Code Compliance for Spray Booths in Canada — 12 Things to Be Aware Of Before You Buy

Code Compliance – What Canadian spray booth owners need to know

Code compliance is one of the biggest issues in the finishing industry. If your paint booth doesn’t meet code requirements, you are not allowed to spray until the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) gives it a stamp of approval. This could end up costing your business a substantial amount in field modifications to equipment, in addition to lost productivity.

The majority of paint booths installed in Canada are sold by U.S. manufacturers. Canadian buyers need to ensure the spray booth they purchase is from a paint booth manufacturer that understands that for customers in Canada, there are specific criteria that must be met compared to U.S. regulations. In Canada, certain codes related to things such as electrical requirements and ductwork vary from city to city, but there are some regulations that apply nationwide or province-wide, regardless of which municipal jurisdiction the paint booth is installed.

Here is a list of key issues that Canadian spray booth owners should be aware of when evaluating equipment suppliers and distributors who install and service the equipment:

1.  All paint booth designs must comply with NFPA 33.
2. Gas train components on powder ovens must have CSA labeling to comply. Other items may be required per municipality, such as TSSA requirements and documentation for FM approval.
3. Control panels must carry a cUL listing.
4. Lighting must be ETLc listed for code compliance.
5. Air Make-Up Units (AMUs) must have a remote reset. Many manufacturers provide only an automatic reset, which is typically operated through the remote control panel, not on the unit.
6. When providing a recirculating cure system, explosion relief must be present, per NFPA 86. NFPA requirements do not require explosion relief when using a force dry/variable air volume cure system.
7. Per ordinances in Ontario, paint mix rooms must be fitted with fire dampers at intake and exhaust locations (1 hour minimum rating).
8. Motors must carry a CSA and/or cUL rating for code compliance.
9. AMUs with a cure cycle (anywhere over ambient) must carry a ANSI Z83.25/CSA 3.19 listing. AMUs used only for ambient heating require a ANSI Z83.4/CSA 3.7 listing.
10. Paint booth exhausts must be fitted with an air proving switch to ensure exhaust is operating correctly. If there is a failure, this will shut down the painting operation.
11. Per ordinances in Manitoba, an intake damper must be located on outdoor-mounted AMUs.
12. Most paint booth applications in Alberta require stamped drawings from a licensed Alberta engineer.

Taking the time to ask these questions of your equipment supplier before you purchase can save you a great deal of headache when you start up your new paint booth. By ensuring that your equipment supplier meets code requirements, and that the distributor who installs and services the booth is familiar with all of the regulations in your area, you can breathe easy. Taking these steps ahead of time means that when the time comes to start putting paint jobs through your booth, you can do so safely and without worry.