Spray booths and paint mixing rooms

Guidance on whether spray booths and paint mixing rooms are part of a building, need a building consent and need a compliance schedule. This article includes discussion on complying with Building Code clauses G9 Electricity, G4 Ventilation and F3 Hazardous Substances and Processes.

This information was confirmed as current in February 2016. It originally appeared in Codewords newsletters prior to January 2014. Standards listed in this article relate to the time the article was written.

  • Published on 1 August 2007
  • Of interest to Building consent authorities, Building owners, Designers
  • 1st edition

Building consent needed

There are two types of spray booths and paint mixing rooms:

  1. those fitted to the building structure
  2. and stand-alone units that may be inside or outside a building.

MBIE considers spray booths and paint mixing rooms, whether part of a building or stand-alone, are buildings in their own right under section 8 of the Building Act 2004.

A building consent will therefore be required before construction. A compliance schedule for specified systems used, such as mechanical ventilation, will also be required.

All building work must comply with the Building Code.

Therefore, spray booths and paint mixing rooms must comply with the relevant Building Code clauses, including:

  • structure
  • durability
  • hazardous substances and processes
  • ventilation
  • electricity.

Most of these are straightforward.

Building Code Clause G4 Ventilation

Neither the Verification Method G4/VM1 nor the Acceptable Solution G4/AS1 contains a solution for ventilating spray painting booths, designated spray painting areas and paint mixing rooms. Ventilating these is therefore an alternative solution.

The applicable standard for a means of compliance is AS/NZS 4114.1:2003 Spray painting booths, designated spray painting areas and paint mixing rooms - Part 1: Design, construction and testing.

Building Code Clause G9 Electricity

Verification Method G9/VM1 cites AS/NZS 3000:2000 Wiring rules as a method for verifying compliance with Building Code Clause G9.

AS/NZS 3000: 2000 in turn references the following Standards.

  • AS/NZS 2381:2005 Electrical equipment for explosive atmospheres, series of standards.
  • AS/NZS 2381.1:2005 Electrical equipment for explosive atmospheres - Selection, installation and maintenance Part 1: General references
  • AS/NZS 4114.1:2003 Spray painting booths, designated spray painting areas and paint mix rooms - Part 1: Design, construction and testing
  • AS/NZS 4114.2:2003 Spray painting booths, designated spray painting areas and paint mix rooms - Part 2: Installation and maintenance.

F3 Hazardous Substances and Processes and hazardous substances legislation

Compliance with Building Code Clause F3 Hazardous Substances and Processes and hazardous substances legislation can be achieved by complying with the Hazardous Substances (Dangerous Goods and Scheduled Toxic Substances) Transfer Notice 2006, which amends the Hazardous Substances (Dangerous Goods and Scheduled Toxic Substances) Transfer Notice 2004.

The 2004 Notice refers to AS/NZS 4114 for paint mixing rooms.

Specified Systems

Mechanical ventilation is a specified system and must therefore be included on compliance schedules for spray booths and paint mixing rooms.

A suitable standard for maintaining and testing is AS/NZS 4114.2: 2003 Spray painting booths, designated spray painting areas and paint mix rooms - Part 2: Installation and maintenance.

All guidance related to G4 Ventilation

This information is published by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Chief Executive. It is a general guide only and, if used, does not relieve any person of the obligation to consider any matter to which the information relates according to the circumstances of the particular case. Expert advice may be required in specific circumstances. Where this information relates to assisting people: