Design, Development and Layout

Design of Laboratory

Laboratories must provide a safe working environment which complies with current thinking on energy conservation and environmental impact of activities.

It must also be properly equipped with services such as a stable and reliable electricity supply, good ventilation with fume extraction where necessary, adequate lighting, safety systems such as fire control measures, secure and protected storage for records, including computer back-ups and water and gas supplies.

Laboratories must also be secure to provide for client confidentiality and so as to ensure that data and samples can only be accessed by authorised personnel. There must also be adequate arrangements to provide and to monitor any special conditions required for different types of testing. For example microbiology testing areas must be designed so as to be easily cleaned and areas for textile testing require close control, of temperature and humidity. Care must also be taken to ensure that incompatible activities are clearly separated, e.g. handling of high and low level samples, separation of areas for handling standards and samples. This will normally be achieved by a combination of management practices and physical segregation.

All health and safety hazard must be anticipated and carefully evaluated so that protective measures can be incorporated into the design. No matter, how well designed a laboratory is, improper usage of its facilities will defeat the engineered safety features. Proper education for the facility users is essential. The information given is applicable to all Laboratory buildings, laboratory units and laboratory work areas in which hazardous materials are used, handled or stored.

The design aspects are classified and discussed in detail as given

1	General requirements for laboratory.
2	Electrical safety.
3	Laboratory ventilation and Fume hoods.
4	Emergency eye wash and Safety shower.
5	Pressure vessel components and compressed gas cylinders.
6	Hazardous material storage cabinets.
7	Model Floor Plans.
8	Relevant Links.

1. General requirements for laboratory.

a. Building Requirements

i	Designer Qualifications- The designer shall have appropriate professional licence in his/her area of expertise.
ii	Building Occupancy Classification- Occupancy classification is to be based upon an assessment of a projected chemical inventory of the building. Prior to the final design, the campus fire safety organization will need to assign an occupancy class to insure compliance with the building codes.
iii	Environmental Aspects- Identify pollution abatement engineering requirement for the building, well before resource allocation decisions are made

b. Building Design Issues
Handling and storage of hazardous materials inherently carries a higher risk of exposure and injury. It is important to segregate hazardous and non hazardous areas. Following aspects or to be considered while designing the laboratory:

i	Choice of fire proof construction for the building.
ii	Separate office spaces for laboratory employees. It is prohibited to store and consume food, apply make-up or chew gum in areas where hazardous materials are used/stored.
iii	Public access to laboratory personnel in office rooms with separate corridor access is highly desirable.
iv	An automatically triggered main gas shut-off valve and interior shut-off valves shall be provided.
v	Large section of glass shall be shatter resistant.

c. Laboratory Design Considerations

i	It shall be completely separated from outside areas.
ii	The design shall allow to accommodate additional facilities such as construction of workplace/storage area etc.
iii	Mechanical climate control shall be provided.
iv	The design shall allow adequate office space, isolated from the laboratory, but still near.
v	The air supply and exhaust vents shall be designed so as to minimize the potential for inhalation of chemicals.
vi	Workstations in the laboratory need to accommodate computer monitors, keyboards and work holders and shall be height adjustable.
vii	Each room in the hazardous area of the laboratory shall contain a sink with proper plumbing for hand washing.
viii	All bench tops counters etc. shall be impervious to the chemicals and materials used inthe laboratory.
ix	The design shall allow easy cleaning (at the corners and floor areas beneath the work benches).
x	Flooring in chemicals use areas shall be chemical resistant and shall have covings to the wall.
xi	The wall shall be non-porous and painted with a durable, impervious paint.
xii	Effluent collection ports shall be provided.
xiii	Electrical insulation shall we provided.
xiv	Laboratory areas shall be well lit.

d. Hazardous Materials Design Issues.

i	Facilities shall be designed, so that use of a respirator is not required for normal operations.
ii	A pressure differential system should be used to control the flow of airborne contamination.
iii	The flow shall be from clean areas to contaminated areas
iv	An area for storage of spill or emergency response equipment shall be located on each floor.
v	Sufficient space or facilities such as storage cabinets with partitions etc. shall be provided.

e. Entries, Exits etc...

i	The main emergency egress from the laboratory shall have a minimum clearance of 36 inches.
ii	To prevent blocking egress, lab benches, and other furniture shall not be placed so that there is less than 5 feet of clear egress.
iii	Space between benches, cabinets, and equipment shall be easily accessible for cleaning and servicing
iv	Automatic self closing doors are advisable and shall be able to open with minimum effort.
v	All exit and emergency doors serving hazardous occupancies shall swing in the direction of exit travel.

f. Electrical and Utility issues

i	Laboratory shall be fitted with electrical outlets that can accommodate current requirements with an additional 40% capacity.
ii	Circuit breakers shall be located outside the laboratory area.
iii	Main valves for gas and vacuum lines shall be located outside the laboratory area.
iv	Flexible connections shall be used for connecting gas and other plumbed utilities.

g. Accessibility

i	Laboratory design shall include adapted workbenches as necessary.
ii	A work surface that can be adjusted to be from 27 to 37 inches from the floor must be provided.
iii	A 29 inch clearance beneath the top to a depth of at least 20 inches.
iv	A minimum width of 36 inches to allow for leg space for the seated individuals

2. Electrical safety.

i	Shall provide GFI protection to electrical connection points above counter tops and within 6 feet of sinks. Connection points that are not readily accessible or those for appliances occupying dedicated space, which are cord-and-plug connected in accordance with NEC Section 400-7A(6-8), are exempted.
ii	The laboratory should be fitted with an adequate number of electrical outlets, which can accommodate electrical current requirements with an additional 20-40 % capacity.
iii	Circuit breakers should be located outside the laboratory, but not in rated corridors

3. Laboratory ventilation and Fume hoods.

The primary functions of ventilation systems are to provide a comfortable, safe, breathable environment for all employees and public and to minimize the exposures to hazardous air contaminants. Careful planning, designing and maintaining air supply and exhaust vents and equipment and accomplish these goals.

3.1 General Requirements

i	All laboratory spaces shall have 100% outside air and exhaust to the outside.
ii	There shall be no returns of fume hood and exhaust back into the building, of the order of 5-10 air changes per hour of ventilation for laboratory is desired.
iii	Fume hoods shall not be the sole means of room air exhaust.
iv	General room exhaust outlets shall be provided wherever necessary.
v	Adequate numbers and types of fume hoods shall be installed.
vi	The system shall have at least 25% excess capacity for future expansion.
vii	The noise generated by the mechanical devices shall be kept low
viii	The laboratory windows, if they are to be opened, must be fitted with insect screens.

4. Emergency eye wash and Safety shower.

Eyewash and shower equipment for emergency treatment of the eyes or body of a person who has been exposed to chemicals, must be incorporated into the laboratory design

i	A plumbed eyewash and safety shower meeting the specifications of ANSI, z358.1, shall be provided.
ii	An emergency shower combined with eyewash shall be provided at all work areas where, materials which are corrosive or otherwise hazardous on bodily contact are used.
iii	A combination unit shall be installed with in all acid washing work areas.
iv	An emergency eyewash or shower station shall be located near to the hazards area and there shall be a free path to reach the unit.
v	The water from the eyewash or shower shall be delivered at a tepid temperature and the pipeline shall be controlled by a ball-type shutoff valve which is visible, well mark and freely accessible.
vi	The area of the shower shall be painted with a bright colour and shall be well lit.

5. Pressure vessel components and compressed gas cylinders.

i	Cylinders of compressed gases shall be stored in areas where they are protected from external heat sources. They must always be secured to prevent being knocked over.
ii	Cylinders shall not be kept in unventilated enclosures such as lockers and cupboards.
iii	Wherever practicable cylinders of compressed gas shall not be stored in laboratory areas. They should be located outside the building and supplies piped in. Flammable gases should have flame arrestors fitted to the cylinder
iv	Adequate space shall be made available for the segregation of gases by hazard class.
v	Liquefied fuel-gas cylinders shall be stored in an upright position.
vi	Storage area shall be secured against unauthorized entry.
vii	Emergency power shall be provided for exhaust ventilation, gas leakage detection system and emergency alarm system.

6. Hazardous material storage cabinets.

i	Laboratories that store, use, or handle more than 10 gallons of flammable or combustible liquids shall have one or more flammable liquid storage cabinets.
ii	Proper ventilation shall be provided for the storage cabinets and toxic materials shall be properly anchored to prevent spillage.
iii	Secure, managed and monitored storage must be provided for highly toxic materials, e.g. cyanides, micotoxins, barium salts.