Spray Booth (Article 516) Question

[megloff11x]

Are there any additional requirements for a powder pre-heater in an electrostatic spray application located in a Class I/II Division 1 booth?

We have a new powder coat that needs to be heated substantially as it passes out of the electrostatic gun.

Besides not reaching the flash point temperature of anything in the booth, what other precautions are required?

Article 516 goes into the electrostatic aspects in depth, but doesn't really address heating the powder, only heating the part and drying lamps.

 

[rbalex]

Re: Spray Booth (Article 516) Question

I'm not familiar enough with the process to be definitive, but I believe you have caught the essential element of concern:

...
Besides not reaching the flash point temperature of anything in the booth, what other precautions are required?
...

My short answer would be "Probably none, as long as the overall installation complies with Art 516 and you use the gun per manufacture's instructions."

"Heating" is not usually as great a concern as "arcing/sparking" where the ignitible materials are "in motion." The temperature usually has to be well above "auto-ignition" (not "flash-point") to impart enough instantaneous thermal energy to cause ignition.

I might have been concerned about potential static build-up, but the electrostatic process itself usually deals with that.