In many cases, yes. A gas spray booth can be converted to all-electric operation by replacing the heating system with far infrared (FIR) electric elements, without removing and replacing the full booth structure. Whether conversion is the right route — or whether a full replacement makes more sense — depends on the age and condition of the existing booth, your site's electrical capacity, and what you want to achieve from the change.
The core of a gas-to-electric conversion is replacing the combustion heating assembly — the burner, heat exchanger, gas supply connections, and associated controls — with an electric FIR heating system. The FIR elements are installed within the booth and connected to your electrical supply, and the control system is updated to manage electric operation.
Depending on the age and specification of the existing booth, other components may be upgraded at the same time. Variable speed drives (VSDs) on the extract fans can be added to improve energy management. The control panel and PLC may be replaced to support the new operating logic. Filtration can be reviewed and updated if required. The booth structure itself — panels, frame, doors, airflow path — does not need to change in a straightforward conversion, provided it is in serviceable condition.
This depends on the scope of the upgrade and the specific booth. A planned conversion carried out by an experienced team is typically completed within a matter of days. The gas supply is disconnected and capped, the combustion assembly is removed, FIR elements are installed and wired, controls are commissioned, and the booth is tested before being returned to service.
The downtime involved in a conversion is generally shorter than the lead time and installation involved in replacing the full booth. For a busy body shop where booth availability directly affects throughput, this is a meaningful operational consideration.
Converting from gas to all-electric FIR heating requires a three-phase electrical supply — typically 63 amps at 415VAC for a standard automotive spray booth. This is the single most important site requirement to establish before committing to a conversion.
If your site already has adequate three-phase capacity, the electrical work involved is relatively straightforward. If your site requires an electrical supply upgrade, this involves coordinating with your Distribution Network Operator (DNO) and potentially installing new metering infrastructure. This is a one-time cost that benefits all electrical equipment on site. It is worth establishing current capacity early, as DNO lead times can affect project scheduling.
Gas supply decommissioning — capping the existing supply, removing pipework, and completing the necessary gas safe documentation — is handled as part of the conversion process.
Retaining the existing booth structure means you are not paying for a new enclosure, panels, doors, or installation — the investment is focused on the heating system and controls. A conversion typically takes significantly less time to complete than a full booth replacement, from order to commissioning.
From the first day of electric operation, your fuel costs change. You move from gas combustion at 70–85% efficiency to FIR electric at up to 98.5% efficiency. The energy cost reduction begins immediately and compounds over time. Eliminating gas combustion also removes its direct carbon emissions entirely — and the carbon intensity of your electricity supply continues to fall as the GB grid decarbonises, meaning the environmental benefit improves over time without further action.
Gas-fired booth equipment requires periodic inspection, servicing of burner assemblies, and gas safety certification. Converting to electric removes these obligations and their associated ongoing costs entirely.
Conversion is typically the right choice when the existing booth structure is in good condition, correctly sized for your operation, and positioned where you want it. If the booth enclosure is sound, there is no structural reason to replace it.
Full replacement makes more sense when the existing booth is at or near end of life, undersized for your current throughput, poorly positioned on site, or when the specification of the enclosure — insulation quality, filtration, airflow design — is limiting performance in ways the heating system change alone cannot address.
In some cases, an operator uses a conversion as a first step — electrifying immediately to capture the running cost reduction, then replacing the full booth when the existing enclosure reaches end of life.
A site assessment by a qualified engineer is the only reliable way to determine suitability. The assessment should cover the structural condition of the existing booth, the electrical supply available on site and what upgrade may be required, the airflow and filtration specification, and what the conversion would realistically achieve in terms of operating cost and performance.
Any reputable supplier offering gas-to-electric conversion should carry out this assessment before providing a proposal. An honest assessment will tell you clearly whether conversion is the right route, or whether the condition of the existing booth means a full replacement would serve you better.
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