SPRAY BOOTH SELECTION

Q1. We are in the process of setting up a painting system for our products. Our application is spray painting of large and medium-sized castings. I would be obliged if you could advise me on which type of booth is better for my application:

a) A down-draft booth with inlet air from the top and outlet from the bottom and a pit for exhaust air.
b) A semi-down-draft booth with inlet air from the top and outlet from the side, without a pit K.D.

 

A1. You can use either type paint spray booth for your products. Base your decision on how the booths fit into your plant.

 

Q2. Thank you for your quick response. Actually, as far as the space is concerned it is not a limitation for us as we are constructing a new building. However, I wanted to understand the technical aspects in choosing the type of booth. I have heard that a semi-down-draft booth is a compromise on a down-draft booth. Also, a semi-down -draft booth is more suitable for lightweight parts moving on a conveyor where the paint operator does not need to move around the part for painting all the surfaces.

In our case the paint operator needs to move around the part to paint it. Please advise. K.D.

 

A2. In that case, the answer to your question is easy. Since the painter will be moving around the products to be painted, he would be covered by paint overspray when he is spraying on the outlet side of the spray booth. He won’t like that and neither will the OSHA folks. You must install a down-draft booth.