Spray Painting in New York City: Murals, Auto Repair, Furniture Manufacturing, etc.
Spray painting on the exterior, or in the interior of buildings or other structures in New York City must meet certain criteria detailed below.
If your business/building requires spray painting, then you need to construct a compliant “spray booth” enclosure or perform it in a compliant "spray room". The booth/room limits the escape of spray, mist, combustible residue, volatile vapors, odors and dust from spray painting activities. Booth construction needs to comply with the NYC Building Code, and its operation and maintenance with the NYCFD Fire Code. Mechanical ventilation and heating are required. Air ventilation must also comply with the New York City Noise Code.
Spray booths are considered Occupancy Group H High Hazard and can fall under the Group H-1, H-2, H-3, H-4 or H-5 classification, depending on what chemicals are stocked on-site and what hazard it presents. The Zoning Resolution (ZR) regulations vary by zoning districts. Spray booths fall under Zoning Use Group 17, which involves industrial products, processes and objectionable influences noted in ZR Appendix A.
The NYC Department of Buildings is responsible for the issuance of permits for installing spray booths, while the NYC Fire Department is responsible for issuing permits for their operation and maintenance. The DEP (Department of Environment Protection) must also issue a Certificate of Operation before the spray booth can be legally operational.
The spray booths may require other city agency approvals as well, such as the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) which is responsible for the regulation and registration for air permits and surface coating processes, or the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which is responsible for the enforcement of federal environmental laws like the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) Title III.
This article serves as a general overview of the requirements necessary to put up and operate a spray booth. It is best to consult a registered design professional for guidance on specific requirements.
Often, spray painting goes hand in hand with auto repair or furniture manufacturing. Business gate & surface murals commonly have been spray-painted. In this latter case, it may be more practical to use a paint brush.