Laboratory Standards

and Guidelines
 © Copyright 2002
Phoenix Controls Corporation
Newton, Massachusetts 02458

Reproduced with permission from AIA, Washington, DC 20006.

From American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH ®), Industrial Ventilation: A Manual
of Recommended Practice. Copyright 2001. Reprinted with permission.
Reproduced with permission of the American Industrial Hygiene Association. Further reproduction is prohibited.
Copyright 1999, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning, Engineers, Inc.
www.ashrae.org. Reprinted by permission from ASHRAE 1999 Handbook-HVAC Applications.

Reprinted with permission from NFPA 45-2000, Standard on Fire Protection for Laboratories Using Chemicals,
Copyright © 2000, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA 02269. This reprinted material is not the
complete and official position of the National Fire Protection Association on the referenced subject, which is
represented only by the standard in its entirety.
Reprinted with permission from Prudent Practices for Handling Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories. Copyright
1995 by the National Academy of Sciences. Courtesy of the National Academy Press, Washington, DC.

The material in this paper is for information purposes only and is subject to change without notice. Phoenix Controls
Corporation assumes no responsibility for any errors or for consequential damages that may result from the use,
misrepresentation, or translation of any of the material in this publication.

$9.95
Printed in USA
 Laboratory Standards
and Guidelines

Laboratory Standards and Guidelines

Table of Contents

Fume Hood Face Velocity...........................................................................1

Fume Hood Monitoring .............................................................................3
Fume Hood Use .........................................................................................3
Laboratory Air Recirculation .......................................................................4
Laboratory/Building Pressurization .............................................................6
Laboratory Airflow Exchange Rates.............................................................9
Manifolded Exhaust Systems.....................................................................10
Exhaust Stack Height................................................................................11
Exhaust Duct Velocity ..............................................................................12
General Air Distribution Guidelines .........................................................12
Controls—Pressure Independent .............................................................14
Controls —General...................................................................................14
Testing and Monitoring............................................................................17
Work Practices..........................................................................................20
Selection of Specialty Hoods .....................................................................21
Sound Levels in Rooms.............................................................................24
References .................................................................................................25

Phoenix Controls
Corporation Rev. 4/02
 Laboratory Standards
and Guidelines

Laboratory Standards
and Guidelines
Contained herein is a compilation of excerpts from many of the applicable lab-
oratory standards and guidelines used within the industry today. The intent of
this section is to provide the owner, engineers, architect, or laboratory user an
overview of those standards and/or guidelines that are applicable to the design
and/or use of today’s laboratory. Individuals should consult all relevant local,
state, and federal building codes to define what applicable standards and guide-
lines from this section might pertain to a particular facility.

Fume Hood Face Velocity

Federal Register—OSHA p. 492

“(g) Quality...airflow into and within the hood should not be excessively turbu-
lent; hood face velocity should be adequate (typically 60-100 lfm).”

Prudent Practices p. 178

“In most cases, the recommended face velocity is between 80 and 100 feet per
minute (fpm). Face velocities between 100 and 120 fpm may be used for sub-
stances of very high toxicity or where outside influences adversely affect hood
performance. However, energy costs to operate the fume hood are directly pro-
portional to the face velocity. Face velocities approaching or exceeding 150 fpm
should not be used, because they may cause turbulence around the periphery of
the sash opening and actually reduce the capture efficiency of the fume hood.”

Industrial Ventilation— p. 10-40

ACGIH “Supply Air Distribution: For typical operation of a laboratory hood, the worker
stands at the face of the hood and manipulates the apparatus in the hood. The
indraft at the hood face creates eddy currents around the worker’s body which
can drag contaminants in the hood along the worker’s body and up to the
breathing zone. The higher the face velocity, the greater the eddy currents. For
this reason, higher face velocities do not result in greater protection as might be
supposed.”
p. 10-40
“Selection of Hood Face Velocity: The interaction of supply air distribution and
hood face velocity makes any blanket specification of hood face velocity inap-
propriate. Higher hood face velocities will be wasteful of energy and may pro-
vide no better or even poorer worker protection. The ANSI/ASHRAE Hood

1
Rev. 4/02
Fume Hood Face Velocity

Performance Test may be used as a specification. The specified performance

should be required of both the hood manufacturer and the designer of the room
air supply system.”
p. 10-41, Table 10.35.1. Laboratory Hood Ventilation Rates
cfm/ft2
Condition Open
Hood
Face
1. Ceiling panels properly located with average panel face velocity < 40 60
fpm. Horizontal sliding sash hoods. No equipment in hood closer
than 12 inches to face of hood. Hoods located away from doors and
trafficways.*
2. Same as 1 above; some traffic past hoods. No equipment in 80
hoods closer than 6 inches to face of hood. Hoods located
away from doors and trafficways.*
3. Ceiling panels properly located with average panel face 80
velocity < 60 fpm or ceiling diffusers properly located; no
diffuser immediately in front of hoods; quadrant facing
hood blocked; terminal throw velocity < 60 fpm. No equip-
ment in hood closer than 6 inches to face of hood. Hoods
located away from doors or trafficways.*
4. Same as 3 above; some traffic past hood. No equipment in 100
hood closer than 6 inches to face of hood.
5. Wall grilles are possible but not recommended for advance
planning of new facilities.
* Hoods near doors are acceptable if 1) there is a second safe egress from the room; 2) traffic past hood is
low; and 3) door is normally closed.

NFPA 45 p. 45-12, section 6.4.6

“Laboratory hood face velocities and exhaust volumes shall be sufficient to con-
tain contaminants generated within the hood and exhaust them outside of the
laboratory building. The hood shall provide containment of the possible haz-
ards and protection for personnel at all times when chemicals are present in the
hood.”
p. 45-28, section A.6.4.6
“Laboratory fume hood containment can be evaluated using the procedures
contained in the ASHRAE 110, Method of Testing Performance of Laboratory
Fume Hoods. Face velocities of 0.4 m/sec to 0.6 m/sec (80 ft/min to 120 ft/min)
generally provide containment if the hood location requirements and labora-
tory ventilation criteria of this standard are met.”

ANSI/AIHA Z9.5 p. 13, section 5.7

“Each hood shall maintain an average face velocity of 80-120 fpm with no face
velocity measurement more than plus or minus 20% of the average.”

2
Rev. 4/02
 Laboratory Standards
and Guidelines Fume Hood Monitoring

SEFA 1.2 p. 7, section 5.2

“A fume hood face velocity of 100 fpm is considered acceptable in standard
practice. In certain situations face velocity of up to 125 fpm or as low as 75 fpm
may be acceptable to meet required capture velocity of the fume hood.”

Fume Hood Monitoring

Federal Register—OSHA p. 492

“(b) Hoods...each hood should have a continuous monitoring device to allow
convenient confirmation of adequate hood performance before use.”

Prudent Practices p. 180

“Make sure that a continuous monitoring device for adequate hood perfor-
mance is present, and check it every time the hood is used.”

Industrial Ventilation— p. 10-45

ACGIH “13. Provide adequate maintenance for the hood exhaust system and the build-
ing supply system. Use static pressure gauges on the hood throat, across any fil-
ters in the exhaust system, or other appropriate indicators to ensure flow is
appropriate.”

NIH Reference Materials pp. D-141 to D-142, section D.16.22

for Design Policy and “Fume hoods in new laboratory facilities shall have a pressure-independent
Guidelines—Mechanical flow-monitoring device connected to a local audiovisual alarm within the labo-
ratory area. For existing facilities the implementation of airflow devices for fume
hoods occurs during the renovation phase. When the fume exhaust falls below
a preset safety level, the alarm will sound and the alarm light will come on.”

Fume Hood Use

Federal Register—OSHA p. 495

“(n) Use of hood:...As a rule of thumb, use a hood or other local ventilation
device when working with any appreciably volatile substance with a TLV of less
than 50 ppm...
“Leave the hood ‘on’ when it is not in active use if toxic substances are stored in
it or if it is uncertain whether adequate general laboratory ventilation will be
maintained when it is ‘off’.”

Prudent Practices p. 179

“In addition to protecting the laboratory worker from toxic or unpleasant
agents used in them, fume hoods can provide an effective containment device
for accidental spills of chemicals. There should be at least one hood for every
two workers in laboratories where most work involves hazardous chemicals, and

3
Rev. 4/02
Laboratory Air Recirculation

the hoods should be large enough to provide each worker with at least 2.5 linear
feet of working space at the face. If this amount of hood space is not available,
other types of local ventilation should be provided, and special care should be
exercised to monitor and restrict the use of hazardous substances.”

ANSI/AIHA Z9.5 p. 4, section 4.3

“Adequate laboratory fume hoods, special purpose hoods, or other controls
shall be used when there is a likelihood of employee overexposure to air contam-
inants generated by a laboratory activity.”

Laboratory Air Recirculation

Federal Register—OSHA p. 492

“4. Ventilation...ensure that laboratory air is continually replaced, preventing
increase of air concentrations of toxic substances during the working day...”

Prudent Practices p. 192

“All air from chemical laboratories should be exhausted outdoors and not recir-
culated. Thus, the air pressure in chemical laboratories should be negative with
respect to the rest of the building unless the laboratory is also a clean room.”

ASHRAE Handbook p. 13.9

“Laboratories in which chemicals and compressed gases are used generally
require nonrecirculating or 100% outside air supply systems. The selection of
100% outside air supply systems versus return air systems should be made as
part of the hazard assessment process, which is discussed in the section on Haz-
ard Assessment. A 100% outside air system must have a very wide range of heat-
ing and cooling capacity, which requires special design and control.
Supply air systems for laboratories include both constant volume and variable
volume systems that incorporate either single-duct reheat or dual-duct config-
urations, with distribution through low-, medium- or high-pressure ductwork.”

NFPA 45 p. 45-12, section 6.3.1

“Laboratory ventilation systems shall be designed to ensure that chemicals orig-
inating from the laboratory shall not be recirculated. The release of chemicals
into the laboratory shall be controlled by enclosure(s) or captured to prevent
any flammable and/or combustible concentrations of vapors from reaching any
source of ignition.”
p. 45-12, section 6.4.1
“Air exhausted from laboratory hoods and other special local exhaust systems
shall not be recirculated.”

4
Rev. 4/02
 Laboratory Standards
and Guidelines Laboratory Air Recirculation

Industrial Ventilation— pp. 7-20

ACGIH “Industrial Exhaust Recirculation: Where large amounts of air are exhausted
from a room or building in order to remove particulate, gases, fumes or vapors,
an equivalent amount of fresh tempered replacement air must be supplied to the
room. If the amount of replacement air is large, the cost of energy to condition
the air can be very high. Recirculation of the exhaust air after thorough cleaning
is one method that can reduce the amount of energy consumed. Acceptance of
such recirculating systems will depend on the degree of health hazard associated
with the particular contaminant being exhausted as well as other safety, techni-
cal, and economic factors.”

ANSI/AIHA Z9.5 p. 6, section 4.10.2

“Air exhausted from the general laboratory space (as distinguished from exhaust
hoods) shall not be recirculated unless one of the following sets of criteria is met:
1) Criteria A
a) There are no extremely dangerous or life-threatening materials used in
the laboratory;
b) The concentration of air contaminants generated by the maximum
credible accident will be lower than short-term exposure limits...;
c) The system serving the exhaust hoods is provided with installed spares,
emergency power, and other reliability features as necessary.
2) Criteria B
a) Recirculated air is treated to reduce contaminant concentrations...;
b) Recirculated air is monitored continuously for contaminant concentra-
tions or provided with a secondary backup air cleaning device that also
serves as a monitor (i.e., a HEPA filter in a series with a less efficient fil-
ter, for particulate contamination only);
c) Air cleaning and monitoring equipment is maintained and calibrated
under a preventive maintenance program;
d) A bypass to divert the recirculated air to atmosphere is provided.”

NIH Research Laboratory p. D-16, section D.7.6

Design Policy and “Laboratory HVAC systems shall utilize 100% outdoor air, conditioned by cen-
Guidelines tral station air-handling systems to offset exhaust air requirements. Laboratory
supply air shall not be recirculated or reused for other ventilation needs.”

5
Rev. 4/02
Laboratory/Building Pressurization

Laboratory/Building Pressurization

Federal Register—OSHA p. 492

“4. Ventilation...direct air flow into the laboratory from non-laboratory areas
and out to the exterior of the building.”

Prudent Practices p. 192

“In all cases, air should flow from the offices, corridors, and support spaces into
the laboratories. All air from chemical laboratories should be exhausted out-
doors and not recirculated. Thus, the air pressure in chemical laboratories
should be negative with respect to the rest of the building unless the laboratory
is also a clean room.”

ASHRAE Handbook p. 13.12

“For the laboratory to act as a secondary confinement barrier, the air pressure
in the laboratory must be maintained slightly negative with respect to adjoining
areas. Exceptions are sterile facilities or clean spaces that may need to be main-
tained at a positive pressure with respect to adjoining spaces.”

NIH Research Laboratory p. D-17, section D.7.8

Design Policy and “Laboratory air shall flow from low-hazard to high-hazard use areas. In general,
Guidelines laboratories shall be maintained at 47 L/s per module negative relative to non-
laboratoy spaces. Administrative areas in laboratory building (sic) must always
be positive with respect to corridors and laboratories.”

NFPA 45 p. 45-12, sections 6.3.3

“Laboratory units in which chemicals are present shall be continuously venti-
lated.”
p. 45-12, sections 6.3.4
“The air pressure in the laboratory work areas shall be negative with respect to
corridors and nonlaboratory areas.
“Exception No. 1: Where operations such as those requiring clean rooms preclude a
negative pressure relative to surrounding areas, alternate means shall be provided to
prevent escape of the atmosphere in the laboratory work area or unit to the surround-
ing spaces.
“Exception No. 2: The desired static pressure level with respect to corridors and non-
laboratory areas shall be permitted to undergo momentary variations as the ventila-
tion system components respond to door openings, changes in laboratory hood sash
positions, and other activities that can for a short term affect the static pressure level
and its negative relationship.”

6
Rev. 4/02
 Laboratory Standards
and Guidelines Laboratory/Building Pressurization

ANSI/AIHA Z9.5 p. 7, section 4.11.4

“As a general rule, airflow shall be from areas of low hazard, unless the labora-
tory is used as a Clean Room (such as Class 10 000 or better). When flow from
one area to another is critical to emission and exposure control, airflow moni-
toring devices shall be installed to signal or alarm a malfunction.
“Air may be allowed to flow from laboratory spaces to adjoining spaces only if
• there are no extremely dangerous and life-threatening materials used in the
laboratory;
• the concentrations of air contaminants generated by the maximum credible
accident will be lower than short-term exposure limits required by 4.3.
“Although it is true a difference in pressure is the driving force that causes air to
flow through any openings from one room to another, specifying quantitative
pressure differential is a poor basis for design. What really is desired is an air-
flow velocity (usually 50 to 100 fpm) through any openings; and some open-
ings such as doors are frequently, but not always, open. Therefore, serious
attempts to maintain the specified pressure differential require very complex
fast-acting and expensive controls. Attempts to design for pressure differential
with such controls result either in loss of pressure differential when doors are
open or excessive pressure differentials when doors are closed, sufficient to
affect the performance of low pressure fans.
“Relative volumes of supply air and exhaust air to each room should be such
that air flows through any opening, including open doorways, at a minimum
velocity of 50 fpm and a preferred velocity of 100 fpm in the desired direction.”
p. 7, section 4.11.5
“Air locks (i.e., vestibules with a door at each end arranged and provided with
door-closing mechanisms so that both doors are not open at the same time) may
be used to minimize the volume of supply air required by 4.11.4.”
p. 7, section 4.11.6
“If the direction of airflow between spaces is deemed critical, airflow monitor-
ing devices shall be used to signal or alarm inadequate or wrong direction of air-
flow.”

ANSI/AIHA Z9.5 pp. 1-3

(Clarification Letter) “The intent of this paragraph was to discourage the use of a numerical pressure
differential between rooms as a basis for design. Although it is true that the dif-
ference in pressure is the driving force that causes air flow through any openings
from one room to another, specifying quantitative pressure differential is a poor
basis for design. What is really desired is an offset air volume (defined below).
Attempts to design using direct pressure differential measurement and control
vs. controlling the offset volume results in either short or extended periods of
the loss of pressure when the doors are open or excessive pressure differentials
when doors are closed, sufficient to affect the performance of low pressure fans.

7
Rev. 4/02
Laboratory/Building Pressurization

The direct pressure control systems are also hard to stabilize, and can cause
building pressure problems and result in excessively large volume offsets in
‘porous’ rooms.
“The need to maintain directional airflow at every instant and the magnitude
of airflow needed will depend on individual circumstances. For example, ‘clean’
rooms may have very strict requirements while teaching laboratories may only
need to maintain directional airflow during certain activities or emergency con-
ditions. In the later cases, one would simply use the appropriate offset to main-
tain directional airflow as needed and operational procedures during
emergencies (i.e. close doors during a chemical spill)...
“The amount of offset should be based on two considerations:
(1) The airflow required to keep the room negative (or in some positive) with
regard to surrounding air spaces. The 10% offset suggested in the com-
ments may be appropriate in some cases, but has no general validity.
(2) The required ‘stringency’ of the requirement for direction of air flow, into
or out of any openings in the walls. Is the requirement really stringent, ‘we
really mean it’, or less stringent, ‘most of the time’ or ‘except when a door
is open’.
“If the requirement is stringent, two seldom considered factors become impor-
tant. First, if there is any appreciable temperature difference between the lab
and the adjoining space, when a door is opened there will be a thermal exchange
of warmer air flowing in one direction at the top of the doorway, and cooler air
flowing in an opposite direction near the floor. An airflow velocity of at least 50
fpm is required to inhibit this exchange under normal conditions, a flow rate of
100 fpm is more positive. For a typical 3 ft. x 7 ft. open doorway, this translates
to 1050 to 2100 cfm. The volume is independent of the size of the room or the
cfm of lab supply and exhaust; an arbitrary 10% ‘offset’ of the lab total ventila-
tion rate is not the proper basis. If there is no airlock, and if there is a definite
but not ‘stringent’ need for direction of airflow, this phenomenon should be
made a design consideration...
“For situations less than those requiring stringent control, VAV systems should
be adequate. The ‘offset’ volume should be based on the cfm needed to provide
at least 50 fpm (100 fpm is better) through the doorway opening. The increased
offset volume can be operated by a mechanical optical switch at or near the
door. The volume of offset air required is not related to the ventilation rate of
the laboratory.
“A secondary intent of this paragraph is to encourage the operation of laborato-
ries with the doors closed. The ‘note’ was intended to demonstrate that a signif-
icant volume of air would be needed to maintain adequate directional airflow
through an open door. This was not meant to be a design recommendation for
airflow through open doors.”

8
Rev. 4/02
 Laboratory Standards
and Guidelines Laboratory Airflow Exchange Rates

Laboratory Airflow Exchange Rates

Federal Register—OSHA p. 492

“(f) Performance. Rate: 4-12 room air changes/hour is normally adequate gen-
eral ventilation if local exhaust systems such as hoods are used as the primary
method of control.”

Prudent Practices p. 192

“A general ventilation system that gives 6 to 12 room air changes per hour is
normally adequate. More airflow may be required to cool laboratories with high
internal heat loads, such as those with analytical equipment, or to service labo-
ratories with large specific exhaust system requirements.”

ASHRAE Handbook p. 13.8

“The total airflow rate for a laboratory is dictated by one of the following:
1. Total amount of exhaust from containment and exhaust devices
2. Cooling required to offset internal heat gains
3. Minimum ventilation rate requirements...
“Minimum airflow rates are generally in the range of 6 to 10 air changes per
hour when the space is occupied; however, some spaces (e.g., animal holding
areas) may have minimum airflow rates established by specific standards or by
internal facility policies...The maximum airflow rate for the laboratory should
be reviewed to ensure that appropriate supply air delivery methods are chosen
such that supply airflows do not impede the performance of the exhaust
devices.”

Industrial Ventilation— p. 7-16

ACGIH “‘Air changes per hour’ or ‘air changes per minute’ is a poor basis for ventilation
criteria where environmental control of hazards, heat, and/or odors is required.
The required ventilation depends on the generation rate and toxicity of the con-
taminant not on the size of the room in which it occurs.”

NFPA 45 p. 45-27, section A.6.3.3

“A minimum ventilation rate for unoccupied laboratories (e.g., nights and
weekends) is four room air changes per hour. Occupied laboratories typically
operate at rates of greater than eight room air changes per hour, consistent with
the conditions of use for the laboratory.”

NIH Research Laboratory p. D-18, section D.7.10

Design Policy and “The ventilation rate for laboratory HVAC systems is driven by three factors:
Guidelines fume hood demand, cooling loads, and removal of fumes and odors from the
general laboratory work area. The minimum air-change rate for laboratory
space is six air changes per hour regardless of space cooling load.”

9
Rev. 4/02
Manifolded Exhaust Systems

Manifolded Exhaust Systems

ASHRAE Handbook p. 13.9

“Each fume hood may have its own exhaust fan, or fume hoods may be mani-
folded and connected to central exhaust fans…
“These can be classified as pressure-dependent or pressure-independent. Pres-
sure-dependent systems are constant volume only and incorporate manually
adjusted balancing dampers for each exhaust device. If an additional fume hood
is added to a pressure-dependent exhaust system, the entire system must be
rebalanced, and the speed of the exhaust fans may need to be adjusted. Because
pressure-independent systems are more flexible, pressure-dependent systems are
not common in current designs.
“A pressure-independent system can be constant volume, variable volume, or
a mix of the two. It incorporates pressure-independent volume regulators with
each device. The system offers two advantages: (1) the flexibility to add exhaust
devices without having to rebalance the entire system and (2) variable volume
control...
“Running many exhaust devices into the manifold of a common exhaust system
offers the following benefits:
• Lower ductwork cost
• Fewer pieces of equipment to operate and maintain
• Fewer roof penetrations and exhaust stacks
• Opportunity for energy recovery
• Centralized locations for exhaust discharge
• Ability to take advantage of exhaust system diversity
• Ability to provide a redundant exhaust system by adding one spare fan per
manifold”

ANSI/AIHA Z9.5 p. 21, section 7.1.1

“Exhaust ducts from two or more hoods may be connected to an exhaust man-
ifold, frequently to avoid a multiplicity of small stacks on the roof of the build-
ing or to reduce the pipe chase space that would be required in a multi-story
laboratory.”
p. 21, section 7.1.4
“Unless the use of all laboratory exhaust hoods connected to a manifold can be
stopped completely without creating a hazardous situation, provision should be
made for continuous maintenance of adequate suction in the manifold. This
requirement would be satisfied by providing
• an installed spare manifold exhaust fan that can be put into service rapidly
by energizing its motor and switching a damper;
• emergency power to the manifold exhaust fans.
“Alternative methods of maintaining manifold suction, if acceptable to all par-
ties involved, will satisfy this requirement.”

10
Rev. 4/02
 Laboratory Standards
and Guidelines Exhaust Stack Height

Exhaust Stack Height

NFPA 45 p. 45-12, section 6.4.11

“Air exhausted from laboratory hoods and special exhaust systems shall be dis-
charged above the roof at a location, height, and velocity sufficient to prevent
re-entry of chemicals and to prevent exposures to personnel.”
p. 45-28, section A.6.4.11
“Exhaust stacks should extend at least 3 m (10 ft) above the highest point on
the roof to protect personnel on the roof. Exhaust stacks might need to be much
higher to dissipate effluent effectively, and studies might be necessary to deter-
mine adequate design.”

ASHRAE Handbook p. 13.13

“Chapter 15 of the 1997 ASHRAE Handbook—Fundamentals describes a geo-
metric method to determine the stack discharge height high enough above the
turbulent zone around the building that little or no effluent gas impinges on air
intakes of the emitting building. The technique is conservative and generally
requires tall stacks that may be visually unacceptable or fail to meet building
code or zoning requirements. Also, the technique does not ensure acceptable
concentrations of effluents at air intakes (e.g., if there are large releases of haz-
ardous materials or elevated intake locations on nearby buildings)...
“To increase the effective height of the exhaust stacks, both the volumetric flow
and the discharge velocity can be increased to increase the discharge momentum
(Momentum Flow = Density x Volumetric Flow x Velocity). The momentum
of the large vertical flow in the emergent jet lifts the plume a substantial distance
above the stack top, thereby reducing the physical height of the stack and mak-
ing it easier to screen from view. This technique is particularly suitable when (1)
many small exhaust streams can be clustered together or manifolded prior to the
exhaust fan to provide the large volumetric flow and (2) outside air can be added
through automatically controlled dampers to provide constant exhaust velocity
under variable load. The drawbacks to the second arrangement are the amount
of energy consumed to achieve the constant high velocity and the added com-
plexity of the controls to maintain the constant flow rates. Dilution equations
presented in Chapter 15 of the 1997 ASHRAE Handbook—Fundamentals or
mathematical plume analysis (e.g., Halitsky 1989) can be used to predict the
performance of this arrangement, or performance can be validated through
wind tunnel testing. Current mathematical procedures tend to have a high
degree of uncertainty, and the results should be judged accordingly.”

ANSI/AIHA Z9.5 p. 5, section 4.8

“Exhaust discharge from stacks shall be in accordance with the latest applicable
ASHRAE standards, and it shall
- be in a vertical-up direction at a minimum of 10 feet above the adjacent roof
line and so located with respect to openings and air intakes of the laboratory
or adjacent buildings to avoid reentry.”

11
Rev. 4/02
Exhaust Duct Velocity

p. 6, section 4.9
“Two or more exhaust systems may be combined into a single manifold and
stack...”

Exhaust Duct Velocity

Industrial Ventilation— p. 3-18, Table 3-2. (partial) Range of Minimum Duct Design Velocities
ACGIH
Nature of Contaminant Examples Design Velocity
Vapors, gases, smoke All vapors, gases and smoke Any desired velocity
(economic optimum
velocity usually 1000-
2000 fpm)
Fumes Welding 2000-2500
Very fine light dust Cotton lint, wood flour, litho 2500-3000
powder
Dry dusts & powders Fine rubber dust, Bakelite mold- 3000-4000
ing powder dust, jute lint, cotton
dust, shavings (light), soap dust,
leather shavings

NFPA 45 p. 45-13, section 6.6

“Duct Velocities. Duct velocities of laboratory exhaust systems shall be high
enough to minimize the deposition of liquids or condensable solids in the
exhaust systems during normal operations in the laboratory hood.”

ANSI/AIHA Z9.5 p. 5, section 4.8

“- have a discharge velocity of at least 3000 fpm for a stack without internal
condensation; or
- have a discharge velocity of 2000 fpm or less if internal condensation might
occur.”

General Air Distribution Guidelines

ASHRAE Handbook p. 13.5

“Caplan and Knutson (1977, 1978) conducted tests to determine the interac-
tions between room air motion and fume hood capture velocities with respect
to the spillage of contaminants into the room. Their tests indicated that the
effect of room air currents is significant and of the same order of magnitude as
the effect of the hood face velocity. Consequently, improper design and/or
installation of the replacement supply air lowers the performance of the fume
hood.
“Disturbance velocities at the face of the hood should be no more than one-half
and preferably one-fifth the face velocity of the hood. This is an especially crit-
ical factor in designs that use low face velocities. For example, a fume hood with

12
Rev. 4/02
 Laboratory Standards
and Guidelines General Air Distribution Guidelines

a face velocity of 100 fpm could tolerate a maximum disturbance velocity of 50

fpm. If the design face velocity were 60 fpm, the maximum disturbance velocity
would be 30 fpm.
“To the extent possible, the fume hood should be located so that traffic flow
past the hood is minimal. Also, the fume hood should be placed to avoid any
air currents generated from the opening of windows and doors. To ensure the
optimum placement of the fume hoods, the HVAC system designer must take
an active role early in the design process.”

NFPA 45 p. 45-12, section 6.3.5

“The location of air supply diffusion devices shall be chosen so as to avoid air
currents that would adversely affect the performance of laboratory hoods,
exhaust systems, and fire detection or extinguishing systems.”
p. 45-28, section A.6.3.5
“Room air current velocities in the vicinity of fume hoods should be as low as
possible, ideally less than 30 percent of the face velocity of the fume hood. Air
supply diffusion devices should be as far away from fume hoods as possible and
have low exit velocities.”

Prudent Practices p. 178

“Tracer gas containment testing of fume hoods has revealed that air currents
impinging on the face of a hood at a velocity exceeding 30 to 50% of the hood
face velocity will reduce the containment efficiency of the hood by causing tur-
bulence and interfering with the laminar flow of the air entering the hood.
Thirty to fifty percent of a hood face velocity of 100 fpm, for example, is 30 to
50 fpm, which represents a very low velocity that can be produced in many
ways. The rate of 20 fpm is considered to be still air because that is the velocity
at which most people first begin to sense air movement.”

ANSI/AIHA Z9.5 p. 6, section 4.11.2

“Supply air distribution shall be provided to create air jet velocities less than half
(preferably less than one-third) of the capture or face velocity of the exhaust
hoods.”
p. 12, section 5.4
“Hoods should be located more than 10 feet from any door or doorway (emer-
gency exits excepted), and should not be located on a main traffic aisle.”

13
Rev. 4/02
Controls—Pressure-independent

Controls—Pressure-independent

ASHRAE Handbook p. 13.9

“Airflow monitoring and pressure-independent control may be required even
with constant volume systems...Because pressure-independent systems are more
flexible, pressure-dependent systems are not common in current
designs…(Pressure-independent) volume regulators can incorporate either
direct measurement of the exhaust airflow rate or positioning of a calibrated
pressure-independent air valve.”

NIH Reference Materials p. D-132, section D.16.17

for Design Policy and “Exhaust air from laboratory equipment such as fume hoods and biosafety cab-
Guidelines—Mechanical inets connected to a general central laboratory exhaust main is preferably con-
nected through pressure-independent terminal units.”

AIA p. 33
“Chemical fume hood systems may be constant-volume or variable-volume
types depending on user and facility management considerations of function,
first cost, and life cycle cost issues. The exhaust of the hood should be provided
with a pressure-independent flow-monitoring device connected to a local
audiovisual alarm within the laboratory.”

Controls—General

ASHRAE Handbook p. 13.11

“Laboratory controls must regulate temperature and humidity, control and
monitor laboratory safety devices that protect personnel, and control and mon-
itor secondary safety barriers used to protect the environment outside the labo-
ratory from laboratory operations (West 1978). Reliability, redundancy,
accuracy, and monitoring are important factors in controlling the lab environ-
ment. Many laboratories require the precise control of temperature, humidity,
and airflows; components of the control system must provide the necessary
accuracy and corrosion resistance if they are exposed to corrosive environments.
“Laboratory controls should provide fail-safe operation, which should be
defined jointly with the safety officer. A fault tree can be developed to evaluate
the impact of the failure of a control system component and to ensure that safe
conditions are maintained.”
p. 13.12
“A true CAV (Constant Air Volume) system requires volume controls on the
supply and exhaust systems.”

14
Rev. 4/02
 Laboratory Standards
and Guidelines Controls—General

p. 13.16
“Energy can be conserved in laboratories by reducing the exhaust air require-
ments. For example, the exhaust air requirements for fume hoods can be
reduced by closing part of the hood opening during operation, thereby reducing
the airflow needed to obtain the desired capture velocities (an exception is
bypass hoods, which require similar quantities of exhaust air whether open or
fully closed). The sash styles that may be adjusted are described in the section
on Laboratory Exhaust and Containment Devices.
“Another way to reduce exhaust airflow is to use variable volume control of
exhaust air through the fume hoods to reduce exhaust airflow when the fume
hood sash is not fully open. A variation of this arrangement incorporates a user-
initiated selection of the fume hood airflow from a minimum flow rate to a
maximum flow rate when the hood is in use. Any airflow control must be inte-
grated with the laboratory control system, described in the section on Control,
and must not jeopardize the safety and function of the laboratory.
“A third energy conservation method uses night setback controls when the lab-
oratory is unoccupied to reduce the exhaust volume to one-quarter to one-half
the minimum volume required when the laboratory is occupied. Timing
devices, sensors, manual override, or a combination of these can be used to set
back the controls at night. If this strategy is considered, the safety and function
of the laboratory must be considered, and appropriate safety officers should be
consulted.”

ANSI/AIHA Z9.5 p. 14, section 5.10

“Variable volume hoods also shall modulate supply air to maintain the design
air balance between the laboratory and adjacent areas. The mechanism that con-
trols the exhaust fan speed or control damper position to regulate hood exhaust
volume should be designed so exhaust volume is not reduced until the sash is
half-closed. Then, it is reduced in proportion with the sash closure to a mini-
mum of 10% full-open face volume (i.e., if the exhaust volume is not reduced
to zero by the control, a separate on-off switch is required)...
“If the maximum exhaust volume of variable volume hoods in one room
exceeds 10% of the room air supply volume, and if the laboratory is designed
for controlled airflow between laboratory and adjacent spaces, automatic flow
control devices shall be provided to reduce the supply air volume by the same
amount that hood exhaust volume is reduced.”

ANSI/AIHA Z9.5 p. 3
Clarification Letter “There is a statement in this section that suggests that it may be desirable to
maintain constant volume through the hood with the sash at or above half
opening. This enables the user to instantly attain twice the normal face velocity
for unusual or more hazardous operations than normal, i.e. spills, etc. In some
cases it may not be desirable. This is not intended to be a requirement.

15
Rev. 4/02
Controls—General

“It may be more important to establish a minimum exhaust flow rate, i.e. as the
sash is lowered below a specific sash height the hood becomes a constant volume
by-pass hood. This will allow the exhaust to stay at or above the minimum
desired for the space while not resulting in excessive face velocities as the sash
continues to be lowered below this trigger point.”

NFPA 45 p. 45-13, section 6.5.8

“Controls and dampers, where required for balancing or control of the exhaust
system, shall be of a type that, in event of failure, will fail open to ensure con-
tinuous draft.”
p. 45-14, section 6.10.4
“Laboratory hoods equipped with control systems that vary the hood exhaust
airflow as the sash opening varies and/or in conjunction with whether the lab-
oratory room is in use (occupied/unoccupied) shall be equipped with a user
accessible means to attain maximum exhaust hood airflow regardless of sash
position when necessary or desirable to ensure containment and removal of a
potential hazard within the hood.”
p. 45-14, section 6.10.3
“Automatic file dampers shall not be used in laboratory hood exhaust systems.
Fire detection and alarm systems shall not be interlocked to automatically shut
down laboratory hood exhaust fans. The design and installation of ducts from
laboratory hoods shall be in accordance with NFPA 91, Standard for Exhaust
Systems for Air Conveying of Vapors, Gases, Mists, and Noncombustible Particulate
Solids, except that specific requirements in NFPA 45 shall take precedence.
“Exception No. 1: Where a gaseous fire extinguishing system is used to protect a lab-
oratory hood, the protected laboratory hood shall be independent of all other labora-
tory hoods, and its exhaust system shall be permitted to be interlocked to shut down
upon actuation of the fire extinguishing system.
“Exception No. 2: Where a branch duct connects to an enclosed exhaust riser located
inside a shaft, which has a required fire resistance rating of 1 hour or more and in
which the airflow moves upward, protection of the opening into the fire resistance
rated enclosure shall be made with a steel subduct turned upward a minimum of 0.6
m (22 in.) in length and of a minimum thickness of 22 gauge [0.76 mm (0.030
in.)]. The steel subduct shall be carried up inside the riser from each inlet duct pen-
etration. This riser shall be appropriately sized to accommodate the flow restriction
created by the subduct.”
p. 45-14, section 6.10.1
“Automatic fire protection systems shall not be required in laboratory hoods or
exhaust systems.
“Exception No. 1: Automatic fire protection shall be required for existing hoods hav-
ing interiors with a flame spread index greater than 25 in which flammable liquids
are handled.
“Exception No. 2: If a hazard assessment shows that an automatic extinguishing sys-
tem is required for the laboratory hood, then the applicable automatic fire protection
system standard shall be followed.”

16
Rev. 4/02
 Laboratory Standards
and Guidelines Testing and Monitoring

p. 45-13, section 6.7.5

“Motors and their controls shall be located outside the location where flamma-
ble or combustible vapors or combustible dusts are generated or conveyed,
unless specifically approved for that location and use.”
p. 45-10, section 3.6.1
“Electrical receptacles, switches, and controls shall be located so as not to be
subject to liquid spills.”

AIA p. 69
“Fire dampers shall not be provided on any fume hood system.”

Testing and Monitoring

Prudent Practices p. 180

“All fume hoods should be tested, before they leave the manufacturer, by using
ASHRAE/ANSI standard 110, Methods of Testing Performance of Laboratory
Fume Hoods. The hood should pass the low- and high-volume smoke chal-
lenges with no leakage or flow reversals and have a control level of 0.05 parts
per million (ppm) or less on the tracer gas test. ASHRAE/ANSI 110 testing of
fume hoods after installation in their final location by trained personnel is
highly recommended.”

ANSI/AIHA Z9.5 p. 10, section 4.14.5

“If practical, the exhaust flow rate from hoods shall be tested by measuring the
flow in the duct by the hood throat suction method (see the Industrial Ventila-
tion manual, Section 96) or by a flowmeter. If a flowmeter is used, care shall be
taken to ensure that the sensing element has not been compromised by chemical
action or deposition of solids...
“If flow measurement in the duct is not practical, velocity at the hood face or
opening shall be measured at a sufficient number of points to obtain a realistic
average velocity, and multiplied by the open area in the plane of the velocity
measurements to obtain the flow rate.
“If the flow rate is more than 10% different from design, corrective action shall
be taken.”
pp. 10-11, section 4.14.6
“The proper direction and velocity of air movement between laboratory spaces
will have different degrees of importance, varying from desirable to important
to critical. The degree of importance will vary with many factors, among them
the objective assessment of potential health hazard and whether the potential
health effects are acute or chronic...
“The laboratory organization should establish the degree of importance of
proper airflow balance as desirable, important, or critical...

17
Rev. 4/02
Testing and Monitoring

“4.14.6.1 Critical air balance

“Monitoring devices shall be inspected and tested at intervals no longer than
one week.
“4.14.6.2 Important air balance
“Direction and velocity of airflow shall be tested at intervals no longer than one
month.
“4.14.6.3 Desirable air balance
“Direction and velocity of airflow should be tested at intervals not to exceed six
months.”
p. 13, section 5.6.1
“Specification and procurement of fume hoods shall be based on a performance
test of the hood (or a prototype) demonstrating that the hood performance is
adequate for the intended use. The recommended performance test is ANSI/
ASHRAE 110.”
p. 13, section 5.6.2
“A routine performance test shall be conducted on every fume hood at least
annually or whenever a significant change has been made to the operational
characteristics of the system.”

ASHRAE Handbook p. 13.5

“Fume Hood Performance Criteria. ASHRAE Standard 110, Method of Test-
ing Performance of Laboratory Fume Hoods, describes a quantitative method
of determining the containment performance of a fume hood. The method
requires the use of a tracer gas and instruments to measure the amount of tracer
gas that enters the breathing zone of a mannequin; this simulates the contain-
ment capability of the fume hood as a researcher conducts operations in the
hood.
“The following tests are commonly used to judge the performance of the fume
hood: (1) face velocity test, (2) flow visualization test, (3) large volume flow
visualization, (4) tracer gas test, and (5) sash movement test. These tests should
be performed under the following conditions:
• Usual amount of research equipment in the hood; the room air balance set
• Doors and windows in their normal positions
• Fume hood sash set in varying positions to simulate both static and dynam-
ic performance
“All fume hoods should be tested annually and their performance certified.”

18
Rev. 4/02
 Laboratory Standards
and Guidelines Testing and Monitoring

NFPA 45 p. 45-15, sections 6.13.1 to 6.13.6

“When installed or modified and at least annually thereafter, laboratory hoods,
laboratory hood exhaust systems, and laboratory special exhaust systems shall
be inspected and tested. The following inspections and tests, as applicable,
shall be made:
(1) Visual inspection of the physical condition of the hood interior, sash, and
ductwork...
(2) Measuring device for hood airflow
(3) Low airflow and loss-of-airflow alarms at each alarm location
(4) Face velocity
(5) Verification of inward airflow over the entire hood face
(6) Changes in work area conditions that might affect hood performance
“Deficiencies in hood performance shall be corrected or one of the following
shall apply:
(1) The activity within the hood shall be restricted to the capability of the
hood.
(2) The hood shall not be used.
“Laboratory hood face velocity profile or hood exhaust air quantity shall be
checked after any adjustment to the ventilation system balance.
“Detectors and Alarms. Air system flow detectors, if installed, shall be
inspected and tested annually. Where potentially corrosive or obstructive con-
ditions exist, the inspection and test frequency shall be increased.
“Fans and Motors.
“Air supply and exhaust fans, motors, and components shall be inspected at
least annually.
“Where airflow detectors are not provided or airflow-rate tests are not made, fan
belts shall be inspected quarterly. Frayed or broken belts shall be replaced
promptly. When double sheaves and belts are employed, the inspection fre-
quency shall be permitted to be semiannual.
“Fixed fire extinguishing systems protecting filters shall be inspected quarterly
for accumulation of deposits on nozzles. Nozzles shall be cleaned as necessary.”

19
Rev. 4/02
Work Practices

Work Practices

ANSI/AIHA Z9.5 pp. 12-13, section 5.5

“Many work practices might affect the overall safety and health situation in a
laboratory. The following list concerns only those work practices related
directly to hood performance and applies only when hazardous materials are to
be used in the hood:
a) The worker shall not lean into the hood so that his/her head is inside the
plane of the hood face without adequate respiratory and personal protection,
except for setup work or hood maintenance;
b) Equipment in the hood should not block airflow to slots in the baffle;
c) Equipment that might be a source of emission (including in case of breakage)
should not be placed closer than 6 inches from the plane of the hood face;
d) Flammable liquids should not be stored permanently in the cabinet under
the hood unless that cabinet meets the requirements of ANSI/NFPA 30 and
45 for flammable liquid storage;
e) The hood sash or panels shall not be removed except for setup work without
hazardous chemicals in the hood;
f) The hood sash or panels should be closed to the maximum position possible
while still allowing comfortable working conditions;
g) A hood that is more than 10% below standard in exhaust volume shall not
be used unless its condition is labeled and the maximum sash opening
marked clearly.
“Each hood shall be posted with a notice giving the date of the last periodic field
test. If the hood failed the performance test, it shall be taken out of service until
repaired, or posted with a restricted use notice. The notice shall state the par-
tially closed sash position necessary and any other requisite precautions con-
cerning the type of work and materials permitted or prohibited.”

Prudent Practices p. 179

“Many factors can compromise the efficiency of a hood operation. Most of
these are avoidable; thus, it is important to be aware of all behavior that can, in
some way, modify the hood and its capabilities. The following should always be
considered when using a hood:
• Keep fume hood exhaust fans on at all times.
• If possible, position the fume hood sash so that work is performed by ex-
tending the arms under or around the sash, placing the head in front of the
sash, and keeping the glass between the worker and the chemical source.
The worker views the procedure through the glass, which will act as a pri-
mary barrier if a spill, splash, or explosion should occur.
• Avoid opening and closing the fume hood sash rapidly, and avoid swift arm
and body movements in front of or inside the hood. These actions may in-
crease turbulence and reduce the effectiveness of fume hood containment.
• Place chemical sources and apparatus at least 6 inches behind the face of the
hood. In some laboratories, a colored stripe is painted on, or tape applied

20
Rev. 4/02
 Laboratory Standards
and Guidelines Selection of Specialty Hoods

to, the hood work surface 6 inches back from the face to serve as a reminder.
Quantitative fume hood containment tests reveal that the concentration of
contaminant in the breathing zone can be 300 times higher from a source
located at the front of the hood face than from a source placed at least 6
inches back. This concentration declines further as the source is moved far-
ther toward the back of the hood.
• Place equipment as far to the back of the hood as practical without blocking
the bottom baffle.
• Separate and elevate each instrument by using blocks or racks so that air can
flow easily around all apparatus.
• Do not use large pieces of equipment in a hood, because they tend to cause
dead spaces in the airflow and reduce the efficiency of the hood.
• If a large piece of equipment emits fumes or heat outside a fume hood, then
have a special-purpose hood designed and installed to ventilate that partic-
ular device. This method of ventilation is much more efficient than placing
the equipment in a fume hood, and it will consume much less air.
• Do not modify fume hoods in any way that adversely affects the hood per-
formance. This includes adding, removing, or changing any of the fume
hood components, such as baffles, sashes, airfoils, liners and exhaust con-
nections.”

Selection of Specialty Hoods

Prudent Practices pp. 184-185

“Auxiliary Air Hoods
“Quantitative tracer gas testing of many auxiliary air fume hoods has revealed
that, even when adjusted properly and with the supply air properly condi-
tioned, significantly higher worker exposure to the materials used in the hood
may occur than with conventional (non-auxiliary air) hoods. Auxiliary air
hoods should not be purchased for new installations, and existing auxiliary air
hoods should be replaced or modified to eliminate the supply air feature of the
hood. This feature causes a disturbance of the velocity profile and leakage of
fumes from the hood into the worker’s breathing zone.
“The auxiliary air fume hood was developed in the 1970s primarily to reduce
laboratory energy consumption. It is a combination of a bypass fume hood and
a supply air diffuser located at the top of the sash. These hoods were intended
to introduce unconditioned or tempered air, as much as 70% of the air
exhausted from the hood, directly to the front of the hood. Ideally, this uncon-
ditioned air bypasses the laboratory and significantly reduces air conditioning
and heating costs in the laboratory. In practice, however, many problems are
caused by introducing unconditioned or slightly conditioned air above the
sash, all of which may produce a loss of containment.”

21
Rev. 4/02
Selection of Specialty Hoods

p. 187
“Radioisotope Hoods
“Hoods used for work with radioactive sources or materials should be designed
so that they can be decontaminated completely on a regular basis. A usual fea-
ture is a one-piece, stainless steel, welded liner with smooth, coved corners,
which can be cleaned easily and completely. The superstructure of radioisotope
hoods is usually made stronger than that of a conventional hood in order to
support lead bricks and other shielding that may be required in the hood. Spe-
cial treatment of the exhaust from radioisotope hoods may be required by gov-
ernment agencies to prevent the release of radioactive material into the
environment. This usually involves the use of high-efficiency particulate air
(HEPA) filters.”

ASHRAE Handbook p. 13.4

“Auxiliary Air (approximately constant volume airflow with approximately
constant face velocity). A plenum above the face receives air from a secondary
air supply that provides partially conditioned or unconditioned outside air.
“Application: Research laboratories—frequent or continuous use. Moderate to
highly hazardous processes; varying procedures.
“Note: Many organizations restrict the use of this type of hood...
“Radioisotope. Standard hood with special integral work surface, linings
impermeable to radioactive materials, and structure strong enough to support
lead shielding bricks. The interior must be constructed to prevent radioactive
material buildup and allow complete cleaning. The ductwork should have
flanged neoprene gasketed joints with quick disconnect fasteners that can be
readily dismantled for decontamination. High-efficiency particulate air
(HEPA) and/or charcoal filters may be needed in the exhaust dust.
“Application: Process and research laboratories using radioactive isotopes.
“Perchloric Acid. Standard hood with special integral work surfaces, coved cor-
ners, and nonorganic lining materials. Perchloric acid is an extremely active oxi-
dizing agent. Its vapors can form unstable deposits in the ductwork that present
a potential explosion hazard. To alleviate this hazard, the exhaust system must
be equipped with an internal water washdown and drainage system, and the
ductwork must be constructed of smooth, impervious, cleanable materials that
are resistant to acid attack. The internal washdown system must completely
flush the ductwork, exhaust fan, discharge stack, and fume hood inner surfaces.
The ductwork should be kept as short as possible with minimum elbows. Per-
chloric acid exhaust systems with longer duct runs may need a zoned washdown
system to avoid water flow rates in excess of the capacity to drain the water from
the hood. Because perchloric acid is an extremely active oxidizing agent, organic
materials should not be used in the exhaust system in places such as joints and
gaskets. Ducts should be constructed of a stainless steel material, with a chro-
mium and nickel content not less than that of 316 stainless steel, or of a suitable
nonmetallic material. Joints should be welded and ground smooth. A perchloric
acid exhaust system should only be used for work involving perchloric acid.

22
Rev. 4/02
 Laboratory Standards
and Guidelines Selection of Specialty Hoods

“Application: Process and research laboratories using perchloric acid. Manda-

tory use because of explosion hazard.”

ANSI/AIHA Z9.5 p. 15, section 5.11.3

“Auxiliary supplied air hoods are not recommended unless special energy con-
ditions or design circumstances require their use.”
pp. 15-16, section 5.12
“Perchloric acid fume hoods shall meet the following provisions:
a) All surfaces of the hood shall be materials that will not react with the acid to
form flammable or explosive compounds;
b) The interior surfaces of the entire hood, duct, fan, and stack surface must be
equipped with water wash capabilities;
c) The ductwork shall be stainless steel with smooth-welded seams;
d) The system shall not be manifolded or joined to other nonperchloric acid
exhaust systems;
e) Organic materials, including gaskets, shall not be used unless it is known
they will not react with perchloric acid;
f) The hood shall be labeled ‘Perchloric Acid Hood.’”

NFPA 45 p. 45-14, section 6.11.1

“Perchloric acid heated above ambient temperatures shall only be used in a lab-
oratory hood specifically designed for its use and identified as follows:
FOR PERCHLORIC ACID OPERATIONS
“Exception: Hoods not specifically designed for use with perchloric acid shall be per-
mitted to be used where the vapors and trapped and scrubbed before they are released
into the hood.”

23
Rev. 4/02
Sound Levels in Rooms

Sound Levels in Rooms

ASHRAE Handbook p. 46.25

“Table 34 lists design guidelines for HVAC-related background sound appro-
priate to various occupancies.”
Table 34. (partial) Design Guidelines for HVAC-Related Background Sound
in Rooms
RC(N);
Room Types QAI <5 dB
Criteriona,b
Office Buildings
Executive and private offices 25-35
Open-plan offices 30-40
Hospitals and Clinics
Private rooms 25-35
Laboratories (with fume hoods)
Testing/research, minimal speech communication 45-55
Research, extensive telephone use, speech communication 40-50
Group teaching 35-45
aThe values and ranges are based on judgement and experience, not on quantitative evalua-
tions of human reactions. They represent general limits of acceptability for typical building
occupancies. Higher or lower values may be appropriate and should be based on a careful
analysis of economics, space use, and user needs.
bWhen the quality of sound in the space is important, specify criteria in terms of RC(N). If the
quality of sound in the space is secondary concern, the criteria may be specified in terms of
NC or NCB levels of similar magnitude.

AIA p. 37
“The typical maximum noise coefficient (NC) levels generated by HVAC sys-
tems in a laboratory is approximately NC 50 with hoods in an operating posi-
tion and in the midpoint of the room. For laboratory hoods, noise levels should
not exceed NC 60 at the face of the hood unless permitted by the facility safety
personnel.”

24
Rev. 4/02
Laboratory Standards
and Guidelines References

References
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). Indus-
trial Ventilation: A Manual of Recommended Practice, 24th Edition. Cincinnati,
OH: ACGIH, 2001.
American Institute of Architects (AIA), Center for Advanced Technology Facil-
ities Design. Guidelines for Planning and Design of Biomedical Research Labora-
tory Facilities. Washington, DC: AIA, 1999.
American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA). American National Standard
for Laboratory Ventilation (ANSI/AIHA Z9.5-1992). Fairfax, VA: AIHA, 1992.
American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) Z9.5 Committee. Clarifica-
tion of ANSI/AIHA Z9.5 Standard “Laboratory Ventilation.” Fairfax, VA: AIHA,
1993.
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,
Inc. (ASHRAE). 1999 ASHRAE Handbook: HVAC Applications. Atlanta, GA:
ASHRAE, 1999.
National Research Council, Committee on Prudent Practices for Handling,
Storage, and Disposal of Chemicals in Laboratories. Prudent Practices in the
Laboratory: Handling and Disposal of Chemicals. Washington, DC: National
Academy Press, 1995.
National Institutes of Health. Research Laboratory Design Policy and Guidelines.
Bethesda, MD: NIH, 1999.
National Institutes of Health. Reference Materials for Design Policy and Guide-
lines—Mechanical. Bethesda, MD: NIH, 2000.
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). NFPA 45: Standard on Fire Pro-
tection for Laboratories Using Chemicals. Quincy, MA: NFPA, 2000.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). 29 CFR Part
1910.1450. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 2001.
Scientific Equipment & Furniture Association (SEFA). Laboratory Fume Hoods:
Recommended Practices (SEFA 1.2-1996). Garden City, NY: SEFA, 1996.

25
Rev. 4/02
Phoenix Controls
Corporation
55 Chapel Street, Newton MA 02458
Telephone 617-964-6670
Fax 617-965-4503
www.phoenixcontrols.com