Blast Room For Commercial/rec Processing

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DjangoNugs

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So we got ourselves 3000sq ft of shop space we're building out for a processing business we're starting in Oregon. Went to speak with the fire Marshall to get a grasp on local regulations. I know we need a blast proof/spark proof room. Like a spray paint booth or something like it. He only would say that there are spray paint booths now marketed for making extracts but wouldn't tell me anything more. I haven't been able to find anything marketed for this specifically. Anybody on the farm know of anything like that? Or perhaps have some ideas of what building a blast proof room entails? I can't find any specifics in any local regulations or even in the marijuana regulations.
 
rmoltis

rmoltis

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So we got ourselves 3000sq ft of shop space we're building out for a processing business we're starting in Oregon. Went to speak with the fire Marshall to get a grasp on local regulations. I know we need a blast proof/spark proof room. Like a spray paint booth or something like it. He only would say that there are spray paint booths now marketed for making extracts but wouldn't tell me anything more. I haven't been able to find anything marketed for this specifically. Anybody on the farm know of anything like that? Or perhaps have some ideas of what building a blast proof room entails? I can't find any specifics in any local regulations or even in the marijuana regulations.


Blast proof means no ignition sources along with ventillation.

I would say you need an explosion proof exhaust fan rated to evacuate the cfm of your room.

Not sure if they require it but venting voc's straight into the atmosphere is a no no. Maybe getting some sort of voc filter to catch it.

The light bulbs will either need to be explosion proof or be in explosion proof fixtures (they are also an ignition source.

You will want an anti static electricity room too. The floor will need to be grounded and you'll need special shoes to ground yourself.

You'll also want a place to ground your processing equipment because volumes of material moved through a machine build up static.

I'm sure there's more but those are some basic starting points.
 
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DjangoNugs

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Cool, thanks man. I knew about the fans and the filters. Didn't think about the light bulbs or grounding the instruments. I was under the impression that there are rooms built with all of this incorporated into the design; like spray paint booths but redesigned slightly for hydrocarbon extraction. You've definitely given me some things to look for as I search through the different booths that are available. I guess I could probably talk to an engineer about designing one if I really need too and make sure all this is incorporated into the blueprints. I'd rather not spend the extra loot on a design engineer and put it towards a room preassembled for this. I'm hoping the farm here can be my design engineer lol. Anyone else have any ideas or know of specific spray paint booths that will work? I wonder if a storage container could be turned into one easy enough, and that could meet regulations.
 
Graywolf

Graywolf

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So we got ourselves 3000sq ft of shop space we're building out for a processing business we're starting in Oregon. Went to speak with the fire Marshall to get a grasp on local regulations. I know we need a blast proof/spark proof room. Like a spray paint booth or something like it. He only would say that there are spray paint booths now marketed for making extracts but wouldn't tell me anything more. I haven't been able to find anything marketed for this specifically. Anybody on the farm know of anything like that? Or perhaps have some ideas of what building a blast proof room entails? I can't find any specifics in any local regulations or even in the marijuana regulations.
Yes. You need a NEMA 7, Class I, Div I (or II?) room, capable of ventilation between 100 and 200 surface feet exhaust and makeup rates, with a HC sniffer and alarm at 10% LEL.

The intake must be at floor level, and the make up at ceiling height, located so as to fully sweep the room.

The "or II" comment is because different fire marshals interpret the rules differently. Div I says the atmosphere is always explosive, and Div II says it normally isn't, but has the potential. Clearly a well made closed loop system is Div II, but things can go wrong, go wrong, go wrong.............................., and damage potential is high.

There is also the issue of operator comfort, and HVAC costs. 100 to 200 surface feet is uncomfortable to the operators at low temperatures and the operating costs to temper the air, prohibitive. You can dress them for warmth, but if your makeup air is 107F, which was the 100 year Oregon high when I retired, you also have to find a way to cool them down.

I advocate building a Class I, Div I room, but running the exhaust rates at lower rates, to simply draw any leaking LPG by the HC detector, on the way out, and when it alarms, spooling the exhaust rates to 100 to 200 surface, which happens to be the same exhaust rates recommended for spray booths, by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienist, in Industrial Ventilation, A Manual of Recommended Practice.

Attached is an example that meets those requirements. While it also shows fire dampers and sprinklers, they haven't been required thus far in NV or WA. An OR installation is pending, with certified equipment, awaiting permitting and certification of the facilities:
 
Extraction booth conceptual 10 1 26 15RR
Graywolf

Graywolf

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PS: I'm now retired (again), but the way I achieved Class I Div I certification for the WolfWurx Mk IVC/VC Terpenators, was to eliminate electrical, except for low voltage thermocouple outputs.

I used a Haskel pneumatic recovery pump and a Vaccon pneumatic vacuum pump. Hot water was used to heat the collection pot and columns, and was supplied from outside the room, controlled by PID outside the room.
 
MirrorZen

MirrorZen

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So we got ourselves 3000sq ft of shop space we're building out for a processing business we're starting in Oregon. Went to speak with the fire Marshall to get a grasp on local regulations. I know we need a blast proof/spark proof room. Like a spray paint booth or something like it. He only would say that there are spray paint booths now marketed for making extracts but wouldn't tell me anything more. I haven't been able to find anything marketed for this specifically. Anybody on the farm know of anything like that? Or perhaps have some ideas of what building a blast proof room entails? I can't find any specifics in any local regulations or even in the marijuana regulations.
I live here in Oregon and am pretty involved with industry.
That being said what you stated confuses me. I am under the impression that a processor can package joints, process different flower for different reasons, including but not limited to edibles and kief. Also from my understanding, you need an extractor license, in which from what I heard, Oregon has stopped issuing. So all big names own the legal oil industry, mostly shit. Am I completely wrong?
 
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DjangoNugs

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I live here in Oregon and am pretty involved with industry.
That being said what you stated confuses me. I am under the impression that a processor can package joints, process different flower for different reasons, including but not limited to edibles and kief. Also from my understanding, you need an extractor license, in which from what I heard, Oregon has stopped issuing. So all big names own the legal oil industry, mostly shit. Am I completely wrong?

Pretty much wrong I think. The olcc offers three different processing endorsements. One for hydrocarbons, one for CO2/bubble/rosin, and one for edibles. The fire Marshall looks at processing as rolling joints and packaging but calls what we're doing extracting. The olcc and fire Marshall use different terms that's all. And they definitely haven't stopped issuing processing licenses. Processing and wholesale licenses are what they are focusing on right now because there's a bunch of flower coming down and they need somewhere for it to go. I'm not sure about what the ommp is doing but I'm pretty sure they are still issuing licenses as well. Just because the so called big oil companies were prepared and got in there first doesn't mean they run it. Dirty Arm Farms and Om Extracts certainly aren't the Monsanto of the extract industry. Though I am concerned about giant conglomerates coming in monopolizing and destroying the good work we've all done, I don't think it's happened yet. Prolly gonna be a few years before that happens unless we stop it before they can succeed.
 
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DjangoNugs

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Yes. You need a NEMA 7, Class I, Div I (or II?) room, capable of ventilation between 100 and 200 surface feet exhaust and makeup rates, with a HC sniffer and alarm at 10% LEL.

The intake must be at floor level, and the make up at ceiling height, located so as to fully sweep the room.

The "or II" comment is because different fire marshals interpret the rules differently. Div I says the atmosphere is always explosive, and Div II says it normally isn't, but has the potential. Clearly a well made closed loop system is Div II, but things can go wrong, go wrong, go wrong.............................., and damage potential is high.

There is also the issue of operator comfort, and HVAC costs. 100 to 200 surface feet is uncomfortable to the operators at low temperatures and the operating costs to temper the air, prohibitive. You can dress them for warmth, but if your makeup air is 107F, which was the 100 year Oregon high when I retired, you also have to find a way to cool them down.

I advocate building a Class I, Div I room, but running the exhaust rates at lower rates, to simply draw any leaking LPG by the HC detector, on the way out, and when it alarms, spooling the exhaust rates to 100 to 200 surface, which happens to be the same exhaust rates recommended for spray booths, by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienist, in Industrial Ventilation, A Manual of Recommended Practice.

Attached is an example that meets those requirements. While it also shows fire dampers and sprinklers, they haven't been required thus far in NV or WA. An OR installation is pending, with certified equipment, awaiting permitting and certification of the facilities:

Cool thanks again gray wolf...I had just discovered this class 1 div 1 requirement since you posted. You def helped put it into perspective for me. I sent requests in to a couple paint spray booth manufactures to see if they can accommodate our needs with any modifications necessary. Hopefully they stock one that fits up to our needs. I'm gonna talk to our contractor and electrician to see if they can build out a class 1 div 1 room as well. Or is that a specialist kind of thing? It's starting to sound like it's not quite as complicated as I originally thought it would be.
 
Graywolf

Graywolf

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Cool thanks again gray wolf...I had just discovered this class 1 div 1 requirement since you posted. You def helped put it into perspective for me. I sent requests in to a couple paint spray booth manufactures to see if they can accommodate our needs with any modifications necessary. Hopefully they stock one that fits up to our needs. I'm gonna talk to our contractor and electrician to see if they can build out a class 1 div 1 room as well. Or is that a specialist kind of thing? It's starting to sound like it's not quite as complicated as I originally thought it would be.
Easy to build and can use metal studs and two layers of drywall for a 2 hr barrier.
 
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DjangoNugs

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Okay that cleared up some information. Their wording is what had/has me hung up.

Yeah they like to make it confusing so it's more daunting for the average farmer just trying to grow a good medicine. The legalese is what keeps the lawyers, consultants, etc in business because it makes the layman think they need someone to translate the lingo.. Thus creating the idea only large companies can afford to really do business. When really it's rather simple if put in normal language. That's why the thcfarmers collective consciousness is so great...we can tap in to it and help each other overgrow the establishment
 
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DjangoNugs

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Easy to build and can use metal studs and two layers of drywall for a 2 hr barrier.

Yeah def looks like something my contractor and electricians could do. Is it two layers of drywall really all you need for the 2 hour barrier? Or is there a special drywall/insulation that's used?...do you think it's cheaper to Just have it built or to purchase a modified paint spray booth?
 
Graywolf

Graywolf

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Probably cheaper to use metal studs and two 5/8" standard drywall layers, if it is a one time install. If you are going to move it later, the metal tubing room can be made more portable.
 
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DjangoNugs

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Cool...If it's that easy I'm sure my design engineer and contractor will be able to help us build something. Thanks again for the input.
 
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DjangoNugs

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After going through all this research and getting all you guys and gals help (thanks for that) we found our class 1 division 1 explosion proof room. We found this company global finishing solutions that builds paint booths and they were looking to get into the cannabis market. These booths are badass. They pretty much make them to order so can adjust for different regulations or personal requirements pretty cheap and easy. Though I'd pass it on cuz I spent a few months trying to figure this out. Then designed one only to have my mechanical ventilation engineer and architect tell me how much more it would cost. I'll post some pics as soon as it's installed. Thanks again for a the help!!
 
J

jwang268

1
1
DjangoNugs,
Would you please update your extraction booth info?
Thanks.

After going through all this research and getting all you guys and gals help (thanks for that) we found our class 1 division 1 explosion proof room. We found this company global finishing solutions that builds paint booths and they were looking to get into the cannabis market. These booths are badass. They pretty much make them to order so can adjust for different regulations or personal requirements pretty cheap and easy. Though I'd pass it on cuz I spent a few months trying to figure this out. Then designed one only to have my mechanical ventilation engineer and architect tell me how much more it would cost. I'll post some pics as soon as it's installed. Thanks again for a the help!!
 
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