Laboratories can be dangerous places.
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Because laboratories handle toxic chemicals, combustible substances, flammable solvents, harmful organisms, obnoxious vapours and so on'
Various control measures are necessary to make laboratories safe and comfortable places to work.
Most people are aware that only highly trained and authorised personnel are allowed to work in laboratories, and they use PPE (Personal Protection Equipment such as lab coats, safety goggles, respiratory masks etc). However, some may not know that a lot of effort goes in to incorporating appropriate engineering controls while designing and fitting out new laboratories. This provides safety at three levels ' laboratory users, wider organisation and the surrounding neighbourhood.
For lab designers, understanding of the type of research/activities carried out and regulatory compliance sought by clients is an important step to determine the type and level of ventilation needed for their new facility.
Ventilation is important from a safety as well as financial point of view as it demands major capital and operating costs. Laboratories are energy intensive environments, consuming 4'6 six times more energy per square metre than standard office or commercial buildings and more than 60% of a laboratory's energy consumption can be attributed to the HVAC system (Manufacturing Chemist).
Laboratory ventilation is a complex topic needing specialist input. However, in this article we present an overview and some basics.
A more commonly used term HVAC - Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning - is the technology of indoor and vehicular environmental comfort. Its goal is to provide thermal comfort and an acceptable indoor air quality. Laboratory ventilation, a part of the HVAC system, is the supply of a fresh/clean air to displace contaminated air and dilute it to safe levels. It consists of two vital factors - air handling and filtration systems.
A basic HVAC unit can be as shown below,
PC: Lightfoot Mechanical
Air is continuously exchanged between buildings and their surroundings. The rate at which air is exchanged is an important property for the purposes of ventilation design and heat loss calculations and is expressed in 'air changes per hour' (ach).
Air changes per hour, or air change rate, abbreviated ACH OR ACPH, is a measure of the air volume added to or removed from a space (normally a room or house) divided by the volume of the space. If the air in the space is either uniform or perfectly mixed, air changes per hour is a measure of how many times the air within a defined space is replaced.
Different laboratory areas and rooms in the building will need a different number of air changes. Rooms containing fume cupboards and higher containment need a greater number of air changes than a general laboratory.
The type of material handled in the space will determine if the exhaust needs treating (e.g. HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Absorption) filters, scrubbers) before discharging into the atmosphere or re-circulating back. For example, biology laboratories, BSL (Biosafety Level) 1 to 4, will involve increasing hazard level and filtration needs. BSL1 being the simplest and BSL4 the most complex.
Pharmaceutical clean room environments need a very high number of air changes as well as HEPA filtration for supply and exhaust air. Check our guidance on clean rooms here.
In the UK, there are no prescriptive values for air change rates. The rate determined depends on the type of room and the activity being undertaken. Typical industrial applications range between 5 and 15 air changes per hour (CIBSE).
A word of caution about the ACH rate - Ventilation is a tool for controlling exposure. Since a ventilation system designer cannot know all possible laboratory operations, chemicals to be used, and their potential for release of fumes and other toxic agents, single air exchange rate cannot be specified that will meet all conditions.
Furthermore, air changes per hour is not the appropriate concept for designing contaminant control systems. Excessive airflow with no demonstrable safety benefit other than meeting an arbitrary air change rate can waste considerable energy.
An early and accurate assessment of clients' needs, and risk levels through a collaborative approach between lab users, designers, health & safety representatives and M&E engineers/consultants to propose an appropriate ventilation strategy is recommended.
Some or all the criteria below can be used in determining what that looks like:
To minimise the energy consumption and environmental impact of ventilation equipment, numerous initiatives have been put in place by the industry to make future labs smarter. New ways make ventilation central to the design process involving M&E and key stakeholders early in the process, considers it as a dynamic than static process making monitoring and quality control central and the design process focuses on space as activity based zoning and risk assessment for improved efficiency and better control.
With competitive price and timely delivery, E3 Green Technology sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.
While choosing a new building for laboratory use, it is important to assess the size of the plant room needed and whether enough space is available for distribution of services. Thought needs to be given to structural slab to slab height and to creating sufficient space for a network of supply and exhaust ducts in the chosen building.
Recently, we worked on a project located on an upper floor of a busy city centre building. Initially, the client had requested high ACH rates throughout the lab (BSL2) area. But constraints with the external and roof top plant space, the lack of ceiling space for extensive ducting and the landlord's reluctance to grant permission allowed us to re-visit their ventilation needs. After individual room analysis and risk assessment a new flexible ventilation strategy was proposed requiring a lesser plant area and improved future energy consumption.
Do you find yourself walking into a laboratory space and feeling like you can't catch your breath?
The reality is that proper ventilation in laboratories is much more than simply feeling comfortable ' it's essential to the preservation of research experiments, as well as the safety and wellbeing of anyone who inhabits these spaces.
No matter if you're visiting or working within a lab environment, maintaining a balanced level of ventilation has become crucial in today's modern landscape. Read on for our exploration into why this matters now more than ever before.
Laboratory ventilation is an essential component when it comes to safety and productivity in a lab environment. Without an effective ventilation system, laboratory workers may be exposed to dangerous levels of fumes, airborne particles, and other hazardous contaminants which can have serious implications on their health.
Proper ventilation reduces the risk of laboratory fires or explosions by helping to maintain ideal temperature and humidity levels. Well-ventilated labs are often quieter due to reduced noise pollution from fans or other devices. It also helps to improve working conditions by creating a pleasant atmosphere filled with fresh air that encourages employee well-being and productivity.
Fume hoods play a crucial role in laboratory safety, as they help to manage air quality by providing adequate ventilation. Fume hoods are designed to capture harmful gasses, fumes, and vapors while ensuring a constant flow of clean air throughout the laboratory space.
By maintaining the pressure gradient between the fume hood and the workspace environment, fume hoods play an important role in protecting researchers from hazardous airborne particles. In a fume hood-equipped laboratory, the fume hood is placed at the prime location for extraction so that proper airflow is always maintained; this ensures that hazardous elements are eliminated as swiftly as possible and maximum efficiency is achieved.
Laboratory workers need clean, breathable air to ensure safety and health. Research has found that a minimum of 6 air changes per hour (ACH) is necessary to bring fresh air into the air space of a laboratory so as to reduce any incidents caused by poor air quality. HEPA filters can also help keep laboratory-generated contaminants from entering the general workplace, making the workplace safer for all users.
Laboratory workers need assurance that their workplace standards are sufficient and up to date in order to maintain comfortable and healthy working conditions. Ensuring proper ventilation and meeting established criteria for laboratory air quality can make a significant difference in laboratory worker's health outcomes.
OSHA regulations provide detailed guidance on laboratory ventilation requirements to ensure the safety of laboratory workers. These regulations require that proper filtration, exhaust systems and pressure controls are in place to properly draw airborne contaminants from the space, ensuring then that volatile organic compounds, smoke, heat and humidity are removed from the workspace.
OSHA's safety standards also account for sufficient atmospheric air changes each hour, which transport air into the room for respiration purposes. Laboratory workers can locate OSHA guidelines to learn more about specific OSHA-compliant ventilation requirements for their lab workplace.
Ensuring optimal airflow in laboratories is essential to protecting the health and safety of equipment and personnel. Not only does it help to reduce the risk of contamination and fire hazard, but it also increases energy efficiency, resulting in lowered operational costs.
Laboratory airflow should be maintained by utilizing appropriately designed systems that are carefully checked for effectiveness on a regular basis. Doing so can help guarantee optimal performance from both workers and expensive lab equipment. By equipping laboratories with an effective airflow system, you can keep personnel safe and potentially save time and money in the long run.
Properly managing a laboratory's ventilation system can drastically reduce the risk of hazardous gasses being released into the lab environment. It can also help maintain comfortable climate and humidity levels while conserving energy.
Lab workers should assess their facility to understand which areas need more robust ventilation, and to identify sources of contaminants, such as:
Installing HEPA-grade filters in intake vents can capture airborne particles, ensuring clean air circulation and reducing odors.
Regular maintenance of fans, ductwork and controls is necessary to ensure safe operations and diagnose any underlying problems or malfunctions quickly. By taking these preventive steps, lab workers can help mitigate any challenges associated with laboratory ventilation issues safely and effectively.
While the need for laboratory ventilation might seem like a new development in our world, the truth is that it's always been an important aspect of anyone working with chemicals or other dangerous materials. With the increase in research being conducted around the world, lab ventilation has become even more crucial in preserving experiments and keeping people safe.
When representing our clients, we take ventilating lab spaces very seriously and have a team of experts who can help you find the perfect balance for your needs. If you're looking for a laboratory, be sure to contact us today ' we would love to show you what we have to offer.
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