Question
I'm looking for opinions on open faced industrial booths. Anyone using them and why?
Forum Responses
(Finishing Forum)
It's always a choice between two evils. One is enclosed, helping to keep a more controlled environment, but at the same time limiting your productivity because of limited booth size (bigger booths - bigger money!). I'd love to have a heated downdraft spraybooth, but then I think I'll have to eat sometime. For the smaller operator, an open faced booth is your best bet.
In my opinion they work fine, especially when you have big, hard to move pieces where it is easier to bring them to the opening and spray without having to get the whole thing in there.
I guess it all boiled down to local regulations and what they call for, what your insurance company calls for, what type of things you are spraying and the frequency with which you will use it.
I also understand that an open face works best if you have positive air pressure - more air coming in than going out. This keeps the dust down. I am not sure if it will effect kamikaze bugs, though.
Mine is 15' wide butted up against two walls in a 20' wide room.
Fire suppression system within the booth and in the stack is required. This is relatively inexpensive.
Electrical code requires a 5' buffer zone from the booth opening to any electrical outlets or wiring. Beyond the 5' buffer you can use standard wiring and lights.
My best advice is to find your local finishing equipment supply reps and have them visit and make recommendations. Shop and compare. These people must know the code (or should) as it applies in your situation and be willing to explain it to you and defend the installation in front of code officers.