Should I use a pleated or glassfibre panel for my spray booth?

Pleated vs Glass Fibre Filter Panels: Which Should You Use in Your Spray Booth?

Pleated vs Glass Fibre Filter Panels: Which Should You Use in Your Spray Booth?

If you're setting up or maintaining a spray booth, one of the most common questions you'll come across is: “Should I use a pleated panel filter or a glass fibre panel?”
The answer depends on the location and purpose of the filter within your spray booth system - specifically, whether it's being used for air input or air extraction.

In this post, we’ll break down the differences between pleated filters and glass fibre panels, and explain when and why to use each for optimal performance, air quality, and equipment protection.

Understanding the Roles: Air Input vs Air Extraction

Before choosing a filter type, it’s important to understand the two main airflow functions in a spray booth:
  1. Air Input: This intake is the air being drawn into the spray booth to create a clean, controlled environment.
  2. Air Extraction: This exhaust is the air being pulled out of the booth, carrying overspray, dust, and fumes with it.
Different types of filters are suited to these different roles due to their material structure, filtration efficiency, and airflow resistance.

Use Pleated Panel Filters for Air Intake

Pleated panel filters are the best choice for filtering incoming air into your spray booth. Why?
  1. ✅ Higher Filtration Efficiency: Pleated panels have a larger surface area due to their folded design. This allows them to trap much finer particles, such as dust and airborne contaminants, before they enter the booth.
  2. ✅ Cleaner Spray Environment: By capturing fine dust and debris before it enters the booth, pleated filters help maintain a cleaner working space, which leads to higher-quality paint finishes and fewer reworks.
  3. ✅ Protects Sensitive Work: In environments like automotive refinishing, industrial coating, and precision painting, even microscopic dust particles can ruin a finish. Pleated filters help prevent that by ensuring clean intake air.

Use Glassfibre Panel Filters for Air Extraction

Glassfibre panels are generally used for the exhaust side of a spray booth, filtering the air as it exits.
  1. ✅ Designed for Overspray Capture: Glassfibre filters are excellent at catching larger particles, such as paint overspray, mist, and debris. Their open, fibrous structure is perfect for stopping particles without creating high resistance.
  2. ✅ Lower Airflow Resistance: These filters are more breathable, making them ideal for extraction systems where maintaining strong airflow is important for safety and ventilation.
  3. ✅ Cost-Effective and Easy to Replace: Glassfibre panels are typically lower cost than pleated filters and are quick to install or change, making them a practical option for high-volume spraying operations.

Summary

Which Filter Should You Use Where? Basic Location Recommended Filter Type.
  1. Air Input - Pleated Panel Filters Captures fine dust, improves air quality, protects finish quality.
  2. Air Extraction - Glassfibre Panel Filters traps overspray, supports high airflow, cost-effective.
Using the right filter in the right location improves booth performance, extends filter life, and helps you maintain regulatory compliance with air quality standards.

Shop Spray Booth Filters

At Bespoke Filters, we stock a full range of pleated and glassfibre panel filters suitable for all types of spray booths - whether you're working in automotive, furniture finishing, aerospace, or general industrial coating.
Browse our high-quality filter products or contact us for expert advice on choosing the right solution for your specific booth setup.

Need Help Choosing the Right Filter Setup? Our experienced team is always happy to assist with:
  1. Airflow calculations
  2. Filter compatibility
  3. Custom sizing
  4. Bulk orders and trade pricing
Give us a call or get in touch - we’ll help you get the perfect filter for your spray booth!

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