Basic Documentation
Table Of Contents
- About this Application Guide
- Chapter 1–Introduction
- Chapter 2–Goals of the Laboratory Environment
- Chapter 3–Unique Ventilation Needs of a Laboratory Facility
- Chapter 4–Ventilation Systems Classification
- Chapter 5–Laboratory Facility Exhaust Systems
- Chapter 6–Laboratory Containment Units - Ventilation
- Chapter 7–Room Ventilation, Makeup Air, and Pressurization Control Systems
- Chapter 8–Laboratory Temperature and Humidity Control Systems
- Chapter 9–Laboratory Emergencies - Ventilation System Response
- Chapter 10–Laboratory Ventilation System - Validation
- Chapter 11–Laboratory Ventilation System - Commissioning
- Glossary
- Index
High Toxicity Laboratory Rooms
High Toxicity Laboratory Rooms
This type of laboratory is so designated because of the higher level of hazard posed by the
substances and chemicals often used. Federal (U.S. OSHA) and state regulatory agencies
have established a list of what substances and chemicals pose, or are suspected of posing, a
high risk due to their potential for causing cancer (carcinogens), birth defects, or other
potentially very serious adverse affects if exposed.
Maintaining environmental goals in a high toxicity laboratory is done by designing the lab with
adequate access restriction, tight sealing doors, and ensuring an adequate overall ventilation
rate. Work with highly toxic substances is preferably done in a glove box to prevent physical
contact with the substance and ensure that air from the box is directly exhausted and
prevented from flowing back into the laboratory room. Exhaust from glove boxes and the high
toxicity laboratory itself must also be filtered by a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter
prior to discharge outdoors. The temperature and humidity of these laboratories is typically
controlled for occupant comfort; however additional ambient control requirements may exit in
specific instances.
Medical Laboratory Rooms
Laboratories associated with health care and patient treatment vary considerably with respect
to their purpose, size and level of risk posed to the workers. Some of the activities include
pathology (examining tissue specimens for structural and functional evidence of disease),
urinalysis and cytology (analysis and examination of body fluids), virology and microbiology
(analysis for determining the presence of viruses and other infectious disease pathogens),
and nuclear medicine. The health risk posed to laboratory workers ranges from relatively
small to quite substantial. In addition, odor control is a very often necessary for most of these
activities. Laboratory room ventilation systems range from that required for a general
chemistry laboratory way up to a Biosafety Level 3 laboratory, as appropriate to the activity.
Where multiple laboratory functions are combined in a single room, the laboratory ventilation
system design must address the most stringent health and safety requirements of any single
activity.
Animal Rooms–Vivariums
A wide variety of activities are associated with laboratory animals and extensive support
activities are necessary. Some of the most intensive support activities include animal feeding
and cage cleaning and the disposal of infected animal tissue and the carcasses of dead
animals. In all activities associated with animal labs, the need to protect against biological
hazards, transmission of allergens, and the ever present need for odor control imposes a
multitude of requirements on the ventilation system and requires a higher ventilation rate than
for chemical or biological labs. Air that is exhausted from an animal laboratory room cannot
be recirculated or allowed to migrate to other parts of the facility.
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