Vehicle bodyshop owners have a requirement to control the risks and exposure to harmful substances in car spray booth ovens, which fall under the COSHH Regulation 9 guidance. They have a responsibility to their employees and others who have access to their spray booths, paint mixing room and use of other equipment such as dust extraction systems and weld fume arms to ensure relevant guidelines are followed and their equipment is managed safely. With particular reference to spray booth oven equipment Process Guidance note PG6/34(b) defines how best to meet requirements, in terms of what spray booth testing should be carried out and the levels and types of filtration systems to be used are.
Don’t be caught out, update yourself on the very latest spray painting requirements and rules by taking a look at our updated guide on spray booth regulations.
Paint Spray Booth Risk Assessment According to HSE Legislation
As part of our spray booth service and maintenance our highly skilled and qualified spray booth engineers carry out spray booth risk assessments and all necessary spray booth testing in accordance with the current legislation. In order to ensure filtration systems within a spray booth are working correctly, a mist clearance test (sometimes known as a smoke clearance test) should be carried out annually, measuring the time taken for a spray booth to extract all paint mist within the spray booth cabin, and the time clearly indicated on entry points to inform anyone wishing to enter the spray booth without appropriate respiratory protective equipment (RPE) the time after spraying has completed must elapse before it is safe to enter.
Take a look at our spray booth service and maintenance packages to see how we can meet your spray booth servicing needs.
Spray Booth Design Requirements Tested By Qualified Engineers
All our spray booth engineers are required to undertake on-going training and assessment to ensure they are fully conversant with new spray booth regulations, guidelines and best practices across all types of spray booth testing. AGM spray booth engineers carry out the following spray booth testing methods that are required under EPA, COSHH PAS125 Kitemark and manufacturer & insurer Audit requirements.
Our engineers are strategically placed around the country and can quickly respond to emergency callouts. Click here to find your nearest spray booth engineer.
Mist Clearance test
As mentioned above, the purpose of this test is to measure the time it takes for isocyanate particles to be cleared from the spray booth. To conduct this test the spray booth engineer fills the car spray booth oven with smoke and accurately measures how long it takes to extract the smoke. Arrange spraybooth mist clearance testing online.
Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) Tests
LEV is an engineering control system to reduce exposures to airborne contaminants such as dust, mist, fume, vapour or gas in a workplace. AGM Services can undertake spray booth LEV testing on various equipment which can be found in a typical bodyshop such as: spray booth ovens, dust extraction systems, paint mixing rooms, gun cleaning rooms, weld fume extraction arms, ventilated preparation benches and exhaust extraction systems. Learn more about spray booth lev tests.
Breathing Air Quality Testing
It is recommended that testing of respiratory protective equipment is carried out at regular intervals, with the maximum time between tests being 3 months. All AGM engineers carry the latest Factair Breathing Air Quality testing machines on their vans. Get details on important breathing air quality tests.
Stack Emission Monitoring
Should you be subject to an Environmental Permit then you are required to provide confirmation of the levels of hazardous product being emitted from the extract stacks. AGM Services provide stack emission monitoring that is carried out by MCERTS certified engineers, with results tested in UKAS accredited laboratories. Choose AGM Services for professional stack emission monitoring testing.
Contact AGM Services Direct for More Information
We are dedicated to safety, and ensure that your processes are actioned in adherence to industry legislation of spray booth servicing. Check out our full range of spray booth legislative testing services, or contact us to see how we can help.
Alternatively, you can contact our team directly on 01706 363 585 for more information on our spray booth services and spray booth testing.
Spray Booth Testing FAQs
Do you need planning permission for a spray booth?
Planning permission is required for practically every type of spray booth or room. It must also adhere to current regulations, particularly in terms of fume venting, filtering, and airflow.
Should a spray booth have positive or negative pressure?
Negative and positive air pressure concepts are used to operate a paint booth. The balance of the exhaust fan and the air replacement fan is critical for spray painting booth ventilation.
Why do spray booths operate at negative pressure?
When only the exhaust fan is turned on, the booth develops negative pressure because more air is expelled than is put in.
