Recirculating exhaust air in spray-finishing booths

NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

July 28, 1997

Mr. Samir Karandikar
EPSON Industrial Systems
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Karandikar:

This is in response to your September 12, 1996 letter requesting an interpretation of 29 CFR 1910.107(d)(9), air exhaust requirements for spray finishing using flammable and combustible materials. Please accept our apology for the delay in responding. Your request and our reply follow:

Request:

Please confirm the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) interpretation in the OSHA August 27, 1991 letter to Mr. Tom Ellis of Classic Systems, Inc. which stated that employers who fully comply with the specifications and requirements of the National Fire Protection Association standard NFPA-33-1989, concerning the recirculation of exhaust air to an occupied spray booth, would not be cited under 29 CFR 1910.107(d)(9).

Reply:

This letter reconfirms the interpretation in the OSHA letter you referenced above. Employers who fully comply with the specifications and requirements of the National Fire Protection Association standard NFPA 33-1995 (previously, NFPA 3301989) concerning the recirculation of exhaust air to an occupied spray booth would not be cited under 29 CFR 1910.107(d)(9).

We appreciate your interest in Occupational Safety and Health. If we can be of further assistance, please contact the Office of Safety Compliance Assistance, Mr. Ronald Davies, telephone (202) 219-8031, ext. 110.

Sincerely,

John B. Miles, Jr., Director
Directorate of Compliance Programs