Crossdraft Paint Booths for Texas Pipe, Fabrication and Industrial Coating

Pipe and Fabrication Work in Houston and the Valley

Constellation Industries' pipe fabrication expansion in North Houston and STI Group's blast and paint booths in McAllen reflect how much industrial coating happens in Texas fabrication shops. Pipe spools and fabricated assemblies are long and often coated with high-build industrial systems, and crossdraft booths sized lengthwise suit that shape.

Blast and Paint Side by Side

Many Texas shops blast and coat in neighboring booths. Moving parts from blast to paint quickly keeps flash rust off fresh steel, but blast dust drifting into the paint booth ruins finishes. Layout and pressure relationships between the two rooms matter.

• Keep the paint booth from pulling air out of the blast room
• Plan part flow so carts move from blast to paint without crossing dirty areas
• Separate dust collection for blast from overspray exhaust for paint
• Coordinate door positions so the transfer path is short

Gulf Coast Conditions

Humidity along the Gulf Coast affects some coatings' flash and cure behavior and accelerates corrosion on rooftop fans and stacks. In Beaumont-Port Arthur, Houston and Corpus Christi, coated or stainless rooftop components and good drainage around curbs pay for themselves. Make-up air units should be selected with the local climate in mind.

Installation Scope

We set the cabin, exhaust chamber, fan and stack; install the make-up air unit and its ductwork if the booth has one; and run gas piping for the burner. We coordinate electrical tie-ins and fire protection with those trades and start up and balance the booth so airflow is even across the cabin.