The auto collision repair industry faces a number of challenges from economic, legal and technical forces. For example, the universe of repairable autos is actually shrinking due to the revalence of extremely low priced autos and the high expense of repairing air bag systems. The additional expense of air bag systems forces many damaged autos into constructive total loss status.
Changes in technology have also changed the auto body collision repair industry. Paint technology has made it necessary for shops to have different spray equipment for the new materials that increase efficiency and reduce wasteful overspray. Newer paints may contain isocyanates, which can cause industrial asthma with exposure, which makes new protective equipment necessary.
One of the greatest recent changes has been in the regulations regarding spray paint booths. These booths, when properly designed and constructed, assure a clean, filtered environment to apply spray finishes with high quality results as well as protect people and property from accidental fire and explosion.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency has made a new rule, National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) (Subpart HHHHHH) that mandates by January 10, 2011, those that engage in spray applications to motor vehicles must comply. The primary focus is to limit the amount of heavy metal (chromium, lead, manganese, nickel or cadmium) that is emitted due to spray applications. These standards mandate a spray booth that contains and filters the emissions from spray operations, as well as spray guns that comply and training to the operators of the equipment. The point of this regulation is to protect the environment, but it does mandate the use of an approved spray paint booth. A summary of these regulations may be found on the internet at www.epwa.gov/ttnlatw/area/paintstripb.pdf and www.epa.gov/ttnlatwlarea/autobodybs.
The vast majority of state and local jurisdictions use The International Fire Code and the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) codes to determine what is required as an approved spray booth. These codes mandate that spray paint booths and mixing rooms have explosion proof electrical lighting and fixtures, a mechanical ventilation system to keep the atmosphere below the lower flammable limits, and automatic fire suppression systems. Existing manufactured booths can often be retrofitted with automatic suppression systems, but that expense can be high. If the spray operation is not within an enclosure, it is difficult to confine, filter, and safely exhaust the vapors. These systems fall squarely in the realm of life safety of those who must work in and around the spray painting operations, where explosive fires are rare but very severe. When spray painting is done outside of an approved booth, there are many potential uncontrolled ignition sources.
Summary
The purpose of this article is to alert you to this important new EPA mandate which requires compliance by January 10, 2011. We encourage you to become familiar with these regulations for environmental and safety reasons. Compliance with these spray finishing standards will enable you to more effectively manage your risk by avoiding injury and protecting your livelihood.
For further information on our services, please contact Paul Sabatino, Vice President, Horton Select Insurance, at 708-845-3353 or paul.sabatino@thehortongroup.com. For safety and loss control assistance, please contact Gary Glader, Network Safety Consultants at 708-845-3662 or gglader@networksafetyconsultants.com.