The question usually arrives in one form: how much air capacity do I need for a truck? The answer does not start from the truck, because the air serves the chamber rather than the vehicle standing in it.
Air capacity truck surface area is calculated on the volume of the chamber that holds that truck, then reviewed against the coated area and the cycle time you need.
Why volume, not vehicle type
Air does two jobs inside the chamber. It renews the spray environment so overspray does not build up in the working atmosphere, and it carries airborne particles away from the coated surface. Both relate to the size of the space, not to what is parked in it.
So the larger the chamber, the more airflow and heat it needs — and the truck raises the figure by that route, not by any other.
| Variable | Effect on capacity | How it is measured |
|---|---|---|
| Chamber volume | The primary driver | Internal length × width × height |
| Coated surface area | Raises the overspray load extracted | Actual painted surface of the vehicle |
| Required cycle time | Raises the renewal rate | Target cycles per day |
The delivered range
Air capacity in this family runs from 18,000 to 190,000 m³/h per supply or extraction set, with heat output from 200,000 to 600,000 kcal/h.
In the trucks, buses and long vehicles class the delivered capacity reaches 72,000+72,000 m³/h — two figures, because supply and extraction are separate sets rather than one.
Why the figure is written as a pair
Because reading a single number hides half the system. The supply set brings treated air in, the extraction set takes it out loaded with overspray, and the balance between them is what holds chamber pressure in its band.
A single figure in a quotation means one of the two sides is unstated — and that is the first thing to ask about when comparing offers.
Frequently asked questions
Is higher capacity always better?
No. Capacity beyond what the chamber needs consumes energy for nothing and can upset air distribution inside the chamber. The right figure is the one calculated on your volume, not the highest in the table.
How do I know my figure before the quotation?
It is derived from your target internal size. Send the dimensions of the longest vehicle you take in so the size is fixed first, then the figure is calculated from it.
Does the coating type change the figure?
The heat curve changes with the coating, and air capacity is affected by the renewal rate required. That is why the finishing material is sent along with the dimensions rather than the dimensions alone.
Related reading
What to do next
Send the dimensions of your longest vehicle and the finishing material you run, and we will return an air capacity and heat output calculated on your chamber. talk to a specialist. The published range is on the paint booth family page.