Questions about Paint fumes (Toulene or xylene) 1

[ryandias]

I am having a look at a friends work place ventilation to see if i can make a reccomendation as to adjust it. They're Paint booth vents the fumes currently. But the neighbors are complaining about paint fumes.

I have a mechanical back ground so I told him I would model it and see if i could make a suggestion for better expelsion of the fumes.

They were told to add a nozzle to the current stack and that would take care of the problem, but so far has not. My question is the average paint fume heavier then air? What would the best way to "treat" the fume so that it is not dangerous anymore? Can you filter it easily and economically?

I saw articles about some companies capturing the fumes to burn as fuel, but that is a solution more suited to a large company and this is a very small one.

Thanks.

 

[kenvlach]

You may find many worker safety, fire code & environmental violations at this site.
The most practical option is to switch to low-VOC paints. Solves many legal requirements as well as reduces neighbor complaints.
Activated carbon filters, behind the overspray filters, will catch VOCs. (but need to buy, install, monitor, store used ones in fireproof containers, etc.)
Switch to higher efficiency, HPLV spray guns to reduce usage.

Please look through some past threads:
Question on Paint Booth Codes thread248-162164
about the paint booth exhaust thread403-161726
VOC abatement with the help of ionisation thread127-50748

Check the MSDS's of the paints, thinners & stripppers for VOC content & PEL's (permissible exposure limits). Also, check for an air emissions permit from a government environmental agency, then look up their regulations.