Spray Booths

Dry Filters

SELECTING FILTERS FOR AUTOMOTIVE FINISHING SPRAY BOOTHS

Q. Considering the many filters available on the market today, how can you tell which is the correct filter to use in an automotive refinish industry. Should filters be staged in a booth system?

A. 1995 the EPA published a rule (NESHAP) for the Aerospace Industry, and in that rule required large aerospace companies to install two- or three-stage filters, depending on what type of coatings they were using. Also, the rule required these companies to use filters that passed a relatively new regulation for establishing the efficiency of the filters; namely EPA Method 319.

If I were operating a spray booth in which large amounts of coatings are used, I would at the very least install two-stage filters.

If you purchase filters that satisfy the requirements of EPA Method 319, you will know that you are using high efficiency filters. Stage #1 is the least efficient and also the least expensive. Stage two is more efficient, and stage three the most efficient. Cost goes up exponentially.

Bear in mind that your local regulatory agency may or may not require you to use certain filters, but if you are not regulated, then at the very least you might VOLUNTARILY want to use the filters that I have mentioned.

All of the large filter manufacturers can help you on this. You can consider ATI, Columbus Industries, AJ Dralle, Chemco, to name a few. When you visit their websites, all or some will clearly advertise compliance with Method 319.

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