By Healthcare Facilities Today

Proper ventilation of laboratory settings is required to promote and maintain laboratory safety and protection to life and property, according to an article on designing laboratory ventilation systems on the Consulting-Specifying Engineer website.

Depending on the laboratory type, fume containment, worker safety, proper cleanliness through pressure relationships, filtration, air changes per hour, point of fume capture, temperature, and relative humidity requirements should all be part of the ventilation system design, according to the article.

"Codes identify ventilation measures to provide minimum requirements for the protection of life and property through prevention and control of fumes and containment of hazardous fumes and contaminants for worker safety," the article said.

There are four general types of laboratories noted in the ASHRAE Handbook—HVAC Applications: biological, chemical, animal and physical.

The Consulting-Specifying Engineer article offers information on hood types and ventilation criteria primarily on the first three types of labs, with discussion on contaminant containment, airflow practices, comfort conditioning, and the codes that govern the lab ventilation systems.

Read the article.