How To Insure Your Paint Booth At Your Garage

Hey friends!

We hope your holidays were splendid and you have kicked the New Year off in the most positive way.

The last time we talked, we talked about Mechanics E&O, who needs it and what it covers.

This week we are sharing our fourth tip in the Garage & Towing Series, so let’s get into it.

Are you having a hard time insuring your Auto Repair/Garage due to your paint booth? We sat down with Ryan, a proud owner of an Auto Repair/Garage who has been successful in getting insurance that not only covers his paint booth but also, knows how to meet the requirements that please his insurance company.

Paint booths can bring another set of risks to your business that a lot of business owners don’t consider when installing them. Many business owners also don’t consider how difficult it may be to insure them and the stress that can add.

Let’s see what Ryan’s advice is on paint booths and making your insurance company happy!

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“I first made sure that the paint booth met fire protection standards. Which means visiting the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) website. NFPA 33 is the code that provides requirements to reduce fire and explosion hazards when dealing with spray application processes that use flammable or combustible materials. This may mean (more than likely with insurance) that you are required to install a sprinkler system. In addition to the sprinkler system, you will want to make sure that the you have installed a proper ventilation system. Ventilation systems work towards keeping potentially dangerous atmosphere controlled in your shop. Explosion proof lighting and fire rated wiring is also key here.

Routine and well-documented maintenance programs are imperative, especially in the event of a claim. The program should include removal and cleaning of over spray from the walls, floors and ceilings of spray booths. Ventilation ducts and filters in modern, quality spray booths should also be serviced regularly. Buildup of over spray material can act as a propellant for fire. Lastly, but surely not least, paints and stains should be properly stored properly as these materials are highly combustible and flammable. They should be in properly labeled containers with pressure relief valves. Keeping them in smallest quantities as possible reduces the risk of an incident. If being stored indoors, they should be in an approved fire rated cabinet to help contain an explosion or fire.”

Now, we know this was a lot… but to us, Ryan seems like the real expert here. Maintaining a high standard of operation can reduce the risk of a claim but also can be very helpful when trying to keep the cost of your insurance down. Better practices can lead to better prices!

If you are looking to learn more about what you can do to make your insurance simpler and more affordable click the link below. Mike is OUR expert in insurance and like Ryan’s advice, will give you the advice you need to make insurance one less headache.