Believe it or not, heat and humidity are good things for the paint process. Obviously, too much or too little can be a problem so it is very important to be able to regulate with precision, the heat and humidity within the paint booth environment for a number of factors. First and foremost, failing to do so will result in an overall diminished quality of paint job finishes attributable to issues arising from the application and curing processes. The humidity helps the coating catalyze and the heat with adhesion and curing. It is also essential to mention that a spray booth located in a hot and dry area requires a very different setup from one which is situated in a cold and wet area. This is simply because it will be subjected to different environmental conditions. In other words, different weather and climatic conditions necessitate a spray paint booth to be set up in strict accordance with the prevailing conditions around it. Despite the exact conditions in the area your paint shop is situated, it is always critical to be able to control the levels of heat and humidity in your unit and ensure it remains up to par with external conditions.
Just how can you handle heat and humidity in your spray booth?
There is a number of equipment you will have to invest in depending on the exact weather and climatic conditions of the region you operate in. For example, while heaters are commonplace in many modern paint booths, in some circumstances, you might have to install humidifiers, chillers, or even dehumidifiers. Doing this enables you and your team to fashion the ideal spray and cure environment in your unit.
In the particular case of chillers, they are generally used to eliminate excessive moisture and regulate your unit to the exterior temperatures. For instance, if your spray paint booth is situated in a hot and humid area, and the desired temperature set point is beneath or at dew point during summer, you will need a chiller to achieve that given temperature.
On the other hand, your unit’s external walls will form condensation when the dew point is above or at 75 degrees F. So in accordance with where your paint facility is located, humidity will always be a serious issue should the average temperature of that region be 85 degrees F. In either situation, the standard practice will be to condense the moisture from the air. This can be done in a hassle-free way by simply using a chiller to subcool it and then utilizing indirect heat to raise the temperature of the air to the desired operational level and relative humidity set point. It is important to note that such a practice may only be carried out in a paint booth which is insulated with a vapor barrier.
What other factors come into play to determine which equipment your paint booth requires?
To begin with, the exact sort of paint which will be utilized in your spray booth is a very important consideration. For example, water-based coatings are known to rely on airflow to dry up. Alternatively, solvent-based coatings rely much more on the curing process. Figuring out all these factors will help you effectively determine the exact conditions which should be attained within your unit.
This may include spray temperatures, bake temperatures, and humidity levels both in and out of the booth. Fortunately, you can obtain all this info from either the manufacturer or supplier of the coatings you utilize. The other factor is the exact external conditions of where your spray paint booth is situated.
This will enable you and your team to figure out just which equipment is most suitable for you. In other words, which equipment you have to install to make sure the air being drawn into your unit can be conditioned to seamlessly suit the criteria set by the distinctive characteristics of the paint your paint operators will be using. Some of the most critical questions to answer include just how much power will your air heater have to possess? Will you require a chiller? Will you require a humidifier or a dehumidifier? Will your paint booth have to be insulated and will you have to install a vapor barrier in it? The moment you’ve determined which equipment is ideal, you can be able to create the right painting setting in your unit. Finally, with the info you’ve obtained, your spray booth maker can be in a position of choosing the right equipment configuration that best suits your requirements.
ZPar International is a foremost manufacturer of top-quality paint booths and spray booths
which may be configured in a stress-free manner to seamlessly suit the environmental conditions of the region where your paint facility is situated. We also provide other finishing equipment and accessories like powder coating booths, curing ovens, abrasive blasting units to mention but a few.