How to Set Up a Home Spray Booth

Keep spray paint fumes contained.

Setting up a small spray booth at home will control chemicals, prevent damage from over spray and provide the convenience of a ready-to-use area for crafts and home improvement projects. Home and commercial spray booths designed differently because of the the amount and type of chemicals sprayed. Spraying commercial volumes of chemicals will require you to obtain a permit from the state. Each state has criteria for when a permit is needed for a spray booth, for example, the Massachusetts's's Office of Technical Assistance and technology encourages a confidential consultation for any spray booths where over 670 pounds of chemicals are sprayed in a single month. A list of Hazardous Materials that may require special precautions in spray booth design are found at the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administrations, Safety and Health Topics: Spray Booths Standards page listed as a resource below. This article is targeted to the home sprayer who is using materials that are available in limited volumes at retail outlets. If you are ordering your spray chemicals by the barrel, this article will not meet your needs.

Things You'll Need

• Fan
• Wood Box (for permanent spray booth)
• Cardboard box (for temporary spray booth)

Instructions

1. Locate the spray booth as far from living areas as possible, optimally, a shed with electricity to run a fan, heat and lighting. Inside the home, choose a room that is far from the main living and sleeping areas.

2. Install fans to ventilate the area based on the type of chemical you will be spraying. No ventilation is needed for chemicals that are intended for human use such as spray on self tanners. Heavy duty fans, such as an over-the-stove ventilation hood installed over a workbench in the basement will provide a permanent installation for the more serious home sprayer. Occassional sprayers can use a window box fan in a window blowing to the outdoors.

3. Assemble a box that will accommodate the size of the item being sprayed. Permanent spray booths should be made with wood or metal and permanently installed under the fan hood. Temporary spray booths can be fashioned out of a cardboard packing box on a table in front of a window with window fan. Leave the ventilation side of the box open, top if using an over-the-stove fan, back if using a window box fan. Install a removable side to allow for easy access when spraying then can be closed as the sprayed piece dries. For example, if making a temporary spray booth, find a box that is about the size of the window opening when laying on its side. Remove the top flaps and put that up against the window opening, use the bottom flaps which are now facing into the room in an open position while spraying and closed them while the sprayed item is drying.

Tips & Warnings

• Home tanners can also take advantage of a small spray booth for spraying self tanners without the worry of cleaning the bathroom after each application of self tanner.

• The United States Environmental Protection Agency urges the use of waterborne paints as a less toxic alternative to oil based paints and chemicals.

References

• Massachusetts: Office of Technical Assistance and Technology: Guidelines for Compliant Spray Booth Operation

Resources

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration: Safety and Health Topics: Spray Operations Standards