How To Spray Paint Safely

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When I worked at a refinishing business several years ago, my job entailed stripping, sanding and staining furniture to get it ready for spray painting. The person who did the spraying was a bit of a character. Co-workers jokingly attributed his unusually quirky personality to the amount of fumes he inhaled over more than 20 years on the job.

I always thought of him whenever I worked in my own spray booth, and the memory prompted me to always wear a respirator with fresh cartridges.

Thankfully, I can still count to 10 and back, so it appears my brain emerged from four years of daily spraying relatively unscathed. I tell this cautionary tale to remind anyone planning to spray paint that paint fumes are no joke. You need to protect yourself from them, even if you’re just using aerosol cans.

There’s one more thing you need to remember — spray paint fumes can be highly flammable.

Is Spray Paint Toxic for Humans?

Yes. Check out this warning from a typical spray paint can label: “Repeated or prolonged exposure to these chemicals without the use of a proper respirator can cause permanent brain damage, as well as damage to your lungs.”

But solvent-based spray paints aren’t the only products that present a health hazard. You’ll find similar warnings even on water-based spray paints and many insecticides.

The danger doesn’t come directly from the paints themselves, but from the solvents and chemicals that make the paints sprayable. Many products are loaded with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This is what the Ohio Department of Health has to say about the dangers of these chemicals:

“Exposure to very high levels of VOCs may cause damage to the liver, kidney or central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). High levels may also cause vision and memory problems.”

Is It Ever Safe To Spray Paint Without a Mask?

No. In some situations, however, you’re less likely to be exposed to harmful VOCs than others.

If you’re outdoors spraying water-based paint with an airless sprayer, the danger of inhaling toxic fumes is far less than if you’re working indoors. That’s partly because of fewer VOCs, and partly because air currents carry the fumes away. You probably don’t need a respirator, but you should still wear an N95 mask to avoid inhaling paint particles.

When working indoors, always wear a respirator, even when spraying water-based paints. Water-based paint mixtures may not include toxic VOCs, but they often contain additives to control mold, improve flow or hasten drying. These additives can be harmful.

Even when spraying an additive-free latex paint indoors, it’s best to play it safe and keep your mouth and nose covered.

Respirators for Paint

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The right respirator is basically a type of gas mask. It fits tightly around your nose and mouth and contains two removable cartridges that absorb airborne VOCs rather than simply blocking them. The 3M 6001 organic vapor cartridge protects against fumes from paint products and thinners.

Don’t rely on dust masks when working indoors, not even N95 masks. They may block microscopic particles — possibly even viruses. But they have no effect on VOCs.

Is It Safe To Spray Paint Indoors?

Yes, if you keep two things in mind. First, toxic fumes may affect others in the building. Second, ingredients in many paint mixtures are flammable.

You can protect others by confining your activity to one room, keeping the doors closed and positioning an exhaust fan in one window to blow air outside. Don’t forget to close HVAC registers to prevent fumes from circulating through the ducts.

Flammable paint products usually come with a warning on the label. If you’re using a flammable product, it’s even more important to provide active ventilation to prevent gas buildup. Of course, never use a lighter or heat source anywhere near where you’re spraying a flammable paint product.

What Is a Spray Booth?

A closed room with a fan that provides a controlled environment for spray painting. It can be large enough to spray cabinets, furniture or even cars, or closet-sized for small woodworking projects. Some hobbyists even set up portable or benchtop spray booths in their workshops or on their workbenches.

Besides an exhaust fan, a spray booth needs bright lighting and a well-sealed door to isolate it from the rest of the workshop. A spray hood doesn’t have a door, but comes with a powerful fan that sucks fumes out of the room and exhausts them outside. If you’ve oversprayed, then here are a few tips to remove spray paint.

Tips for Safe Spray Painting

Here’s a summary of ways you can work safely while spray-painting:

• Wear a mask: Always wear a respirator indoors and a dust mask outdoors.
• Provide ventilation: If you don’t have a fan, keep windows open to create a cross current, or move your work outdoors.
• Avoid open heat sources: This includes electric heaters with exposed elements and gas heaters. Store aerosol cans away from heat.
• Don’t use damaged spray cans: Damaged cans can leak toxic fumes even when you aren’t actually spraying.
• Never point an airless sprayer at yourself or anyone else: Airless sprayers develop enough pressure to force paint through the skin.