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Lab design a maze of building codes, regulations

Lab Safety Advisor, August 22, 2005

Whether you are designing a new lab or remodeling an existing one, many safety standards come into play. In addition to OSHA and EPA regulations you must also consider ISO 15190 and agency requirements such as the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and the College of American Pathologists (CAP). Local building codes set standards as well so guidance through an architectural firm should be sought. Items to consider include:

    Both ambient and task lighting for work areas and computer workstations. Task lighting should be no more than three times brighter than ambient lighting to enhance visual acuity.
    Temperature set between 65 and 70 degrees F. to keep employees mentally alert and allow for heat generated by the lab equipment.
    Air exchanges of six to eight times per hours at a minimum for most labs. Twelve exchanges will remove approximately 99% of airborne particulates in 23 minutes. Anatomic labs and autopsy suites should have an air exchange of 14-16 times per hour.
    Noise levels at less than 80 decibels. High levels may require the use of ear plugs and a hearing conservation program.
    Safety signage as required by law.
    Restricted access to authorized personnel only.
    Eyewash stations that are tested weekly by flushing for 3 minutes. They must provide a minimum of 15 minutes of hands-free flushing capacity.
    Emergency showers located within 100 feet and accessible within a 10 second walk to the shower. More information can be found in the Lab Safety Advisor issue from 6/231/05 (provide the link here)
    Chemical fume hoods with air flowing through the sash opening at 75-125 lineal feet per minute (LFM)
    Biosafety cabinets with face velocity between 85 and 115 ppm with the ideal being 100 or above.
    Fire extinguishers that are certified annually and can extinguish A, B or C type fires and fire alarms that are tested monthly to determine if they are audible above the noise of the laboratory

These are just a few of the safety issues that need to be addressed with new construction or remodeling. Safety must play an integral part of lab design.

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