Paint Booth Site Survey Checklist

Floor Plan and Clear Height

Start with the space itself. Measure the length and width of the area you are considering, and note anything permanent inside it: columns, walls, pits, trenches, floor drains and doors. Clear height is the measurement most often gotten wrong. Measure to the lowest obstruction, not the roof deck, because trusses, sprinkler piping, unit heaters, crane rails and light fixtures all hang lower than the ceiling you see from across the room.

• Overall dimensions of the proposed booth area
• Column locations and spacing
• Lowest overhead obstruction and what it is
• Overhead doors and aisles that parts will travel through
• Distance to the nearest exterior wall

Roof Structure and Exterior Walls

Exhaust has to leave the building and make-up air has to come in, so the roof and walls get close attention. Note the roof type, such as metal panel, built-up or membrane, along with its approximate age and whether it is still under warranty, since a warranty can dictate who is allowed to cut and flash penetrations. If a make-up air unit may sit on the roof, find out whether the structure was designed for rooftop equipment. Photograph the exterior wall nearest the booth, including any existing louvers, intakes or stacks from other processes. Stack placement relative to fresh air intakes is a design decision that starts with knowing where those intakes already are.

Slab, Drains and Floor Conditions

The floor matters for every booth and matters even more for downdraft designs. Check whether the slab is level enough for booth panels to stand plumb, and look for cracks, heaving, old trench drains or patched areas. If a pit is under consideration, find any records of slab thickness, reinforcement and what lies underneath, including buried utilities. Note the location of floor drains and whether they connect to a sanitary line, a separator or nowhere at all, since wash water and spills from a booth should not go down an unknown drain.

Electrical, Gas and Compressed Air Details

Utility capacity is often the deciding factor between a smooth job and an expensive surprise. Photograph the nameplates on the main electrical switchgear and the panel nearest the booth area, and note open breaker spaces. For gas, record the meter location, line size near the booth and what other equipment already draws from that line. For compressed air, note the compressor, the dryer type if any, and where the nearest drop is. Spray guns are unforgiving of water and oil, so clean, dry air at the booth matters as much as volume.

• Main service and nearest panel nameplate photos
• Available breaker spaces and any planned electrical work
• Gas meter location, line size and existing gas appliances
• Compressor, dryer and filter details
• Location of the nearest compressed air header

Drawings, Part Data and Production Notes

Gather every drawing you have: architectural floor plans, structural drawings, mechanical and electrical as-builts, and the sprinkler layout. Old or incomplete drawings still help. Then document the work itself. List the largest part by length, width and height, how it is lifted or moved, and the typical part that represents most of your volume. Note the coatings in use and whether a cure step follows painting. Finally, describe how parts arrive at the booth and where they go next. A booth placed with a clean path in from prep and out to curing or shipping saves handling for its entire life.