California Code of Regulations
Title 8 - Industrial Relations
Division 1 - Department of Industrial Relations
Chapter 4 - Division of Industrial Safety
Subchapter 7 - General Industry Safety Orders
Group 16 - Control of Hazardous Substances
Article 107 - Dusts, Fumes, Mists, Vapors and Gases
Section 5153 - Ventilation and Personal Protective Equipment Requirements for Spray Coating Operations

Universal Citation: 8 CA Code of Regs 5153

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024

(a) General. Spray coating operations whenever practicable shall be confined to properly designed, constructed and adequately ventilated spray booths or spray rooms which meet all the requirements of both this section and Article 137.

(b) Operation.

(1) Mechanical ventilation shall be kept in operation at all times while spraying operations are being conducted and for a sufficient time thereafter to allow flammable vapors from drying coated articles and drying finishing material residue to be exhausted.

(2) When spray is automatically applied without an attendant constantly on duty, the operating control of spray apparatus shall be so arranged that spray cannot be applied unless exhaust fans are in operation.

(c) Exhaust and Make-Up Air.

(1) Air exhausted from spray operations shall not be recirculated. Safe arrangements should be provided for an adequate supply of make-up air to compensate for air exhausted from spraying operations.

(2) No means of heating make-up air shall be located in a spray booth.

(d) Dilution of Flammable Vapors. Ventilation in spray facilities shall be sufficient to dilute flammable vapors to less than 20 percent of their lower explosive limit as specified in Section 5416. Lower explosive limits of common solvents are listed in NFPA No. 49-1973, Hazardous Chemicals Data.

(e) Ventilation Rates. The velocity of air into all openings of a spray booth shall be not less than that specified in Table V-6.

TABLE V-6 MINIMUM MAINTAINED VELOCITIES INTO SPRAY BOOTHS

Operating Conditions for Objects Completely InsideCrossdraft,Airflow Velocities, f.p.m.
Booth f.p.m.AverageMinimum
Electrostatic and automatic airless operation..........................Up to 5060 large booth60
100 small booth75
Air-operated guns, manual or automatic..........................Up to 50100 large booth75
150 small booth125
Air-operated guns, manual or automatic..........................From 50 to 100150 large booth125
200 small booth150

NOTE: A large booth is a walk-in size booth.

(f) Downdraft Booths.

Where downdraft booths are provided with doors, such doors shall be closed when spray painting.

(g) Respiratory Protection.

A spray booth operator is required to wear a respirator when he is positioned downstream from the object being sprayed. Respirator use shall conform to the requirements of Section 5144. (Title 24, T8-5153(a), (b), (c), (d), (e))

1. New section filed 7-18-75; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 75, No. 29).
2. Editorial correction of subsection (a) (Register 76, No. 10).
3. Amendment filed 7-16-76; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 76, No. 29).

Note: Authority cited: Section 142.3, Labor Code.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. California may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.