No, we would not be afraid. We have yet to hear of single hobby users getting fined. And at worst, you usually get only a warning, so feel free to spray. If you really want to be safe use common sense. Make certain you are nice to your neighbors and try to filter your fumes with air filters (you can find these anywhere). Don't spray right in the driveway, but out back or in the garage. Also the 3oz rule exempts you from most regulations. Get a gun with some 3oz cups options for yourself. . . see to the right, most outdoor mobile painters use the 3oz cup systems.

HVLP / for other definitions see our help section

In most instances, you will have to get new HVLP equipment to be compliant. Even some waterbased paints, which should be exempt, are covered by inspectors who do not know what they are doing. Larger Facilities will need to use gun washers and have maximum solvent use restrictions - we have solvent recyclers and solvent savers to help lower your solvent usage.

In addition to having new HVLP Spray equipment, larger facilities may be required to have gun washers. If your solvent use is too high, we have solvent recyclers and solvent savers which help a lower usage by 70%. Disposable cup systems will also help lower your cleaning solvent use.

The problem exists that most the inspectors are new and do not know what they are doing. In addition the rules are new and have not been tested. The best thing to do is treat an inspector nicely and they will do the same to you. We have already heard of horror stories costing companies a lot of time and money.

Since inspectors are new, be nice and be proactive to "SHOW THEM" that you are in compliance with new HVLP equipment or compliant equipment. Show them with confidence that you are spraying correctly and you have taken the time to be compliant. This makes their job easier and they hopefully wont go "fishing".

Shops are also setting up "Welcome Bells" when people enter the driveway or doors to give them fair warning, or an "inadvertent" block on the spray booth so no one can just walk in, as we know not all of you are spraying 4"-5" from the surface with low HVLP pressures and who wants to be caught off guard.

Train all your employees where equipment and solvents should be stored and the correct pressures to adjust to for inspection. Also let the boss or managers talk . It's best not to have an employee say, "what recycling? We dump our excess fluids down the drain. . .

CONVERTABLE HVLP: Many guns now come with 2 setups. HVLP and Compliant. These compliant systems have HVLP environmental low overspray and are accepted by many areas. Here is a list by Devilbiss which areas are fully acceptable. As states get their act together more and more should accept compliant technology as it helps the painting industry.

Compliant guns generally are better for clears than HVLP.

CONVERTABLE! But the good news is by purchasing a new gun, the guns CONVERT and you have HVLP to switch to in the gun sets in case your state decides not to be "modern". . .

There are Industrial Spray Guns Available which gain about 2" fan. 14"-16"

This one is our favorite because it is also the fastest!

Lets be honest. The government does not want you spraying out doors. They created a silly rule that instead of the 4oz cup that everyone owns, you need a 3.4 oz or less, which makes everyone with a mini gun subject to fines. Luckily 3 oz cups and 3oz systems are available now.

While this satisfies most regulations. Some areas have gone further making restrictions on CFM consumption of spray guns. While we prefer a true mini gun, however, if you have even stricter local rules, we have the super low CFM Iwata Super Minis which are compliant.

HVLP compliance requires a max of 10psi at the aircap. With conventional guns, the PSI you put in, is the same that comes out. (40psi in 40psi) out. Modern guns have varied inlet pressures that "convert" to 10PSI. The manufacturer suggested spray psi should "convert" to the 10psi at the cap. So if the gun recommends 29psi on the inlet pressure WITH TRIGGER FULLY PULLED. That should convert to 10psi at the cap. Unless your gun is from China, then all bets are off.

Let the nightmare begin. We pray that they don't bring these items back. They are extremely expensive and useless. So let's hope the government does not return to the good old days of aircap test equipment. As an alternative if you have a really winner of an inspector, you might develop in house testing procedures to avoid the purchase of an aircap tester. By documenting your procedures in a reasonable manner, your inspector might let you off the hook.

Volatile Organic Compound content. This is the good stuff for getting a great color, but VOC solvents like benzene, methylene chloride, hexane and toluene are being effectively phased out for less environmentally harmful components. Unfortunately, water, while utopian, is not a great carrier of color.

EPA regulation 40CFR63 lays out the guidelines for who can use what paints and how they may be applied. The rules generally apply to those paints that use VOCs or HAPs (Hazardous Air Pollutants) The regulation's actual name is the "40 Federal Code of Regulations, Part 63" which is colloquially referred to as the Rule 6 or Rule 40 or Rule 6H. For the Auto industry, you will need a booth with a 98 percent efficient filtration system and an HVLP (High Volume/Low Pressure) spray gun and that you can't use a solvent to clean the gun. That is where solvent washers and recycles come in. It also states that the painter must be properly trained and must have completed or be undergoing a continuing five-year education in auto painting.

You don't have to comply with minimum restrictions if you meet the following requirements: Please note: local restrictions vary also. if your spray gun is a hand-held unit with less than a 3 oz. cup capacity (see our 3oz cup section); if you're using hand-held, non-refillable containers (spray cans); or if you're performing thermal-spray operations using metallic or non-metallic materials. The 6H also does not apply to non-atomizing paint techniques, electroplating, brushes, rollers, hand wiping, and touch-up markers or pens.

EPA regulation go in conjunction with local regulations which add another layer of bureaucracy to your painting.

EPA has implemented restrictions on paints containing certain VOCs to only those licensed to use them. Unless you run a certified (more government intervention) auto shop with proper training, then you are out of luck.

The good news is that you can still do your own bodywork and apply primer (which doesn't contain any VOCs), and you can apply color with some water-based paints without EPA intervention. There are even some waterbase clears hitting the market. For woodworkers and other industries California is leading the way to new low voc solvents.

Finially, for you bold painters who hate being told what to do, you can order solvent based paints through the Internet.