Design Criteria for Laboratories
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Scope, Purpose & General Requirements
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Primary Purpose
The primary purpose of these design criteria (DC) is to establish minimum design requirements for laboratory furniture, fume hoods, and safety devices to provide a safe work environment and prevent undesirable exposures to chemical contaminants among students, faculty, and staff in University System of Georgia (USG) laboratories.
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Minimum Standards
These design criteria are minimum design standards required for all new construction and renovation projects involving laboratory furniture and fume hoods in USG facilities. Individual institutions may have more stringent requirements.
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Standard References
The primary design references for these DC are the latest versions of:
- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 45 - Standard on Fire Protection for Laboratories Using Chemicals
- NFPA 30 — Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code
- NFPA 70 — National Electric Code
- American National Standards Institute (ANSI) / American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) Z9.5 - Standard for Laboratory Ventilation
- ANSI/AIHA Z358.1 — Standard for Emergency Eyewash & Shower Equipment
- American Society for Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 55 — Thermal Environment Conditions for Human Occupancy
- ASHRAE 110-R
- Americans With Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) — Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) 30-3-2.
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US Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories, 29 CFR 1910.1450
The primary procedural reference for minor or major capital projects that exceed the institution’s delegated authority is the Board of Regent’s publication titled “Building Project Procedures” (BPP). The BPP is available online at http://www.usg.edu/ref.
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Drawings
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Working drawings.
During the preliminary design phase of the project, designers shall develop and submit a draft set of working drawings to the appropriate representatives at the institution (Facilities Construction/Engineering, Physical Plant, Environmental Safety, and involved academic unit) for review and comment. Upon institution approval of minor or major projects that exceed the institution’s delegated authority, the preliminary design documents shall be presented to the Board of Regents Office of Facilities, 270 Washington St., S.W., Atlanta, GA 30334, for review and comment by Board of Regents Facilities office staff. The Board of Regents Program Manager for the institution shall coordinate this meeting. Working drawings shall include floor plans and elevations of all laboratory casework, fixed installations, and other equipment. The Vice Chancellor for facilities shall be the approving authority for preliminary design documents.
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Shop drawings.
The designer shall submit shop drawings to the architect showing rough-in and installation drawings. Designers shall specify on the drawings the number of copies submitted and any special requirements. The primary project designer shall be responsible for resolving deviations between working drawings and shop drawings. Designers shall provide drawings in an approved electronic format if requested by the institution. See also section V-F pertaining to fume hood submittals.
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Manufacturer’s information.
Manufacturer’s data and installation instructions shall be procured and submitted with purchased fume hood, along with recommended ductwork seam connection methods and materials (if not welded).
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Samples.
All prospective bidders shall, upon request, submit samples.
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Final drawings.
After changes are made, designers shall develop a final set of working drawings, to be submitted in accordance with the most current version of the Board of Regents BPP.
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Institution Review and Acceptance
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Design documents review.
Project design documents shall not proceed beyond preliminary design, and shall not be presented to the Board of Regents for minor and major capital projects until they have been reviewed and endorsed by the institution’s Facilities Engineering, Environmental Safety, and involved academic units.
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Test and balance reports.
New laboratory construction and renovation projects require a system test and balance report to verify proper HVAC system and fume hood operation before the building or area will be accepted, or occupied, by the institution.
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Variance Requests
Variance requests from this criteria, approved by institution departments, as outlined in E-1 above, shall be submitted as early as possible during schematic or preliminary design, in writing to the Board of Regents Vice Chancellor for Facilities. Such requests shall include the nature and proposed location of the variance, giving needed details of proposed changes. Variances approved by the Board of Regents will be in writing, from the Vice Chancellor for Facilities (or designee). These requests should be submitted to:
Vice Chancellor for Facilities
Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia
270 Washington St., S.W.,
Atlanta, GA 30334. -
Fume Hoods Minimization
To minimize the overall number of fume hoods needed in laboratories, USG institutions shall incorporate chemical use reduction strategies such as micro-scale and virtual (computer-simulated) experiments in chemistry labs to the maximum extent feasible.
Fume hoods shall not be installed or used primarily for chemical storage.
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Laboratory Air Pressurization and Exchange Rate
Laboratories where potentially hazardous chemicals or agents are used shall have negative air pressurization relative to surrounding space, and HVAC systems shall be designed to provide 6-10 air changes per hour, depending on use of laboratory space.
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