Paint Booth Code Requirements
18th Oct 2022
At the very beginning of the car industry, car painting wasn’t developed as it is today. A car paint job could even last over a month and provide only short-term results. This is far from the case today, when a wide array of colors and technologies are available.
A car paint booth is one of them. Read on to discover how to create the safest paint booth by the latest standards. Discover why quality is important for automotive equipment, whether it’s paint booths, tire changers, or acar wheel balancer.
Why Is Car Paint Booth Safety Important?
Whenever there are chemicals involved, there must be strict safety regulations. This applies to professional vehicle painting too. After all, car painting involves strong chemicals which can react in unpredictable ways if the environment is not right.
That is why there are many local, state, and federal paint booth safety requirements. Not following those requirements means endangering the lives of your crew and your clients. Some of the best rules to keep in mind are:
- The interior surface must be non-combustible;Installation of sprinklers and alarms is required.
- There must be 3 ft of free space above and around the booth.
- The booth must be made either of concrete, masonry, or steel.
- All electrical equipment should be verified as flammable-environment-friendly.
- Turn on ventilation during and after each painting session.
Top 3 Regulations
As mentioned, there are many different regulations about car painting booths. The least an automotive shop can do is follow the 3 most important ones, and below is an explanation for each.
NFPA 33 Regulations
This set of safety standards applies to the spray application of flammable materials. The NFPA 33 was specifically launched by the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) to prevent injury, death, and loss during spray application of flammable materials. Its purpose is to reduce the chances of fire, as car paints are highly flammable products. It includes standards for ventilation, suppression, spray booth design, and more. The regulation is mandatory for all auto paint booths; however, there are exemptions in some instances.
OSHA Regulations
OSHA (The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration) is the chief when it comes to regulating workplace safety procedures. The primary goal of the OSHA is to protect workers. So, it specifies multiple requirements, from protective equipment and fire control systems to lighting and substance exposure limitations. Every serious auto paint business must have an OSHA license.
NESHAP Regulations
NESHAP (National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants) is under the control of the EPA and falls under the Clean Air Act. It’s a set of sustainability regulations on a federal level. The goal is to make a more positive impact on the environment by reducing hazardous pollutants. The regulation doesn’t only apply to car painting businesses but to all companies that deal with chemicals and pollutants. Each industry has its sustainability target, which all companies must meet.
Choose JMC Automotive Equipment
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With over 10,000 tools and equipment, we have everything an auto shop needs. This includes paint booths, wheel balancers, tire changers, motorcycle lifts, and more! You can visit our shop to discover our latest deals! But you can also contact us if you are interested in professional and personalized guidance from our highly-skilled team.