I’m working on an art studio. The artist/owner does oil paintings and asked if there is a system that would vent the fumes from the paint and turpentine. This is a converted garage so there’s very little window space; it’s lit mainly by a large fixed skylight. So we need some sort of ventilation system and she requested that it be relatively quiet. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Thanks in advance.
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First thing to do is get the book Health Hazards for Artists:
http://www.amazon.com/Health-Hazards-Manual-Artists-Michael/dp/1592280935
Bump.
Not a ventilation person - the bump will move you up the list.
I think the more qualified guys will need to know a little more info - section of the country? heat / AC in this converted garage? volume of the space? general ventilation or a fume hood type arrangement? attic or open to the underside of the roof deck?
Jim
Bump -- you might know something about this?
Thanks for the replies. I'll try to better describe the situation. It's a relatively small space, attached to the main house, less than a two car garage. Approx. 16' X 20'. It has one door that leads to the exterior. No windows, just one large fixed skylight. There is a forced AC/Heat system in the rest of the house but there is no duct to this space. Actually, I'm calling out an HVAC guy to see if a duct can be added. The house is on a raised foundation... and perhaps here is something worth mentioning. Someone built a bouncy but seemingly otherwise solid raised platform in this space to bring the floor level up with the house. There is dead space under this platform. I tend to think catastrophically, but I did find myself wondering if that dead space would tend to collect fumes. We're not talking gasoline fumes here, just a bit of turpentine that an artist would ordinarily use and continual off gassing from oil based products... Probably not going to blow, but I mention it in recognition of the axiom: "I don't know what I don't know". At any rate, she's sensitive to the fumes and it is pretty stagnant in there. Perhaps there is a small unit that could provide an air exchange, maybe there's even something designed to rid a space of organic vapor. Maybe a darn window and a fan...? Thanks again for giving it some thought.
Artists don't generally use enough materials to cause dangerous fume levels in a building. The fumes from solvents like turpentine are usually right in your face as you are working. There are some table top filter machines that are commonly used in laboratories that may work for your client. There are also some air purifiers that are specifically made for artists. It's better to capture the fumes at the source, before they spread. http://www.sentryair.com/table-sentry.htmhttp://www.madisonartshop.com/araireaairpu.htmlhttp://www.air-purifiers-usa.biz/allerair-5000-vocarb-air-purifier-cleaner.phpBeat it to fit / Paint it to match
Interesting links. Thank you very much.
Sorry to come to the party late... I can really speak only in re an industry I have a lot of experience with, photography. In our labs, we always were sure to have lots of ventilation because of things like formeldhyde etc. As I recall, we went for something like 5 or 6 air changes an hour in the general darkrooms and 12-15 in mixing areas. I'd certainly err on the side of caution... I have a close friend who was an artist in Hollywood who had to retire early because of cumulative damage from prolonged low level exposure to various solvents, plastics, etc.
HTHPaulB
Even with oil paints some laquer sprays are used to fix the oils. Best is to check with the artist and see what type of materials used. Like a silk screener would use laquer to clean the screens.....but the EPA has switch most nasty stuff to a water base.
But your artist might need a lint/dust free eviroment for her work to dry in???
In my photography business, between the darkroon chemical and spraying laquer on prints, retouching, I think I have fried my lungs long ago. I had a spray booth 5x7' to spray prints built with a squirrel cage from a furnace blower. All ran threw a seires of filters.
Your client will know
I refresh this thread, because I also have a question about ventilation. I have a problem with old pipes, so I would like at the beginning replace the ventilation fittings. I thought about something like that ventilation fittings. Does anyone buy this place? Worth it?
Just the thing to put into UK bathrooms, I suppose. Especialy if you eat a lot of Spam.