Basic Documentation

Table Of Contents
Ventilation Systems
Siemens Industry, Inc. 99
Topic Requirement(s) Commentary
Ventilation
Rates for
Animal
Rooms
(Continued)
Ventilation
Rates for
Biological
Labs
In areas that require filtration to ensure personnel and/or animal safety (e.g.,
hazardous containment holding), filter efficiency, loading, and integrity should be
assessed.
Page 139: HVAC systems should be designed for reliability (including redundancy
where applicable), ease of maintenance, and energy conservation; able to meet
requirements for animals as discussed in Chapter 3; and flexible and adaptable to the
changing types and numbers of animals and equipment maintained during the life of
the facility (ASHRAE).
They should be capable of adjustments in and ideally maintain
dry-bulb temperatures of ±1°C (±2°F). Relative humidity should generally be
maintained within a range of 30-70% throughout the year.
The exhaust air to be recycled should be filtered, at minimum, with 85-95% ASHRAE
efficient filters to remove airborne particles before it is recycled. Depending on the air
source, composition, and proportion of recycled air used (e.g., ammonia and other
gases emitted from excrement in recirculating air from animal rooms), consideration
should also be given to filtering volatile substances. In areas that require filtration to
ensure personnel and/or animal safety (e.g., hazardous containment holding), filter
efficiency, loading, and integrity should be assessed.
Page 139: HVAC systems should be designed for reliability (including redundancy
Local Codes
Some local jurisdictions may impose other specific ACH requirements for biological
laboratories (that is, UBC requires six ACH)
ASHRAE, 2003 Handbook - HVAC Applications, Laboratories, Pg. 7.6, Health Care
Facilities:
Radiology 6 ACH with 2 ACH from Outside Air Bacteriology, Biochemistry, Pathology,
Serology, etc.: These labs requires a minimum ventilation rate of 6 ACH with the
equivalent of 1/3 of the ventilation air (2 ACH) consisting of outside air.
ASHRAE, 2003 Handbook - HVAC Applications, Laboratories, Pg. 14.17,
CONTAINMENT LABORATORIES:
Biosafety Level 1: 3 to 4 ACH
Biosafety Level 2: 6 to 15 ACH
Biosafety Level 3: (No specific ventilation rate is given.)
Biosafety Level 4 (Highly specialized requirements specific requirements must
be determined by the Biological Safety Officer.)
Specific requirements for the ventilation rate of
biological laboratories vary somewhat or in
many cases are established by the facility’s
own health and safety standards.
Note that in order to ensure that the proper
ventilation rate is in effect, a means of
measuring and continuously monitoring room
exhaust airflow is necessary