Painter certification clock

Definition

Each painter's own five-year training expiry, which a buyer inherits one employee at a time.

Why It Matters

The federal rule that governs spray finishing exempts an area-source shop from the federal operating permit program, so what it asks a buyer to inspect is records. A state can still require its own permit, as Ohio does above its de minimis level. Every painter must be certified in spray application and in setting up and maintaining the equipment, and the certification runs five years from that painter's own training date, so a crew of six carries six different expiries. The booths and preparation stations must be fitted with filter technology demonstrated to capture at least 98 percent of overspray. Ask for the certificates and the filter specification, because both are the buyer's problem the day after closing.