Proper paint booth lighting plays a crucial role in achieving a quality paint job. There are many factors that go into creating a well-lit environment, including the quality and location of fixtures, and the type of light tubes. The following are eight things to consider when selecting lighting for your paint booth.
T8 light tubes are more energy-efficient and cost-effective than T12 tubes, which are no longer in production. If you have a paint booth with T12 light fixtures, your booth’s lighting should be upgraded to T8 fixtures, as you are no longer able to purchase replacement T12 lights.
Adding color-corrected tubes is a good first step in achieving more accurately matched color when painting. 5,000 Kelvin is considered corrected, or near sunlight. GFS paint booths feature color-corrected light tubes, including T8 flourescents, T8 LED lights and T5 high-beam lights, which all reach a color temperature of 5,000 Kelvin.
The brightness of a paint booth is measured in foot-candles – the intensity of light in a given direction. The brightness is affected by the number of lamps per fixture, type of lamps (fluorescent or LED), booth height and type of wall panel (galvanized or pre-coated white). Adjusting these things can make your booth brighter.
If a greater foot-candle intensity is desired, light reflectors can be added. Light reflectors are an easy way to increase the luminosity of your paint booth. They more efficiently direct light toward the working area of your booth, focusing more light where you need it most. They can increase the luminosity of your booth by 20 percent, and they can be easily installed behind existing fluorescent light tubes, saving energy and maintenance costs.
A clear tempered lens on light fixtures allows for clearer, more accurate lighting. Tempered glass is four to five times stronger than regular glass. It is also much clearer than wire-reinforced glass, which was previously used in GFS paint booths.
An energy-saving feature, six-tube dual ballasts offer two levels of lighting. When less light is needed, such as during prep operations, you save on energy costs by using half of the lights. When painting operations and detail work begin, full lighting can be easily restored.
Depending on your paint booth’s location in your shop, it may be difficult to reach the sides or top of the booth to replace light bulbs. Inside-access light fixtures swing open to the inside of the booth, allowing for easier light replacement.
In addition to the paint booth as a whole, certain components of the booth must comply with national, state and local code requirements. Regulatory agencies require that light fixtures be approved for Class I, Division II, Groups A-D.
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