888 open face booth and the DELTA PREP 250 are open designs: neither lists drive-in or man doors, and their hardware sets are nuts, bolts and screws only. The DELTA XL listing publishes no included-equipment section at all - ask for its spec sheet.

Portable Inflatable Booths

Mobile Environmental Solutions supplies nine inflatable models: eight general-purpose booths, from a 10 ft x 10 ft parts booth up to a 30 ft x 17 ft x 14 ft portable auto paint booth - including a 30 ft x 17 ft x 12 ft XL inflatable workstation - and one booth built specifically for spray-on bedliner work. These are the answer when you cannot commit floor space, cannot get three-phase power, or need to paint on a customer site - the listings name mobile technicians, PDR hail teams, vehicle reconditioning and custom shops as the typical users. The air movers are ETL and CE approved units rated 115V and 230V 60 Hz at 1 HP or 1.5 HP - ordinary shop power, not a three-phase service.

The listings size these by vehicle: the 24 ft model is described as fitting short-bed crew cab trucks, SUVs and just about any size car; the 30 ft x 15 ft model as fitting long-bed crew cab trucks and Suburbans; and the two 17 ft wide models as built wider for medium-duty commercial equipment, service bodies and ambulance bodies. The bedliner booth is built exclusively for spray-on bedliner work, with a removable interior liner and a patent-pending design that separates the truck bed from the cab.

Every MES model includes replaceable exhaust and inlet filters, a replaceable floor, front and back doors, emergency exits, tie-down straps, sandbags, D-rings, a storage bag, a repair kit and an operational manual, along with two air hose access slots. Two data points to verify at order: the MES12X12HDLT is named 12x12x9 but its specification list and feature note both give an exterior center height of 8.5 ft, and the MES30X17X14HDLT interior width is printed as "114 Feet" where the metric value of 4.26 meters confirms 14 ft.

Prep Station, Mixing Room, Heat and Flash

RGI DELTA PREP 250 prep station. Designed to meet the requirements of the EPA 6H Paint Rule (40 CFR 63 Subpart HHHHHH) for sanding, priming and limited painting, with the stated limit that sprayed material shall not exceed one gallon in an eight-hour period. It gives a 14 ft x 24 ft x 9 ft work area on a 30 in. fan and 3 HP motor, includes an auto bay curtain with hardware and track (3 curtain units at 9 ft high sidewall), and can be freestanding, supported by structural steel, or suspended from the shop ceiling.

iDEAL PSB-PMR1088-AK mixing room. A 10 ft x 8 ft x 8 ft interior (also configurable 8 ft L x 10 ft W x 8 ft H) rated 1,429 CFM at 0.5 in. static pressure on a 12 in. tube-axial fan with a 1/2 HP motor. The door can be placed at the side or the front, and the fan and plenum chamber sit outside the room to lower interior noise. Lighting is two UL and ETL listed Class 1 Div 2 fixtures, Groups A, B, C and D.

iDEAL RS-1001 Rammstein air make-up heater. Rated 1.2 million BTUH on natural gas or propane with a 1 in. gas train, 13,000 CFM, VariFlow technology, an exhaust VFD fused and wired, a single-point connection with a 30 ft umbilical cord, and ETL listing. Ship weight is 1,395 lbs. Read the compatibility line carefully: the listing states it is for use with the Side Down and Semi Down Draft booths and that a plenum or canopy is required - the plenum kit is a separate purchase and the heater is not included with it.

RGI Air Force accelerated flash. The Air Force Express blower tower carries six 2 in. diameter adjustable stainless steel nozzles per tower at 2,900 CFM per nozzle, is mobile on wheels with a handle, and has a noise suppression top cover. The Air Force Plus is a separate unit built around heat rather than raw volume: an 18,000 BTU infrared gas catalytic heater (120V, 800W, 10 minute pre-heat, max temperature 180 F, 3/8 in. NPT inlet), one direct-drive blower on a 1-1/2 HP single-phase 115/230V motor delivering 1,164 CFM at 0.250 in. static pressure, an 8 in. black louver blade nozzle and a 4-hour countdown timer switch. Its listing does not publish the six-nozzle array of the Express - confirm which nozzle system you are quoting.

Codes and Listings the Products Declare

RGI states that it manufactures and designs paint booths to meet applicable industry codes and standards, and recommends consulting local authorities before purchase, since local requirements may vary from national codes. Its listings reference NFPA 33 and Chapter 24 of the International Fire Code for spray applications with flammable and combustible materials, and NFPA 86 and Chapter 30 of the IFC for curing and drying. Many components and product lines are ETL and ETL-C listed.

The iDEAL cross flow, semi downdraft, open face and mixing room listings state that they meet and/or exceed all applicable OSHA and NFPA 33 regulations; the side downdraft listing states only that it meets NFPA 33 standards. All five of those listings specify UL listed Dayton tube-axial exhaust fans with spark-resistant blades and NEMA-rated motors.

Eight of the nine Mobile Environmental listings state they are built to NFPA Chapter 33 14.4 construction and design requirements and use exhaust filters that exceed the EPA 6H rule threshold of 98 percent capture efficiency; the 17x16x10 bedliner booth listing carries neither line in its features block - it declares only that its two exhaust filters exceed the EPA 6H rule, without the 98 percent figure or the NFPA 33 14.4 reference - so confirm both in writing if 6H compliance is the reason you are buying. All nine state they exceed the OSHA 1910.107 requirement of 100 linear feet per minute of ventilation airflow and are designed to hold below 10 percent of the lower flammable limit with clean filters. The NFPA 701 material test is stated on the 10x10 and the 30x17x14 listings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a pit for a downdraft booth?

For a full downdraft booth, yes - the STEALTH exhausts vertically into a filtered exhaust pit in the floor, and the filtered floor plenum is listed as a separate accessory. If you cannot cut a pit, RGI positions the DELTA side downdraft as the economical alternative: it takes the same filtered ceiling plenum and exhausts at floor level through plenums on both sides instead.

What ceiling height does my building need?

The standard RGI cabins are 11 ft 6 in. tall on the outside; the XL models are 14 ft 6 in. The iDEAL cabins are lower, from 8 ft 10 in. to 9 ft 7 in. Add clearance above that for the exhaust duct. The optional iDEAL 8 ft exhaust duct kits are published at 13 in. on the mixing room, 24 in. on the open face booth, 25 in. on the cross flow and the side downdraft, and 31 in. on the semi downdraft; the side downdraft listing states that two are required. RGI publishes its own ducting kits separately: a 30 in. kit on the ECO and VECTOR lines, a 2-24 in. kit on the DELTA and STEALTH lines, and a single 24 in. kit on the IOF-888. The ECO XL lists a ducting kit without naming a diameter.

Can I run one of these on single-phase power?

The fixed booths ship three-phase as standard. All six iDEAL listings offer a 1 Phase Electrical Configuration. Most RGI listings offer a paid 1 Phase Upgrade, but the ECO XL and the DELTA PREP 250 do not list one - confirm before you quote. If your shop has no three-phase service at all, the Mobile Environmental inflatable booths run on 115V or 230V 60 Hz air movers of 1 HP or 1.5 HP.

Does the booth come painted white inside?

On the iDEAL cabins, a white powder coat finish inside and outside is standard. On the RGI side, optional items differ by model, so read each listing's optional section. Powder coat ultra white covering wall panels, door frames, floor channels and ceiling panels is listed on every RGI cabin except the ECO XL, as is the control package (magnetic starter with on/off and reset, interlock valve with door limit switches). Fire suppression and the 1 Phase Upgrade are listed on every RGI cabin except the ECO XL and the DELTA PREP. Heating is offered on the VECTOR, VECTOR T, DELTA and STEALTH lines but not on the ECO, the ECO XL, the IOF-888 or the DELTA PREP. Drive-through doors are offered only on the DELTA, DELTA PRO, DELTA XL, STEALTH, STEALTH PRO, VECTOR T, VECTOR T PRO and VECTOR TOWER XL. The ECO XL listing shows a ducting kit as its only option.

What is included with the booth, and what is extra?

Compare the included lists before you compare prices: RGI publishes a "Detail Spec Included" section, iDEAL a "Features" and "Specifications" block, and Mobile Environmental an "Included Equipment" list. The RGI cabins include the panels, the door sets listed for that model, LED fixtures, fan and motor, Dwyer manometer kit, exhaust filters with grids and the hardware set. Intake media differs by airflow type: the VECTOR, VECTOR T, DELTA and STEALTH lines list 37 in. x 117 in. x 2 in. ceiling diffusion pads, the ECO and ECO XL list 20 in. x 20 in. x 2 in. pads for the filter doors, and the IOF-888 and the DELTA XL list none. The three enclosed iDEAL cabins - cross flow, semi downdraft and side downdraft - include the deluxe control panel, manometer, solenoid valve, hardware and sealant, filters and lamps. The mixing room and the open face booth include the control panel, manometer, hardware and sealant but list no solenoid valve, and the open face booth lists exhaust filters only. Heat, controls on the RGI line, ducting and fire suppression are separate on both.

How do these ship?

None of the 33 listings is flagged for free shipping. Two publish a flat freight charge per unit to addresses in the contiguous 48 states - $1,450 on the RS-1001 heater and $680 on the iDEAL open face booth - with Alaska, Hawaii and remote or limited-access locations excluded and subject to an additional charge, and quantities above two units quoted separately. For every other model, ask for a freight quote to your delivery address before you order.

How long until it ships?

Five iDEAL listings - cross flow, semi downdraft, side downdraft, mixing room and open face - carry a manufacturer note that they typically ship within 48 hours, and the open face booth is marked always in stock. Those same listings ask you to call for current availability, and none of them tracks live inventory, so treat the 48 hours as the factory's normal turnaround and confirm with us before you commit to a date.

All equipment listed here is new and sold by JMC Automotive Equipment. Most RGI models are marked Factory Shipped on their listing, so freight moves from the manufacturer to your address. If you tell us your building's clear height, available service, and the largest vehicle you plan to paint, we can narrow these 28 booths to the two or three that actually fit.