A used spray booth can save a bodyshop thousands of pounds, but a booth is a safety system as well as a workshop tool. The extraction, the filters and the fire protection decide whether painters can work in it safely. This checklist covers what to check before buying a used vehicle spray booth, whether it is a drive-in cabin, a downdraught booth or a preparation bay.
Before you view
- Size. Measure the internal length, width and height, and check them against the largest vehicle you will spray, including a van or a long-wheelbase vehicle. Allow room to work around the vehicle.
- Type. Downdraught booths draw air from the ceiling through the floor, and give a cleaner finish. Crossdraught booths are simpler and cheaper. A combined booth and preparation bay system has its own ducting.
- Heating. Booths are heated by gas, oil or electricity, and sometimes by an air-to-air heat exchanger. Check the fuel supply you have, and that a burner and the control panel are included.
- Power supply. Fans and burners usually need three-phase electricity, so check the supply before you buy.
- Installation. Ask whether it is still installed, who will dismantle it, and whether a full set of panels, doors, fan units, ducting and lights is included.
Extraction, filters and ductwork
- Check the fan motors and the fan blades for corrosion, damage and noise, and the belts and bearings for wear.
- Check the ductwork, the flue and the chimney for rust, leaks and damaged joints. The air should leave the building at a safe height and place.
- Ask when the filters were last changed, and what type they are. Intake filters, floor filters and exhaust filters are all consumables, so buy a spare set.
- Look at the pressure gauges or the airflow indicators. They show whether the filters are blocked and whether the booth is operating at the correct pressure.
The law: ventilation examinations and clearance times
A spray booth’s extraction is local exhaust ventilation (LEV), and the HSE advises that it is examined and tested at least every 14 months by a competent person, and more often where the system needs it. The tests should include the clearance time, which is the time it takes for the air to clear after spraying stops. This is measured with the booth empty, using smoke, with the extraction running as normal.
- Ask for the latest LEV examination report, and for the clearance time.
- HSE advises that the clearance time is displayed on a notice on the booth or room door, so check whether it is posted.
- If there is no recent report, ask the seller to arrange the examination, or agree that the price allows for it. The booth should not be used for spraying until it has been examined.
Read the guide to PUWER and second-hand machinery for the general rules on second-hand work equipment.
Fire safety and electrical equipment
- Paint and thinners are flammable, so electrical equipment in the booth must be suitable for the area. Check that the lights, switches and sockets are of the correct type, and are not damaged or modified.
- Check that the booth is earthed, and that there is an interlock so that the burner cannot run when the fans are off.
- Check the fire safety features, such as temperature controls, fire dampers if fitted, and a fire suppression system if there is one.
- Ask whether the controls include a cure or bake cycle, and test that it runs correctly.
Structure, doors and lighting
- Check the panels for rust and damage, and the seals around the doors. A booth that leaks air is difficult to keep at the correct pressure.
- Check that the doors open and close smoothly, and that they seal.
- Check the lights for brightness and colour consistency across the booth. Light quality decides how well colour can be matched.
- Check the floor grating, the pit or the ramp, if there is one, for damage and rust.
Planning and environment
Spraying vehicle paint can fall within local environmental controls on emissions of solvents, and a booth may need planning permission or notification to the council. Check the position and the local rules before you buy, since a booth that cannot be installed is of no use.
Paperwork and payment
- Ask for the manuals, the wiring diagrams, the burner commissioning record and the latest examination reports.
- Check the make and the serial number against the invoice, and get proof of ownership.
- Pay by bank transfer to an account in the seller’s or business’s name once you have seen the booth.
- Plan the dismantling and the transport, since a booth is large and needs experienced fitters. Read the guide to transporting used machinery.
Summary: buying a used spray booth
Check the size, the type and the heating, then the fans, ducting and filters, the fire safety and electrical equipment, and the paperwork, including the latest LEV examination and the clearance time. Then browse used car spray booths for sale, or read the general guide to what to check when buying used machinery.
Used car spray booths for sale
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