Air Quality Best Practices: Protecting Workers and the Environment
The familiar sounds of hydraulic lifts, scents of fresh paint and grinding metals are indications of a busy auto body shop.
While these indicate productivity, they also highlight potential air quality concerns. As members of the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers, you understand the importance of maintaining a safe and healthy workplace. This article outlines key regulations and suggests best practices for your auto body shops to protect both your employees and the environment.
Automotive service and body shops often use materials and processes that release air pollutants. These pollutants include Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from paints, solvents and degreasers, which contribute to smog formation and can negatively impact workers health. Hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) like methylene chloride commonly used in paint stripping, pose serious health risks. Additionally, particulate matter generated during sanding, grinding and other operations can become airborne, leading to respiratory issues. Beyond worker health, these air emissions contribute to air pollution.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Requirements
The MPCA regulates air emissions to ensure Minnesota’s air quality remains within state and federal standards. The specific regulations that apply to your shop will depend on the materials used:
• Insignificant Facilities: Very small shops with extremely low potential air emissions may not require an air permit. However, facilities must determine whether they qualify as an insignificant facility.
• Conditionally Exempt Sources: Auto body shops and similar businesses can benefit from a conditional exemption, potentially eliminating the need for a full air permit. To qualify, they must meet specific technical standards, which include purchasing or using under 2,000 gallons of coatings and cleaners annually or emitting less than 20,000 lbs of VOCs and 12,000 lbs of HAPs per year. Qualifying shops are required to submit an exempt source notification and follow streamlined operational and record-keeping requirements, many of which are already considered best practices.
• Air Permits: Facilities exceeding permitting thresholds, and not qualifying as insignificant or conditionally exempt, will require an air permit. The specific permit type (registration, capped or individual permit) depends on the facility’s actual emissions. For more information, see our Do I need an air permit? webpage at pca.state.mn.us/business-with-us/do-i-need-an-air-permit.
Air Quality Best Practices
Implementing the following best practices can improve air quality at your shop:
• Material Selection: Choose products (paints, primers, solvents and cleaning solutions) with lower VOC and HAP contents.
• Less Hazardous Alternatives: Consult with suppliers or organizations like the Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP) for safer alternatives.
• High-Efficiency Spray Guns: Utilize spray guns with higher transfer efficiency, which means more paint lands on the vehicle surface and less becomes overspray, reducing waste and emissions.
• Proper Paint Booth Installation: Ensure your paint booth is correctly installed and direct overspray to powered, filtered ventilation systems.
• Equipment Maintenance: Regularly clean and maintain spray coating equipment according to manufacturer specifications.
• Sealed Containers: Keep drums, equipment and waste containers tightly sealed to prevent evaporation of VOCs and HAPs.
• Proper Rag Disposal: Store used rags in sealed containers to prevent evaporation of VOCs and HAPs.
• Parts Washer Solutions: Consider switching to a water-based parts washer instead of solvent-based options to reduce emissions and improve worker safety.
• Comprehensive Training: Ensure all painters are trained in proper setup and maintenance of spray coating equipment, application techniques, and safe handling of materials, including the use of personal protective equipment.
These best practices are more than just compliance; they are about responsible business practices and a commitment to a cleaner environment for all Minnesotans. For additional information, contact the MPCA’s Small Business Environmental Assistance Program for confidential assistance on regulatory matters at: (651) 282-6143 or e-mail smallbizhelp.pca@state.mn.us.
Want more? Check out the August 2025 issue of AASP-MN News!