New spray booth standard released

News

The spray booth standard AS/NZS 4114.1:1995 has been superseded by AS/NZS 4114.1:2003 -- Spray painting booths, designated spray painting areas and paint mixing rooms; design, construction and testing.
The new standard was released on 11 February after extensive consultation between the industry and Standards Australia. This Standard specifies requirements for the design, construction, and testing of spray painting booths, designated spray painting areas and paint mixing rooms, in which flammable liquids are used. It also covers booths incorporating baking or heating cycles, using either direct or indirect heating systems. For booths using direct fired heating systems, only those using fuels covered in Australian Standards, and in New Zealand, by the New Zealand Standards for gas installations referenced in the New Zealand Gas Regulations, are covered by this Standard.
The requirements contained in this new standard are supplementary to the requirements for electrical apparatus specified in AS/NZS 3000, Wiring Rules and the relevant requirements of the AS/NZS 2381 series.
Part 2 of this Standard details requirements for the installation and maintenance of spray painting booths, designated spray painting areas and paint mixing rooms. This Standard applies to all types of paints containing flammable liquids including water-based paints, since they also contain organic solvents. This Standard does not apply to dry powder type spray booths or operations, the requirements for which are detailed in AS 3754; or ovens used for the sole purpose of drying or baking.
This Standard is intended for application by designers, manufacturers, regulatory authorities, owners and operators of spray painting booths, designated spray painting areas and paint mixing rooms. See www.standards.com.au for more details.

Roberlo enters Aussie market.
Internationally-renowned refinish product manufacturer, Roberlo, in partnership with local company robAust pty Ltd, recently celebrated its highly successful entry into the Australian market. Roberlo has over 40 years experience in manufacturing chemical products for bodywork repair and is a market leader in mainland Europe, UK, Middle East, US and Africa. Roberlo has also manufactured products on behalf of some of the largest refinish and accessories companies in the world.
Stuart Zerbe, director of sales and marketing for Seaford, Victoria based robAust, the exclusive representatives for Roberlo in Australia, said, "Roberlo have some very innovative products designed specifically to save bodyshop owners both time and money. They have a number of standout products including a fine-filler that sands at least 30 per cent faster than most others on the market, a copper-based weld-through primer that greatly speeds up the welding process and a smooth stone guard that exactly reproduces the textureless finish on many late model cars to name a few".
Roberlo's comprehensive product range includes fine fillers, body fillers, specialty fillers, primers, clear coats, stoneguards, plastic repair, a range of cut and polish products, polyurethane adhesives, abrasives and a large range of miscellaneous products.
"The very high level of quality of the roberlo products has helped us gain strong acceptance within the industry in a very short period of time" said Zerbe. "Roberlo is now being used in some of Victoria's most prestigious bodyshops with over a third of the shops nominated for Victorian Repairer of the year on the customer list."
robAust currently sells direct to the trade in Melbourne and on a national basis through distributors. Over the past six months the company has seen a rapid expansion of its direct market and is planning to open a Sydney branch in the near future.
robAust also offers its distributors some great services; "Because we sell our products direct to the trade, we are able to offer our distributors firsthand advice on how to sell our products. We also provide our distributors with other services such as personalised promotional material and a national 1300 number to make their life a little easier," said Zerbe. robAust, tel: 1300 135 134, email: sales@robaust.com.au.