Industrial Spray Paint Booths

We understand that purchasing a custom heavy-duty industrial spray paint booth constitutes a serious investment — one that will affect your workplace in profound ways. That’s why all of our custom heavy-duty industrial paint booths are built with responsible design in mind and are manufactured with the highest quality materials and workmanship to ensure perfect results.

Our custom heavy-duty industrial spray paint booths are great for many industries, run quietly, are built to last, are easy to install, and are all designed in-house to ensure the highest level of quality. With 40 years of experience to back us up, Spray Systems is able to provide maximum flexibility in fabrication, which simplifies field installation while significantly reducing assembly time, effort, and overall expense.

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Products

Large Equipment Paint Booth

Bench Spray Paint Booths

Dry Filter Spray Booths

Crossdraft Paint Booths

Downdraft Paint Booths

Water Wash Spray Booths

Choosing the Right Booth

Crossdraft vs. Downdraft Paint Booths

Crossdraft

The term “crossdraft” refers to how the air travels through the booth – horizontally along the “cross-section” of the booth. Air passes from the front of the booth (sometimes through supply filters) and then horizontally toward the booth’s rear exhaust chamber. This horizontal flow causes air to uniformly flow over the painted part which provides for a more precise finish.

This crossdraft airflow starts with air entering through the front of the booth where our Spray Systems intake filters are located. As air passes through these filters, dirt and other contaminants that could negatively affect a product’s finish are captured. This particle-free air is the key deliverable for our crossdraft spray paint booth – creating a clean environment for the optimum paint job at the most cost-effective price.

Downdraft

By definition, “downdraft” refers to air travel and its direction within the booth. By design, a downward flow will be maintained starting at the supply filters in the ceiling of the booth down to the floor level. Any overspray that results from the spray activities inside the booth are drawn to the grating over a pit trenched in the floor.

This overspray proceeds through exhaust filters located beneath the grating. As it passes through, the overspray is removed from the air stream and drawn through the exhaust fan and ductwork system – discharging clean air into the atmosphere. Compared to a crossdraft spray paint booth, a downdraft spray paint booth requires more airflow but results in greater control over your finishing environment.

Learn More About Our Airflow Design

Small Jobs: Bench Spray Paint Booths

Compared to larger models, a bench spray paint booth presents an economical option for smaller spray paint jobs. Open-faced and placed at bench height, operators apply spray paint while standing up. As they work, powerful-but-quiet exhaust systems remove overspray from the painting operation while maintaining uniform air flow throughout the work area.

Dry Filter vs. Water Wash Spray Booths

Dry Filter

Dry filter spray paint booths use layered filters to separate paint particulates from a constant airstream passing through an exhaust filter. There are many types of designs available for dry filter media, dry exhaust filters and even reclaim systems, each of which is ideal for certain volumes and applications.

While dry filtration is a popular choice in most industrial manufacturing sectors, since it can easily accommodate fluctuating demand and changing part sizes, it does require ongoing maintenance. Dry filters get clogged with use and must be routinely replaced to avoid uneven airflow. Despite this, dry filters are ideal for most low-to-medium volume production operations.

Water Wash

Water wash spray paint booths use water as a filtration medium instead of dry filters. Paint overspray is collected and trapped in the water curtain or scrubber section of the washer and then is dropped down into a collection tank. Water wash filtration systems require a higher initial investment than dry filtration, but are ideal for operations that need uniform and consistent airflow.

Due to their durable and efficient design, water filtration systems are perfect for manufacturing processes with an extremely high rate of production, as they can handle significantly more overspray volume compared to dry filters. Additionally, water wash is preferred by many occupational health and building safety codes and is appropriate for spray and finishing compounds of various viscosity and drying speeds.

Read our guide on questions to address when purchasing a spray booth for more guidance.

NFPA 33 FAQS

General Compliance

What is NFPA 33, and who needs to comply with it?

NFPA 33 is the national standard for spray application using flammable or combustible materials. Any facility that operates spray booths, spray rooms, or spray areas for industrial coating applications must comply with NFPA 33. This includes aerospace manufacturers, automotive facilities, furniture manufacturers, and any industrial operation using spray-applied coatings.

Is NFPA 33 legally required?

While NFPA 33 itself is a standard, not a law, it is typically adopted and enforced by local authorities having jurisdiction (AHJ), OSHA regulations, insurance companies, and building codes. Non-compliance can result in fines, shutdown orders, insurance issues, and increased liability in case of accidents.

How often is NFPA 33 updated?

NFPA 33 is typically revised every 3-5 years. The current edition is 2018, with updates expected periodically. It’s important to verify which edition your local jurisdiction has adopted, as they may not immediately adopt the newest version.

Booth Design & Construction

What’s the minimum distance required between a spray booth and other operations?

Spray booths must be separated by either 3 feet of clear space OR a partition with a 1-hour fire resistance rating. Multiple connected spray booths are considered a single operation and don’t require separation from each other.

Ventilation & Air Flow

Can I recirculate air from my spray booth back into the plant?

For liquid spray operations, recirculation is only allowed if you meet ALL requirements, including: particulate filters, vapor monitoring below 25% of the lower flammable limit, automatic shutdown systems, and AHJ approval. Powder coating booths have more flexibility for recirculation with proper filtration and monitoring.

Do exhaust fans need to run continuously?

Yes, ventilation must operate during all spray operations AND continue afterward long enough to exhaust vapors from drying coatings. Automatic spray equipment must be interlocked so spraying cannot occur without ventilation running.

What type of fans are required?

Fans must be spark-resistant and constructed of materials appropriate for the materials being sprayed. The fan motor must be located outside the airstream or be rated for the hazardous location classification.

Electrical & Safety Systems

What electrical equipment can I use inside the spray booth?

All electrical equipment inside the booth must be rated for Class I, Division 1 hazardous locations. This includes lights, switches, outlets, and any control equipment. Equipment within 3 feet of booth openings must be Class I, Division 2 rated.

Do I need explosion-proof lighting?

Not necessarily. Lights separated from the spray area by approved glass panels and serviced from outside can be standard-rated. However, any lights inside the classified area must meet hazardous location requirements.

Is fire suppression required?

Fire suppression requirements depend on your local codes and the specific materials being sprayed. Automatic sprinkler systems are often required, and portable fire extinguishers must always be readily available.

Materials & Storage

How much paint can I store near my spray booth?

If your mixing room is within 6 feet of the spray area, the combined total cannot exceed 120 gallons. If separated by more than 6 feet, you can store up to 300 gallons in the mixing room and 60 gallons in the spray area.

What are nitrocellulose applications, and why do they require special handling?

Nitrocellulose lacquers are fast-drying coatings used on furniture, musical instruments, and some automotive finishes. They require special handling because overspray can spontaneously ignite. NFPA 33 requires either water-wash booths or daily cleaning of dry filters and baffles for these materials.

Can I spray different types of coatings in the same booth?

Generally, yes, but you cannot use the same filters for materials that may spontaneously ignite when mixed (like nitrocellulose and oil-based materials). Some material combinations may require complete cleaning between applications.

Powder Coating Booths

Are powder coating booths subject to different requirements?

Yes, Chapter 15 of NFPA 33 specifically addresses powder coating with unique requirements for electrical grounding, dust collection, explosion protection, and the advantage of being able to recirculate filtered air back into the plant.

Do I need explosion venting for powder coating?

Depending on the size and design of your powder system, explosion protection per NFPA 68 may be required. This typically involves explosion venting or suppression systems for dust collectors and recovery systems.

Maintenance & Operations

How often do I need to change booth filters?

NFPA 33 doesn’t specify exact intervals for standard operations, but filters must be changed when they become loaded enough to affect booth performance. For nitrocellulose applications, daily filter changes are required. Always follow manufacturer recommendations and maintain proper airflow.

Who is the “Authority Having Jurisdiction” (AHJ)?

The AHJ is typically your local fire marshal, building inspector, or OSHA representative who has the legal authority to enforce codes and approve installations. Requirements can vary by location, so it’s important to identify and work with your specific AHJ.

Where can I get a complete copy of NFPA 33?

The complete NFPA 33 standard can be purchased from NFPA.org. Free access to view (but not print or download) the standard is also available on their website with registration.