1910.107(b): Spray Booth Construction and Filters
Employers must build spray booths of steel, concrete or masonry, or other noncombustible material for light spraying, designed to sweep air toward the exhaust. Interiors must be smooth for easy cleaning, combustible floors covered with noncombustible material, and dry filter booths must keep at least 100 feet per minute air velocity with a gauge or alarm, with used filters removed to a safe place.
Key takeaways
- 1910.107(b) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart H).
- OSHA cited it 559 times in the last 3 years, in 355 inspections, with $854,720 in current penalties.
- Most citations: MN (85), MD (43), TN (42).
- Related part: 1910.107(b)(5) Dry type overspray collectors—(exhaust air filters) (239 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.107(b) ("Spray booths") is one requirement inside 1910.107 Spray finishing using flammable and combustible materials, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart H). It includes 16 sub-paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(b) Spray booths — 559 citations
(1) Construction. Spray booths shall be substantially constructed of steel, securely and rigidly supported, or of concrete or masonry except that aluminum or other substantial noncombustible material may be used for intermittent or low volume spraying. Spray booths shall be designed to sweep air currents toward the exhaust outlet. Open (b)(1) 39 citations
(2) Interiors. The interior surfaces of spray booths shall be smooth and continuous without edges and otherwise designed to prevent pocketing of residues and facilitate cleaning and washing without injury. Open (b)(2) 29 citations
(3) Floors. The floor surface of a spray booth and operator's working area, if combustible, shall be covered with noncombustible material of such character as to facilitate the safe cleaning and removal of residues. Open (b)(3) 14 citations
(4) Distribution or baffle plates. Distribution or baffle plates, if installed to promote an even flow of air through the booth or cause the deposit of overspray before it enters the exhaust duct, shall be of noncombustible material and readily removable or accessible on both sides for cleaning. Such plates shall not be located in exhaust ducts.
(5) Dry type overspray collectors—(exhaust air filters). In conventional dry type spray booths, overspray dry filters or filter rolls, if installed, shall conform to the following: Open (b)(5) 239 citations
(i) The spraying operations except electrostatic spraying operations shall be so designed, installed and maintained that the average air velocity over the open face of the booth (or booth cross section during spraying operations) shall be not less than 100 linear feet per minute. Electrostatic spraying operations may be conducted with an air velocity over the open face of the booth of not less than 60 linear feet per minute, or more, depending on the volume of the finishing material being applied and its flammability and explosion characteristics. Visible gauges or audible alarm or pressure activated devices shall be installed to indicate or insure that the required air velocity is maintained. Filter rolls shall be inspected to insure proper replacement of filter media. Open (b)(5)(i) 152 citations
(ii) All discarded filter pads and filter rolls shall be immediately removed to a safe, well-detached location or placed in a water-filled metal container and disposed of at the close of the day's operation unless maintained completely in water. Open (b)(5)(ii) 6 citations
(iii) The location of filters in a spray booth shall be so as to not reduce the effective booth enclosure of the articles being sprayed.
(iv) Space within the spray booth on the downstream and upstream sides of filters shall be protected with approved automatic sprinklers. Open (b)(5)(iv) 79 citations
(v) Filters or filter rolls shall not be used when applying a spray material known to be highly susceptible to spontaneous heating and ignition.
(vi) Clean filters or filter rolls shall be noncombustible or of a type having a combustibility not in excess of class 2 filters as listed by Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc. Filters and filter rolls shall not be alternately used for different types of coating materials, where the combination of materials may be conducive to spontaneous ignition. See also paragraph (g)(6) of this section. 1 citations
(6) Frontal area. Each spray booth having a frontal area larger than 9 square feet shall have a metal deflector or curtain not less than 21⁄2 inches deep installed at the upper outer edge of the booth over the opening. Open (b)(6) 3 citations
(7) Conveyors. Where conveyors are arranged to carry work into or out of spray booths, the openings therefor shall be as small as practical.
(8) Separation of operations. Each spray booth shall be separated from other operations by not less than 3 feet, or by a greater distance, or by such partition or wall as to reduce the danger from juxtaposition of hazardous operations. See also paragraph (c)(1) of this section. Open (b)(8) 12 citations
(9) Cleaning. Spray booths shall be so installed that all portions are readily accessible for cleaning. A clear space of not less than 3 feet on all sides shall be kept free from storage or combustible construction. Open (b)(9) 204 citations
(10) Illumination. When spraying areas are illuminated through glass panels or other transparent materials, only fixed lighting units shall be used as a source of illumination. Panels shall effectively isolate the spraying area from the area in which the lighting unit is located, and shall be of a noncombustible material of such a nature or so protected that breakage will be unlikely. Panels shall be so arranged that normal accumulations of residue on the exposed surface of the panel will not be raised to a dangerous temperature by radiation or conduction from the source of illumination. Open (b)(10) 19 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.107.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 25 |
| 2024 | 178 |
| 2025 | 205 |
| 2026 | 151 |
Top states: MN (85), MD (43), TN (42), VA (41), NC (30)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| WESTRAN THERMAL PROCESSING, LLC DBA PRECISION QUINCY OVENS, LLC / INFRATROL, LLC | SOUTH BELOIT, IL | $19,947 |
| CRASH CHAMPIONS, LLC | ALLENTOWN, PA | $17,733 |
| VTCU, CORP. | POCATELLO, ID | $16,550 |
| TRUCK ACCESSORIES GROUP LLC | MILTON, PA | $14,188 |
| 27NORTH | SPRINGFIELD, MO | $12,048 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.107(b), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Storage requirements for discarded filters/pads and for water-filled metal containers in 1910.107. (2008-02-11)
- Spray booth requirements including automatic sprinkler systems, relationship to NFPA 33 requirements, and paint storage. (2004-08-12)
- Clarification of minimum face velocity requirements for spray booths (2001-10-22)
- An explanation of the hazard it is designed to control. (1991-07-09)
- Unfavorable Review Commission Decision. (1991-05-13)
- Requirements for fixed lighting units for spray booths. (1975-04-14)
- Use of fire treated cardboard to facilitate clean-up on the floors and walls of spray booths. (1975-01-17)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.107(b)(5) Dry type overspray collectors—(exhaust air filters) 239 citations
- 1910.107(b)(9) Cleaning 204 citations
- 1910.107(b)(5)(i) 152 citations
- 1910.107(b)(5)(iv) 79 citations
- 1910.107(b)(1) Construction 39 citations
- 1910.107(b)(2) Interiors 29 citations
- 1910.107(b)(10) Illumination 19 citations
- 1910.107(b)(3) Floors 14 citations
- 1910.107(b)(8) Separation of operations 12 citations
- 1910.107(b)(5)(ii) 6 citations
- 1910.107(b)(6) Frontal area 3 citations
Get your crew competent
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Frequently asked questions
What air velocity is required in a dry filter spray booth?
At least 100 linear feet per minute over the open face, or not less than 60 for electrostatic spraying depending on the material.
What must be done with used filters?
Discarded filter pads and rolls must be immediately removed to a safe, well-detached location or placed in a water-filled metal container and disposed of at the close of the day.
How can workers tell air flow is adequate?
Visible gauges, audible alarms or pressure activated devices must be installed to indicate or ensure required air velocity.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.107 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-20
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.