Paint booths are not one-size-fits all; they need to be designed and engineered according to specific parameters. For example, an automotive paint booth has different needs than a booth for aircraft. At Accudraft, we’ve been manufacturing paint booths for the last forty years, meaning we’ve seen and heard it all. From our decades of experience, we’ve put together the most frequently asked paint booth engineering questions and answers.
Accudraft’s team can provide solutions tailored to any client requests, such as accessories, control panel upgrades, heating/cooling systems, full climate control, and material handling needs.
The simplest way to explain a paint booth is as a clean room that acts as a giant air pump, taking in and bringing out air. Everything outside of this basic functionality is what makes one paint booth different than another. For example, does it do anything besides filter air? Can it make the temperature hotter or colder? Can it increase or decrease humidity? Can baking be performed in addition to spray applications? Depending on industry needs, these are some questions shops want to think about when it comes to choosing the right paint booth.
In short, yes, every paint booth needs to be code compliant. At a minimum, all booths should follow National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes. The NFPA 33 is intended for large-scale, indoor spray paint applications, while the NFPA 13 regulates the booth’s sprinkler system. To ensure a booth is entirely up to standards, compliance should be measured by a third-party testing group, such as the ETL Listed Mark for American and Canadian companies.
In addition to the NFPA, other governing bodies will provide non-fire-related paint booth regulations. For booth operator protection, view OSHA’s rules. For air quality and pollution guidelines, look at NESHAP.
There are many paint booth options available on the market. While some may be more expensive than others, the quality of the booth can be the differentiating factor between a flawless paint job or an inferior finish. A quality booth means its well-constructed and is adequately equipped with the right tools and accessories.
Beyond material, the best paint booths save shops time, energy, and money—while still producing high quality finishes. Efficiency is the most important factor a shop should consider when searching for a new paint booth. A booth that can turn out more jobs per day adds up over a week, quarter, and year, increasing its ROI.
Some common questions we get asked are how are we different, how are our paint booths better, and what will our paint booths do differently? Accudraft takes a problem-solving approach to paint booths. Whether our client is expanding their shop, changing the nature of their business, experiencing performance issues with their current equipment, or refinishing bigger, smaller, or more complex pieces, we can help. Our paint booth manufacturing process allows for flexibility in the engineering and design of our models, so we can always meet and exceed our customer’s needs.
To learn more about installing an Accudraft paint booth in your shop, contact us online.
