Ventilation research laboratories

Holmes, M. J., and E. Sachariewicz. 1973. The Effect of Ceiling Beams and Light fittings on Ventilating Jets. Heating and Ventilating Research Association Laboratory Report No. 79. Bracknell, UK. 

No proposal for a laboratory ventilation system should be requested without a thorough study of the work to be performed. A once-through system may not always be required. The manager of a research laboratory, working closely with a designer, discovered that 50% recirculation would be permissible in their new building. While this is even less than in offices and stores, it proved to be adequate for their type of work. He would not recommend this ratio for other laboratories without a careful study. 

Research laboratories are very unique facilities which require a great deal of preparation and coordination to produce a proper design. Much like the research that will be performed in the facility, each laboratory has specific needs and requirements. The primary considerations in the design of a research laboratory include the ventilation system, types of research and associated equipment, and safety and health of the work environment. Each of these primary consideration are of equal importance to the development of a successful design. 

I [the unknown author] wanted a first-class organic chemist, and heard that Dr. Frances Mary Hamer, well-known for her work on sensitizing dyes at Cambridge with Pope and Mills, and who had been at the Ilford Research laboratories, in 1930 had fallen out with her directors over the matter of ventilation in her laboratory. I wrote and told [C. E. Kenneth] Mees. He wrote back and said Take her out to tea and sound her out . 

In 1989-1991, Philippe Samyn constructed the M G research laboratory in Venafro, Italy (Fig. 8.8). The roof structure used a membrane, under which the research areas were placed in a similar manner to the early Antarctic city of Tange, Happold, Amp and Otto. The measurements were 35 X 85 m. Six curved-steel framework arches supported the membrane made of PVC-polyester, which had a span of 12-15 m. The interior was ventilated mechanically using propulsion and suction ventilators at the tent s extremities. An independent air-conditioning system was installed in the box-like offices and laboratories. 

Rock, J. C. and Anderson, S. A., Benoits of designing for ventilation diversity in a large industrial research laboratory — A case study., Appl. Occup. Environ. Hyg., 11 (10), Oct.1996. 

Please notice that in a well-ventilated laboratory and a pressure cell, these experiments can be executed safely. In seven years of graduate research activity at the Chemical Engineering Department of the University of Akron, only one catalyst ignition and one real CO alarm occurred. Several false CO alarms were sounded until someone noticed that they always happened about 2 30 PM. As it turned out, one maintenance employee parked his old car right in front of the air intake to the lab ventilation. He warmed up his car for a while before he started to go home after his shift, and the motor exhaust gas set off the false alarms. 

Research done by experts in the field as well as in laboratories has helped them understand the relationship between lAQ, ventilation, and energy. More research is needed to link specific health symptoms with exposure to specific or a group of pollutants. The policy challenge will be to raise awareness of indoor air quality so that healthy, comfortable environments can be provided by energy efficient technology. 

Such a general procedure is described in the National Research Council report, "Prudent Practices for Handling Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories" (1), and other books on laboratory safety provide similar advice (2,3). Briefly, the procedure calls for carrying out most laboratory operations in a well-ventilated area (e.g., a fume hood or a glove box) and avoiding skin contact with chemicals. A more detailed description follows. 

Archaeological chemistry is done in laboratories that have the equipment, instruments, and facilities necessary for such research. The instruments range from microwave- to room-size and require elaborate electrical, plumbing, gas, cooling, and ventilation installations. Needless to say the instruments, their installation,... 

Chemists require excellent well-ventilated laboratories for safe research. They also require instruments for daily use and access to major frequently used instruments in their local department. Chemistry research sometimes requires major instruments or facilities that can only be economically supported by national facilities. 

School of Resource cmd Safety Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Mine Safety, Beijing, China University of Mining Research on Airflow Catastrophic of Side Branches Induced by Gas Pressure in Upward Ventilation and Technology, Beijing, China... 

Laboratory Ventilation for Hazard Control, National Cancer Institute Cancer Research Safely... 

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