SmERF Paint Booth

The SmERF Paint Booth is a resource that students and faculty can use to spray paint projects on campus in a safe and controlled environment.

Important Information

 * The Paint Booth is to be used during regular work hours (8:00 am - 5:00 pm) Monday through Friday.
 * No use of the Paint Booth outside of this designated time frame.
 * The maximum daily use of the Paint Booth not to exceed 8 hours.
 * Any use of the Paint Booth outside this time frame is considered a violation to our permit with Idaho DEQ and will result in a penalty and a monetary fine to the department.
 * Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) are to be worn when using the Paint Booth. This includes Lab coat or Tyvek suite, appropriate eye protection and appropriate respiratory protection.
 * Sources of sparks and flames are not allowed inside the booth.

Labratory Procedures
All of the policies outlined in the 'Laboratory Procedures' training apply to the use of the paint booth as well. Make sure you have been trained, and understand those policies.

Safety

 * Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) are to be worn when using the Paint Booth. This includes Lab coat or Tyvek suite, appropriate eye protection and appropriate respiratory protection.
 * Sources of sparks and flames are not allowed inside the booth.

Abilities
The paint booth in the Vehicle Research Building is owned by the College of Engineering. It is the only appropriate place to paint indoors. Painting in any other interior location (shops, labs, etc.) is not allowed.

Due to out status with the State of Idaho EPA, at this time only aerosol spray paint is allowed in the paint booth. The exemption we enjoy for this booth allows us to use the materials on the permit to construct (available inside the log binder). Any other type of paint or activity is not allowed under the current exemption. If the department would like to use other paint materials in the future, we will have to apply for a permit and this will cost your department annual fees to the DEQ.

Scheduling
Before using the paint booth, you must talk to the lab supervisor first to let them know your plans. Just because you may have the SmERF checked out for the week does not give you free access to use the paint booth. To gain access you must go through the Lab Supervisor.

For Scheduling contact the Machine Shop Manager who is also the Lab Supervisor. His office is located in the Machine Shop located on the first floor of the Gauss-Johnson Building (Important!!! Make sure you are wearing long pants, closed toed shoes, and put on a pair of safety glasses, located just inside the shop doors, when you enter the shop).

Fees
Due to consumable materials necessary to operate the paint booth (filters, paper, cleaning chemicals, staff time, etc.) there may be a fee required for using the paint booth. Check with the lab supervisor for the latest fee structure.

Record Keeping
In order to keep our 'exempt' status with the State of Idaho EPA, we are required to record all the uses in the paint booth. We are documenting this in two ways.

1) All used aerosol cans are to be disposed after use and kept inside the booth in the appropriate receptacle. Aerosol cans are considered universal waste and are regulated.

2) A notebook with details of what type of product and the quantity used is also posted by the switches for the paint booth. Fill out a record for every project you do in the paint booth. If there isn't already an SDS for your product, print one out and file it in the back section of the binder located in the SmERF. Also, add the SDS to the current SDS list below.

The following document is one of the pages that have to be filled out for the Records Log. Please review the information on this document before you head to the Paint Booth. '''Copies of these are kept in the record log. Do not bring your own.'''



To add a new SDS to the list you must
1) Create/log in to a wiki account (When creating an account make username your vandal login and add an email account which is required in order to edit).

2) Click on edit next to the Current MSDS list heading.

3) Scroll to the bottom of the page.

4) Insert the required information and delete the single quote marks.

5) If there are only two fillable lines left, copy and paste four new lines at the bottom of the table.

Sprinkler Heads
There are two sprinkler heads in the paint booth. In order to make sure these function properly in an emergency they need to be protected from overspray while painting is underway. Before painting, use a small paper bag and rubber band (supplied) to cover up the sprinkler heads. Once finished with painting, remove and discard the paper bags, and return the rubber bands.

Filters
Before setting up to paint, check the filters by turning on the exhaust fan and inspecting the pressure in the manometer. If the filters need replacing, talk to the lab supervisor.

Hanging Parts
Two bars across the top of interior of the paint booth can be used to hang parts from for painting. Use wire or metal coat hangers to hang the parts. The maximum total load on any single bar is 20 lb. Alternatively, you can measure the distance the bar is sagging. If it is deflecting more than 1", the load is too heavy.

Cleanup
Do your best to keep overspray off the floor, walls, tables, and lights in the paint booth by laying down cardboard or plastic before painting. Once you have finished your project:
 * make sure you have entered a complete record of your use in the notebook.
 * Clean any accidental overspray off the interior of the paint booth.
 * Remove the paper bags from the sprinkler heads.
 * Sweep out the floor inside the paint booth.

Review of Spray Paint Components
1 - based on twelve, 12-ounce aerosol cans in one work day n/a - not applicable

Review of Epoxy Resin Components
1 - based on using one gallon of epoxy resin in one work day, consisting of 3 quarts Polylite 33087-00 and one quart Epoxy Hardener (3:1 volume ratio) 2- Based on the fact that all composite lay-up opertions will be by hand with no sprayers used, the potential to emit particulates is considered negligible.

Review of Fiberglass Resin Components
Summary of Maximum Potential To Emit Fiberglass Resin

1 - Based on the potential of four uses of the spray paint booth in an eight-hour work day, one gallon of resin and hardener per use (128 liquid ounces of resin: 1.48 liquid ounces hardener). Drying time of the resin is two hours 2 - Due to the fact that emissions of particulates from hand applied fiberglass operations are negligible, we will not consider any particulate emissions. 3 - Methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEK peroxide) is identified as TAP. The Uncontrolled emissions rate for MEK peroxide is 0.007 lbs/hr which meets the Idaho DEQ exemption level of 0.01 lbs/hr. The Maximum Uncontrolled Emission for MEK peroxide = 0.007 lbs/hr x 8760 hr/y x 1 Ton/2000 lbs = 0.031 Ton/y