CHAPTER 5
FIBERGLASS REINFORCED PLASTIC FABRICATION
AND REPAIR FACILITIES
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primarily fabricate and repair aircraft and shipboard components. Both include a shop
area, a mechanical equipment area, and a decontamination area (for protective
clothing).
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OPERATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS. FRP fabrication and repair
operations include sanding, buffing, fabric cutting, grinding, lay up, and wet spray up.
These operations produce dust and vapor that constitute health hazards. The protective
clothing that the workers wear and the physical nature of the work creates a potential for
heat stress.
a. Consider using airless spray equipment to reduce hazardous vapors
in the shop. Initial cost for this equipment is greater than traditional compressed air
systems. Benefits include overspray reduction and less accumulation of resin and
fiberglass over the life of the equipment. A disadvantage of these systems is their
limited pattern and flow adjustment capability.
b. Consider using low monomer polyester material, closed molding
systems or low-VOC resin systems, and airless and air-assisted spray equipment to
avoid the need for expensive air pollution devices.
c. Isolate conventional grinding operations from the mixing areas and
the lay up and spray up areas. The combined hazard of dust and flammable vapors is
potentially explosive. Post signs in the lay up and spray up areas and the mixing area
without low volume-high velocity (LVHV) connectors that read:
DANGER
DO NOT GRIND, CUT, OR SAW
FIBERGLASS IN THIS AREA
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FLOOR PLAN. Figure 5-1 shows a typical floor plan for a fabrication and
repair facility. The workers enter the clean locker rooms through the administrative area.
They put on protective outerwear and proceed to the shop area. After performing their
work, shop personnel vacuum, then discard their protective outerwear in containers near
the entrances to the locker rooms. The workers then enter the locker rooms where they
remove the remainder of their work garments.
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