Paint booth/kitchen code for manufacturing

2 years ago

Note: This is Part 1 in a series

By Ellen McCulley
Licensed Architect, Nelson Design, Inc.

Many of our manufacturing clients have facilities with paint booths or paint kitchens. This article outlines some of the key code requirements regarding these types of installations. We typically see the following circumstances and have thus written the article based on these assumptions:

1. The building contains an automatic sprinkler system throughout.
2. The paint being used is a Flammable Liquid Class IB
3. The open use of the paint in the paint kitchen exceeds the maximum allowed quantity per control area of 60 gallons.
4. The storage of the paint plus the open use quantity in the paint kitchen exceeds the maximum allowed quantity per control area of 240 gallons.
5. The paint booths use a spray application only.

The following contains requirements for paint booths and paint kitchens from the International Fire Code (IFC). Other codes, such as OSHA, are applicable as well but are not analyzed in this article. NFPA codes may be applicable, too. Owners should check with their local and/or state Authority Having Jurisdiction. The applicable chapters in the IFC include Chapter 50: Hazardous Materials; Chapter 24: Flammable Finishes; and Chapter 57: Flammable and Combustible Liquids. This article deals with Chapter 24. The subsequent edition of wibi will address chapters 50 and 57.

Section 2403: Protection of Operations

Item	Code Reference	Description
Electrical wiring and equipment	2403.2.1.1	Flammable vapor areas: Electrical wiring and equipment in flammable vapor areas shall be of an explosion-proof type approved for use in such hazardous locations. Such areas shall be considered to be Class I, Division 1 or Class II, Division 1 hazardous locations in accordance with NFPA 70.
	2403.2.1.3	Areas adjacent to spray booths: Electrical wiring and equipment located outside of, but within 5 feet horizontally and 3 feet vertically of openings in a spray booth or a spray room, shall be approved for Class I, Division 2 or Class II, Division 2 hazardous locations, whichever is applicable.
Open flames and sparks	2403.2.2	Open flames and spark-producing devices shall not be located in flammable vapor areas and shall not be located within 20 feet of such areas unless separated by a permanent partition. Exception: Drying and baking apparatus complying with Section 2404.6.1.2
Hot surfaces	2403.2.3	Heated surfaces having a temperature sufficient to ignite vapors shall not be located in flammable vapor areas. Space-heating appliances, steam pipes or hot surfaces in a flammable vapor area shall be located such that they are not subject to accumulation of deposits of combustible residues. Exception: Drying apparatus complying with Section 2404.6.1.2.

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