Ask the Expert Question-and-Answer Archive

by Ron Joseph

June, 2005

Respirators for CARC Paint Coatings

Q. The Army Depot is reconditioning all sorts of containers. They rehab helo blade boxes, all sizes of engine, transmission, rotorhead and instrument metal containers that are painted with CARC paint. They do spot corrosion control in a certain bldg. They sand the coating down to bare metal for eventual repainting at the same bldg. What kind if IH concerns should they be aware of and ensuring they protect the employees. What kind of PPE should they be using if the performance of the dust and paint booths are inadequate. Please be specific from sanding to repainting. Cr3, Cd, silica and TDI concerns.

A. I'm not an industrial hygienist and therefore cannot really answer your question in any detail. I can tell you that when using CARC, painters should wear a NIOSH approved respirator for polydiisocyanates, but that does not necessarily imply wearing a full air-supplied respirator. For small paint jobs cartridge respirators are apparently, adequate. Quite honestly, that's about as far as I can go. I can't even answer your questions about sanding, because I don't know what the requirements are.

Best wishes,

Ron Joseph