Basic Documentation

Applicable Definitions (Alphabetical Listing)
Siemens Industry, Inc. 13
Term Definition Commentary
Hood:
Snorkel or
‘Elephant Trunk’
Laboratory
Laboratory Module
Laboratory Scale
Laboratory Unit
Laboratory Work
Area
A small exhaust provision, usually for bench-top work, that can be positioned very close
to the source of the fumes for optimum effect. It usually consists of a length of 3 inch to
6 inch diameter flexible metallic duct and provides essentially the same functionality as
a slot hood.
National Fire Protection Association, Standard NFPA 45, 2011, 3.3.32:
“A facility where the containers used for reactions, transfers, and other handling of
chemicals are designed to be easily and safely manipulated by one person. A
laboratory is a workplace where chemicals are used or synthesized on a nonproduction
basis.”
U.S. OSHA: “A facility where the "laboratory use of hazardous chemicals" occurs. It is
a workplace where relatively small quantities of hazardous chemicals are used on a
non-production basis.”
A laboratory module is a basic unit of space that is initially optimized to accommodate
the smallest anticipated size of laboratory room. It is generally used for architectural
planning (window and door arrangement, column placement, stairway and elevator
location, etc.) as well as the mechanical and utility system arrangements (plumbing
risers, electrical distribution, ventilation components, etc.) to facilitate later
reconfiguration of the research facility into larger (or smaller) laboratory rooms by
combining or dividing laboratory modules. Utilizing this modular design concept when
planning a new research facility makes it much easier to make changes to meet future
needs.
U.S. OSHA: “Work with substances in which the containers used for reactions,
transfers, and other handling of substances are designed to be easily and safety
manipulated by one person. ”Laboratory scale" excludes those workplaces whose
function is to produce commercial quantities of materials.”
National Fire Protection Association, Standard NFPA 45, 2011, 3.3.36: “An
enclosed space used for experiments or tests. A laboratory unit can include offices,
lavatories, and other incidental contiguous rooms maintained for or used by laboratory
personnel, and corridors within the unit. It can contain one or more separate laboratory
work areas. It can be an entire building.”
National Fire Protection Association, Standard NFPA 45, 2011 3.3.38: “A room or
space for testing, analysis, research, instruction, or similar activities that involve the use
of chemicals.”
A “true” laboratory conducts research and
testing associated with product development
or other analytical functions, is not a routine
part of an ongoing manufacturing process.
The most common laboratory work is
associated with chemical or biological agents.
However, many other kinds of laboratories are
involved with physics, electronics, lasers,
radiology, etc.
A typical two person laboratory module usually
approximates 200 to 360 square feet in size
(that is, 10 or 12 feet wide and 20 to 30 feet
deep). If desired, the wall between two single
sized lab modules may be removed to make
the resulting room two (or more) times larger
than a single module size room. Alterations to
modules should not require significant
changes to the facility mechanical system
layout.
The terms ‘Laboratory Unit’ and ‘Laboratory
Work Area’ are utilized by the NFPA to
establish hazard classifications for these areas
based upon the quantities of flammable liquids
present. The hazard classifications then
stipulate the fire protection systems, fire
resistive construction and exit arrangements
required. These terms do not directly impact
laboratory ventilation systems. For specific
details, see NFPA 45, 2011, Chapters 4
through 7.