subject: Spray Booth Fire Protection Systems For Covering A Diverse Range Of Hazards [print this page] In spray booth, flammable materials, oils and chemical are often used and these materials are quite prone to catching fire. High concentration of flammable vapor is usually present in spray booths and spraying of solvent-based coatings for vacuum metalizing can also cause a fire and explosion hazard. So, to avoid any havoc at spray booth area, all the spraying operations which use flammable or combustion materials must be protected with a right spray booth fire protection system.
Hopefully your spray booth business will never undergo a spray booth fire, but the unfortunate happening is not exception and it can happen at any time at any place. There can be various causes and reasons behind the occurrence of fires in spray booths and some of the common causes of fires as identified through available data and statistics include, improper use of electrical equipment, electrical faults & short circuits; unsupervised and improper burning of waste materials; improper use of welding equipment; incorrect disposal of lit cigarette butts; chemical reaction / spontaneous combustion between materials.
In case of fire occurrence, there are two ways that fire can be extinguished: first, with a water system; and second, with a dry-chemical system, which extinguishes a fire without the use of water. But, spray booths should also have fire suppression system or spray booth fire protection systems throughout the booth and in the stack. And the fire protection system installed in spray booth should be inspected by a qualified expert throughout the year.
Also, it's helpful to put fire suppression systems in the spray booth mixing room. It is actually obliged by law. However, the best way to learn more about fire extinguisher services and fire protection systems requirements is to establish a good communication with your local fire department and inspector.
Depending on the nature of the equipment under protection, fire protection service provider can activate dry chemical fire fire suppression using several different fire detection technologies: Mechanical fusible links; Electric thermal detectors; Flame detectors such as UV detectors and IR detectors; Linear heat detection strips; and Pneumatic fire detection loops.
Besides that, there are also many serious hazards in spray booth which include highly flammable liquids, the build-up of fumes, or leaking chemicals etc. It only takes one ignition source to turn these hazards into a devastating fire. Some environments like paint spray booths and hazardous material storage areas are more serious fire threats than others. These unpredictable industrial areas require fire protection solutions developed, installed, and maintained by professionals who are well-trained and experienced in spray booth fire protection system.
