Basic Documentation

Table Of Contents
Ventilation Systems
Siemens Industry, Inc. 105
Topic Requirement(s) Commentary
Room and
Duct
Pressurization
U.S. OSHA, 29 CFR, Part 1910, Occupational Safety and Health Standards,
Subpart Z, Toxic and Hazardous Substances,1910.1450,C4:
4. Ventilation - direct air flow into the laboratory from non-laboratory areas and out to
the exterior of the building.
National Fire Protection Association, Standard NFPA 45,2011
8.3.4 The air pressure in the laboratory work areas shall be negative with respect to
corridors and non-laboratory areas of the laboratory unit except in the following
instances:
(1) Where operations such as those requiring clean rooms preclude a negative
pressure relative to surrounding areas, alternate means shall be provided to prevent
escape of the atmosphere in the laboratory work area or unit to the surrounding
area.
(2) The desired static pressure level with respect to corridors and non-laboratory
areas shall be permitted to undergo momentary variations as the ventilation system
components respond to door openings, changes in chemical fume hood sash
positions, and other activities that can for a short term affect the static pressure level
and its negative relationship.
(3) Laboratory work areas within a designated hazardous electrically classified area
with a positive air pressure system as described in NFPA 496, Standard for Purged
and Pressurized Enclosures for Electrical Equipment, Chapter 7, Pressurized
Control Rooms.
8.4.4 Air exhausted from laboratory units and laboratory work areas in which
chemicals are present shall be continuously discharged through duct systems
maintained at a negative pressure relative to the pressure of normally occupied
areas of the building.
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Note that in most cases, the standards do not
set a pressurization level and generally do not
specify a method to regulate it.
A target in the vicinity of 0.01 inwc to 0.03
inwc (2 Pa to 7 Pa) is often effective in
chemical laboratories. Higher levels are used
in special cases, but this requires especially
tight sealing of the room envelope.
Only AIHA Z9.5 discusses the method of
pressurization. It explains that controlling a
flow offset is usually preferable to controlling
the pressure difference. This is largely
because of the practicality of measuring the
physical quantities. The low room pressure
signal is more easily disrupted than the
stronger air flow signals measured in the
ducts. The flow offset also tends to behave
better when the door is opened than a room
pressure controller.
Note: For additional information on room
pressurization as well as a detailed
explanation of static pressure, velocity
pressure, total pressure, pressurization
control and related parameters refer to
Siemens’ publication Room Pressurization
Control Applications Guide (125-2191).