Design Criteria for Laboratories
Laboratory Project Checklist
01. __ Laboratory aisles are at least 4 feet in width. [II-A-1]
02. __ Clear wall space at doors is at least 2 feet. [II-A-2]
03. __ Cabinets and shelving are not located to impede
sprinkler head water flow. [II-A-3]
04. __ Air supply vents are not close to fume hoods and
biosafety cabinets. [II-B-1]
05. __ Chemical storage rooms have an independent air supply.
[II-B-2]
06. __ Disability (ADA) design considerations are taken
into account. [III-B]
07. __ Cabinet, countertop, and fume hood materials are
appropriate for uses. [IV-B-3 / V-H]
08. __ Cabinetry meets the size criteria. [IV-A & B]
09. __ Sliding doors have required stops. [IV-A-4-b]
10. __ Reagent shelving is 5 feet from the floor. [IV-A-6-b]
11. __ Reagent shelving has 1/2-inch retaining lips. [IV-A-6-a]
12. __ Doors and drawers do not stick when opened and closed.
[IV-B-2]
13. __ Panels are all in place and properly secured. [IV-B-2
/ V-G-6-a]]
14. __ Service fixtures are properly positioned and secured
in place [IV-D / V-G-4]]
15. __ Service fixtures, lab and fume hoods, are properly
identified and color-coded. [IV-C-1]
16. __ Electrical service fixtures of required types have
proper covers. [IV-C-10-c / IV-D]
17. __ Electrical outlets are properly wired and grounded.
[IV-D]
18. __ Electrical outlets are GFCI type if within 6 feet
of a water source. [IV-C-10-c / V-G-4-e]
19. __ Panel circuits, including GFCI, are properly identified.
[IV-C-11 / V-G-4-f]
20. __ Water service fixtures have vacuum breakers and
cut-off valves. [IV-C-2]
21. __ Water service fixture valves turn on/off in required
direction. [IV-C-2]
22. __ Special water service installations have self-closing
valves. [IV-C-4]
23. __ Cup sinks have strainers secured in place. [IV-C-6-b]
24. __ Fume hoods are UL approved and pass the ASHRAE 110
test. [V-G-1]
25. __ Fume hoods are not located near doors or in a main
laboratory aisle. [V-E]
26. __ Fume hood superstructures are secured to countertop
cabinet. [V-I-1]
27. __ Fume hoods 5 feet or wider have service fixtures
(on each side). [V-G-4-b]
28. __ Fume hood sashes move up and down easily and stay
where stopped. [V-G-7-c]
29. __ Fume hood airfoil is secured to hood structure.
[V-G-8-a]
30. __ Fume hood light fixture has twin lamps and is properly
installed and secured. [V-I-2-b]
31. __ Fume hood light fixture has a switch on the hood
face and works properly. [V-G-4-g]
32. __ Fume hood low airflow alarm is installed, working,
and calibrated. [V-G-5 / V-J-4]
33. __ Fume hood low airflow alarm activates if exhaust
airflow falls below 80 fpm. [V-G-5-k]
34. __ Fume hood low airflow alarm activates when sash
opening exceeds 18 inches. [V-G-5-k]
35. __ Fume hood low airflow alarm signals both visually
and audibly when activated. [V-G-5-e/g]
36. __ Fume hood low airflow alarm audible signal is mutable
during alarm sequence. [V-G-5-g]
37. __ Fume hood service fixtures are on a common vertical
center line. [V-G-4-a]
38. __ Fume hood water service fixtures are located directly
over cup sinks. [V-G-4-c]
39. __ Fume hood baffles (if supplied) open and close from
the hood exterior. [V-G-9-c]
40. __ Fume hood sash stops are installed and set at 18
inches from the work surface. V-G-7-f]
41. __ Fume hood nameplate is provided, meeting criteria
for perchloric acid hoods. [V-G-10-a]
42. __ Fume hood exhaust duct connections meet installation
criteria and are secured. [V-I-3-i/j]
43. __ Exhaust duct dampers and valves are accessible for
adjustment or service work.[V-I-3-h]
44. __ Hood duct connectors are labeled to identify the
hood they serve. [V-I-3-v / V-L-1-e]
45. __ Fume hood ducting is properly connected to an exhaust
fan (if not manifolded). [V-I-3-j]
46. __ Fume hood exhaust fans are permanently identified
as to the hoods they serve. [V-I-3-w]
47. __ Fume hood exhaust ducts are at least 10 feet above
the roof. [V-I-3-s]
48. __ Fume hood exhaust ducts are well away from air intakes.
[V-I-3-r]
49. __ Fume hood exhaust stack airflow meets required discharge
velocity). [V-i-3-q]
50. __ Fume hood fan drive and motor units are properly
guarded. [V-I-4-b]
51. __ Manifold ducts and connectors meet the design criteria
in this document. [V-L-2]
52. __ Hood airflow is 100 fpm with sash set at
18 inches above work surface. [V-B-1 / V-K-2-c]
53. __ Fume hood sound level (at sash area) does not exceed
63 decibels (dBA). [V-J-3]
54. __ Fume hoods have operating instructions/low airflow
alarm instructions. [V-G-11 / V-G-5-c]
55. __ Laboratories are pressurized negatively to surrounding
space. [I-H]
56. __ Test and balance work has been completed, verifying
proper installations. [I-E-2 / V-K-2]
57. __ Back-up exhaust fan power kicks in within 3 seconds
of a manifold fan failure. [V-L-3-c]
58. __ Perchloric acid hoods have a connected, identified,
working wash-down system. [V-I-3-k]
59. __ BSCs provided are located away from air supply vents,
aisles, and doors. [II-B-1 / VI-C-2]
60. __ BSCs provided have at least 6 inches side and 18
inches top clearance. [VI-C-2]
61. __ BSC wrappings are essentially left in place until
dusty area work is completed. [VI-C-4]
62. __ Required BSC service fixtures are installed and
work properly. [VI-C-3]
63. __ BSCs are certified by an accredited certifier. [VI-C-5]
64. __ Safety showers are located within a 10 second walking
time of lab hazard areas. [IV-D-1]
65. __ Safety showers are located at least 4 feet from
walls (preferably near a sink). [VI-D-3]
66. __ Safety showers are located at least 6 feet from
electrical sources. [iV-D-4]
67. __ Safety shower heads are installed 4 inches below
ceiling. [VI-D-3]
68. __ Safety shower valve rods or handles are within easy
reach of deluge area. [VI-D-2]
69. __ Safety showers have an identified in-line shut-off
valve (usually above ceiling). [VI-D-5]
70. __ Screen filters in the water supply line (if installed
by manufacturer) are removed. [VI-D-6]
71. __ Safety shower water flow is at least 20 gpm.
[VI-D-10]
72. __ Safety shower water flow stops dripping within 1
minute of shut-off. [VI-D-11]
73. __ Safety shower signage is installed, visible from
any direction. [VI-D-8]
74. __ Eyewashes are plumbed into the cold water line at
or near a major sink. [VI-E-1]
75. __ Eyewashes have twin-stream nozzles, properly anchored
to maintain position. [VI-E-3]
76. __ Eyewash nozzle filters are not installed until water
supply lines are flushed out. [VI-E-4]
77. __ Eyewash water flow is at least 3 gpm. [VI-E-7]
78. __ Eyewash water pressure is gentle (adjusted to criteria
guideline). [VI-E-8]
79. __ Eyewash water stream is not blocked by cabinetry
or other equipment. [VI-E-5 / VI-E-8]
80. __ Eyewash valve handle remains on when activated.
[VI-E-6]
81. __ Eyewash signage is installed, visible from any direction.
[VI-E-10]
82. __ Flammables cabinets provided are labeled and have
UL and FM approvals. [VI-F-1]
83. __ Flammables cabinets provided have positive latching,
self-closing doors. [VI-F-3]
84. __ Flammables cabinets provided are not vented. Vent
caps are in place. [VI-F-4-a]
85. __ Flammables cabinets provided have a retention basin
for leak containment. [VI-F-2]
86. __ Corrosives cabinets are provided where needed. [VI-G-1]
87. __ Corrosives cabinets provided are non-corroding and
have spill containment. [VI-G-2&3]
88. __ Compressed gas cylinder storage areas and restraints
are provided. [VI-H-2]
89. __ Compressed gas cylinder closets have required venting.
[VI-H-1-b]
90. __ Vented gas cylinder closets have gas sensing devices
and an alarm. [IV-H-1-c]
91. __ Compressed gas supply lines are properly identified.
[VI-H-3]
92. __ Damaged or missing laboratory equipment or parts
have been identified and replaced.
93. __ Water supply and drain connections are tested as
correctly installed and working.
94. __ Any plumbing leaks (water, drains, gases) are repaired
(all fixtures).
95. __ Laboratory wall, corner, and surface moldings are
all in place and secured.
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