In which installation should I spray paint ?

When, for example, you want to set up a business project in the field of spray painting, then it is essential to list and list the equipment and installations of the painter that will be necessary in the activity and the work.
Spray painting, in contrast to roller or brush painting, emits so-called aerosols. We are not talking about paint bombs here, but product fumes that are made up of micro droplets suspended in the air. Indeed, when a paint is projected with a gun for example, a certain quantity of this paint will not be found on the support but will remain suspended in the air, to then fall back on the ground or be sucked up.
Of course it is absolutely necessary to have an effective system for the extraction of these fumes or "aerosols".
What happens if you don't vacuum your paints ? in suspension ?
When you paint a part or apply a varnish, the part of the product in suspension will then fall, both on the painted part, which is brand new and shiny, but also on the floor and the equipment. This will create a powdery, gritty, sticky effect that will pick up ambient dirt. It is therefore imperative to extract the fumes.

The paint booth and the ventilation systems

It does not matter if you spray and use water-based paints or solvent-based paints : it is important to have an effective ventilation system. In the case of harmful products, such as solvent-based paints, this is even more important for the safety of the user.

It is not enough for painters to wear a cartridge mask, in order to fully protect themselves from the risks posed by solvents.
There are several extraction systems, i.e. which produce air movement : the movement can be horizontal or vertical.

In the case of a so-called mural paint booth, the direction of the air goes horizontally from the applicator in the direction of the part to be painted, then the suction is done over the entire surface. The applicator or user is therefore totally protected and he could even paint without a mask in truth.

Similarly, there are also classic cabins, most of the cabins are made like this, let's talk about cabins with floor extraction. This is the most efficient process, in which the clean air arrives through the ceiling, via holes with filters. The air is then directed towards the part to be painted, for example a car or a motorbike and the air is then drawn in towards the floor, where there are suction grilles. It is a vertical suction.

Cabin extractors

In the field of bodywork or industrial painting, the extraction of air in the paint booths is done by motors. These motors must comply with the ATEX standard : in contact with the fumes of flammable products represented by body paint, these motors must not produce any risk of ignition.
The difference between an ATEX and conventional attractor is that in the first case, the engine and the electrical system are completely independent and protected, that is to say that they are never in contact with paint fumes which can be flammable.
The choice wall extraction, i.e. horizontal, or classic, i.e. vertical and determined by the size of the parts to be painted. We will never paint vehicles with cabins where the air circulates horizontally.
On the other hand, for rooms of variable shapes and moderate sizes, it is advisable to use the wall cabinets.

The extraction volumes

There are certain standards to determine the volumes of air that the installations must be able to suck in order to guarantee mainly the safety of the painter of the worker.
Indeed, if a low power extractor is used and that if there are no large volumes of paint, the air will not be sufficiently renewed and the applicator will be exposed to paint fumes. Not to mention that the painted parts will be contaminated by paint aerosols which will fall on the part and spoil all its shine.
The air circulation must be one meter per second. It is a simple and clear rule which makes it possible to validate or not the conformity of an installation of air extraction. Motor power is expressed not in electrical power, but in suction capacity, i.e. cubic meters per hour.
In general, an automotive paint booth should suck at least 15,000 m³ per hour and it can go up to 35,000 m³ per hour.
On the contrary, if you paint small parts, such as motorcycle parts, a tank, etc., you can be satisfied with a small extractor of 1500 m/h, provided that the extraction surface is reduced so as not to "dilute" the volume/surface ratio of extracted air.

Hydro-dipping transfer tank
Paint laboratory