Hazardous area in paint booth

[paul]

I'm working in a new facility going up and they have a paint booth that goes 30' up above the trusses to the pan decking. I'm rusty on my hazardous location section and was wondering what is the class and div and does it extend up to the ceiling? This room also is supposed to have a request to exit, door latches and all that fun stuff on the exterior door. Does this have to have intrinsic barriers? Does that wiring need to go through a seal off?

Any direction is appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Buck Parrish]

I'm working in a new facility going up and they have a paint booth that goes 30' up above the trusses to the pan decking. I'm rusty on my hazardous location section and was wondering what is the class and div and does it extend up to the ceiling? This room also is supposed to have a request to exit, door latches and all that fun stuff on the exterior door. Does this have to have intrinsic barriers? Does that wiring need to go through a seal off?

Any direction is appreciated.

Thanks

IMO- For a paint booth. Think about it. Laquer paints and thiner is extremely flamable almost like gasoline.:smile:
I would assume the worst.

 

[KevinVost]

The paint booth should come in as a complete, listed unit (Our AHJ won't accept a custom built unit unless a complete set of plans is submited with all information on construction and wiring, other AHJ's will be different).

You will have a classified area of 3' around the doors. Check NEC 2005 art 516.3 for specific classified locations designations. (Sorry, I don't have my 2008 with me, but we're under '05)

Check with your AHJ for any local requirements.

 

[sgunsel]

You need to check NFPA 33 - Standard for Spray Application Using Flammable or Combustible Materials. The 2007 edition is current. Chapter 6, Electrical and Other Sources of Ignition, defines entire spray area as Class I, Division 1, and that includes the booth interior, filters, exhaust plenum, and exhaust stack. There is a 3 foot Class I, Division 2 area at all openings other than the face of the booth. If the booth is "closed" or a room, just stay outside and more than 3 feet from any openings. Any electricals that go inside the booth or outside but within 3 feet of any opening will have to comply with Section 501.

Cost effective design includes moving most of the electricals outside of the classified areas, substituting pneumatic devices for electricals where feasible, and sizing the booth properly to begin with since the energy to operate and condition the exhausted air is very significant.

 

[weressl]

I'm working in a new facility going up and they have a paint booth that goes 30' up above the trusses to the pan decking. I'm rusty on my hazardous location section and was wondering what is the class and div and does it extend up to the ceiling? This room also is supposed to have a request to exit, door latches and all that fun stuff on the exterior door. Does this have to have intrinsic barriers? Does that wiring need to go through a seal off?

Any direction is appreciated.

Thanks

This is an engineering issue. You should have a host of documentation on your hand - including formal Arae Classification documentation - with clear directions what and how to install.

Unless of course it is water-based paint.

 

[sgunsel]

Almost all water based paints used in industrial finishing contain flammable solvents and the residues are combustible. Most will readily ignite as sprayed. If the paint is a flammable or combustible liquid OR its residues are combustible, NFPA 33 applies, including chapter 6 on electrical classifications.