Trends in Laboratory Design

Airflows:
Evolution of Impacts
of Designing for

Airflow Requirements
Convergence

J. Patrick Carpenter, PE

Historical Perspective
VERY early Hoods

What Are Laboratory Facilities ?

and Less than safe practices

Places of Uncertainty

Places of Risk

Sources of Contamination

How does the degree of each element vary among lab types?

How does or should the variation impact the design criteria?

Safety

Codes, Regulations and Standards

Risks / Hazard Assessments Materials, Activities

Codes and Standards
Technologies

Need a Comprehensive Hazard Assessment

OSHA

29 CFR 1910.1450 Occupational Exposure to Hazardous

(1990-1996)

Chemicals in Labs

ANSI

Z 9.2 (2001)
Z 9.5 (2003)

Local Exhaust Ventilation Systems

Laboratory Ventilation

NFPA

45 (2004)

Fire Protection for Labs Using Chemicals

ICC/IMC 510 (2003)

Hazardous Exhaust Systems

ASHRAE 62.1/.2 (2004)

90.1 (2004)
110 (2007?)

Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality

Energy Standards for Buildings
MOT Performance of Lab Fume Hoods

NSF

49 (2004)

Class II (Laminar Flow) Biosafety Cabinetry

SEFA

1 (2006)

Lab Fume Hoods Recommended Practices

ASHRAE (2002)
LBNL

Building and Operating Codes and Regulations

Laboratory Design Guide

Design Guide for Energy-Efficient Research Laboratories

ASHRAE Ventilation, Energy, Fume Hood Performance

2001

A
I
H
A

American
National
Standard
For

Laboratory
Ventilation

2003

How Can Material Storage Practices be used to Minimize Risks

How can they help Reduce Resulting Airflows?

Primary Issues in Laboratory Environments

People Issues
Comfort Personal!
Safety Health & Welfare Specific NOT generic
Security Natural, Accidental and Intentional Events
Process Issues
Environmental Control
Contamination Control
Product Integrity
Qualitative Issues
Reliability
Flexibility
Efficiency

Basic Parameters that Dictate Risk

Materials Used
Type / Form (solid, liquid, gas pressures?)
Quantity
Dispensing / Handling
Activities
Demonstration
Teaching
Research
Unknown

Basic Design Considerations for Occupants

Safety / Health
Exposure (to Hazardous Materials)
Local Containment Fume Hoods, BSCs, snorkels, etc.
Room Containment and/or Isolation
Dilution and mixing effectiveness
Transport

Dispersion
Security
Fire

Occupants Building Code Occupancy Class plus

Density
Knowledgeable
Independent or Supervised
Schedule (Intermittent or Continuous occupancy?)

Contamination Control Achieved by

Elimination
Intake & Exhaust Locations
Materials
Maintenance Accessibility
Removal
Air Flows in Rooms
Methods of Capture
Methods of Treatment Maintenance
Dilution
Air Volumes
Source of Make-up
Room Air Distribution Mixing
Isolation
Physical vs. Airflow
Types Direct / Reverse / Mutual
Relative Pressures Differentials Control
Closed / Sealed Systems

Basic Design Considerations for Occupants

CONTAMINATION

Balancing the Key Drivers to Airflows in Lab

CONVERGENCE = approaching a LIMIT!

Coming Together!

Trends in Laboratory Design

Convergence in Airflows

Air Motion

Evolution of Dilution Requirements

Contamination Control through Dilution

Contamination Removal through Exhaust
Environmental Control through Cooling (and Heating)

Comfort
Temperature
Relative Humidity

Early approaches influenced by lack of Fume Hoods or

their poor performance
Before advent of A/C, lab had no supply concept only
a source of make-up air through doors or windows
As FHs became standard, ways to ascertain their
effectiveness established exhaust airflow benchmarks
Performance of FHs shown to be influenced by supply
concepts indirectly drove distribution concepts but without
scientific basis to optimize approaches
Room ventilation without scientific basis standards and
guidelines gave no directed guidance only generalizations
Evolution of dilution concepts, mixing effectiveness and
CFD modeling improved understanding of airflow concepts
in rooms. Move towards effectiveness concepts.

Trends in Laboratory Design

Convergence in Airflows

Evolution of Dilution Requirements

Room airflow concepts had no strong regulatory direction

Air quantities were assumed related to maintaining a safe
environment

Evolution of Room Airflows for Dilution

Occupied Unoccup. Average

ACPH
ACPH
ACPH

BUT labs were presumed potentially contaminated and

therefore negative pressurization was deemed necessary

12

12

12

1.8

1.8

Airflows were clearly inadequate to handle events or

spills but airflows were still maintained at artificially
higher levels a sound basis to reduce them did not exist.

12

9.33

1.8

1.2

10

7.33

1.5

0.9

5.33

1.2

0.6

Assessments of critical dilution needs continued to focus

on fume hoods (LEL purge) and discharge stack dispersion
to minimize external contamination or re-entrainment
Energy cost pressures continued to force gradual
reductions in normal and unoccupied airflow requirements

Trends in Laboratory Design

Convergence in Airflows

9 Ft Ceiling Height
1/3 : 2/3 Occupied to Unoccupied assumed
Trends in Laboratory Design

Evolution of Airflows for Cooling Loads

Equiv.
Equiv.
CFM/SF CFM/SF
Occupied Unoccup.

Early assumptions driven by explosion of electronics

Heat loads were trying to follow Moores Law
Facility Planning for tomorrow followed Doomsday
concepts to excessive expectations of heat loads
Early conservatism encouraged by comparable spiral in
airflows for fume hood exhaust makeup airflows
Realities did not support the overdesign approaches
Energy impacts before dawn of VAV concepts were big
driver in emerging panic of engineering gone wild!
Emergence of VAV concepts allowed consideration of
diversity concepts made conservatism for future
feasible and cost-affordable if not cost effective
Energy cost pressures compounded with VAV opportunities
forced closer looks at actual conditions to benchmark
realistic provisions. Beginning of Right-Sizing

Trends in Laboratory Design

Convergence in Airflows

Convergence in Airflows

Evolution of Airflows for Cooling Loads

Corollary improvements in scientific equipment and Energy

Star concepts encouraged mitigation of spiraling heat load.
Costs of Scientific Equipment result in increasing shared
resources and consolidation of high heat sources easing
general trend to increase cooling ability in all areas.
Overwhelming support for Sustainability focused renewed
attention on both Energy Use and Resource Conservation.
Industry Energy Benchmarking (Labs21) increases peer
pressures to justify project criteria.
Repeated success and verification of real data and
impacts of proven operational diversity become industry
standard for validation of user needs.
LEED prominence encourages further conservation instead
of conservatism and drives further efforts for M&V

Trends in Laboratory Design

Convergence in Airflows

Evolution of Room Airflows for Cooling

Equipment
Load
Density
Watt/sf

Total
Cooling
Density
Watt/sf

Resulting
Cooling
Airflows
CFM/sf

Evolution of Airflows for Exhaust Make-up

Resulting
Exhaust
Airflows
CFM/sf

Initially driven by Fume Hood Design concepts

Baffling options
Impact of exhaust connection configuration

10

14

3+

3.5+

Exploding research increases fume hood & Exhaust Air

15

19

4+

4.5+

Bypass concepts to stabilize velocities

Airfoil inlet improvements

Densities
Sizes

Sash openings
Fume Hood performance research and testing standards
stabilize and focus design directions on concepts

20

24

5+

5.5+

4-8

6-10

1.3-2.2

1.7-2.6

Trends in Laboratory Design

Convergence in Airflows

Trends in Laboratory Design

Evolution of Airflows for Exhaust Make-up

Energy Issues drive alternatives

Maturity & increasing acceptance of VAV concepts leads to:

Auxiliary air concepts later shown as wrong move

Combination Sash concepts lower effective sash areas

and resulting airflows

Consideration of alternate criteria for set-up modes

VAV/diversity concepts improve options for right-sizing

Improved inlet conditions and Reduced sash areas

Sash closing concepts to reduce opening and flows

Industry Guidelines (esp. Z-9.5) shift focus to verified

performance based concept for hoods instead of just FV
Expanding use of Fume Hood Performance Testing creates
better understanding of external influences on Hood

Trends in Laboratory Design

Convergence in Airflows

Convergence in Airflows

Evolution of Airflows for Exhaust Make-up

Excess face velocities loose favor

Impacts of room conditions increase focus on supply air
concepts in space

Improved methods to detect fume hood face velocity on a

real time basis aid in user feedback
Concerns about response times of control systems
User presence or in use detection allows reset of fume
hood airflows for changing face velocities
Evolution of testing protocols to address dynamics

Other refinements in Fume Hood design evolve from more

sophisticated performance testing:

Impacts of Vortex concepts in Hoods

Importance of Hood depth on overall containment

Sensitivity to Cross currents and Turbulence

Evolution of High Performance hoods lower Face Velocity

Trends in Laboratory Design

Convergence in Airflows

Evolution of Airflows for Exhaust Make-up

Evolution of Room Airflows for Exhaust (6 FT hoods)

Mainstream acceptance of VAV concepts reinforces value

in manifolded systems because of

Sash Dimensions
Width x Height

Sash
Area
SF

Face
Velocity
FPM

Exhaust
Airflows
CFM

62 x 30

12.9

100

1300

62 x 18

7.7

100

775

62 x 30

12.9

60

775

2 @ 16 x 30

6.7

100

670

Duct, shaft and dampering concepts still somewhat in flux

because of differing opinions and interpretations by AHJs

62 x 18

7.7

80

620

Uncertainty limits some applications of manifolding

62 x 18

7.7

60

465

Opportunity to take advantage of diversity

Ability to improve reliability with partial redundancy

Ability to improve reliability with emergency power

Ability to improve overall dilution and dispersion

EH&S develop better appreciation for advantages

Codes, esp. fire, create conflicting perspectives forcing
compromise definition of lab scale use of materials

Trends in Laboratory Design

Convergence in Airflows

Trends in Laboratory Design

Evolution of Airflows for Exhaust Make-up

Impacts of Hood Exhaust Airflows at current minimums

Other Considerations

6 Ft hood w/ lower face velocity & sash area < 500 CFM!

Assuming one FH per (2) 250 SF modules = < 1.0 CFM / sf

Actual Exhaust flow of 0.9 CFM/SF ~ 6 ACPH (9 ceiling)

Well below most occupied standards for ACPH

Convergence in Airflows

Current FH Exhaust minimums for LEL control require

about 250-300 CFM for 6 Ft hood depending on depth
This only allows FH turndown of about 50%!
Are there options to monitor this and allow further
reductions under most normal conditions?

Provides about 0.7 CFM/SF for supply with balance from

transfer into room (negatively pressurized lab!)

Results in less than 3. 5 watts/SF cooling!

Dilution and Cooling now dominate airflows!

With unoccupied ACPH at 4.0, Hood has little turn-down!

Even at twice the density (1 hood / module), 12 ACPH

exhaust => 10.5 ACPH supply = 7 watts cooling capacity!

Trends in Laboratory Design

Convergence in Airflows

Trends in Laboratory Design

Convergence in Airflows

So Where Are WE now and Where are We Going?

At current flows, limits of cooling & FH exhaust not likely

to reduce but FH performance will be closely watched
BUT lower flows may force closer scrutiny of
contaminant concentrations in labs

Assessing How Close to Minimum Conditions You Are

Reduced flows means room air distribution is critical to:

Effectively ventilate space & dilute contamination

Effectively provide comfortable space conditions

Key issues to achieving this optimization:

Requirements for Upset or spill scenario conditions may

force reconsideration of how to increase flows (purge)

Evolving EH&S sensitivity may move towards more direct

assurance of safe lab conditions with active monitoring
Convergence in Airflows

Promote Health and Safety

Provide Adequate Containment = Optimize FH Face Velocity?
Limit Sash Opening?
Consider options to excessive Minimum Hood Airflows?
Provide Room (and Hood) Dilution = Improve Airflow Effect?
Provide Stability = Use Constant Air Volumes?
Maximize Exhaust Dispersion = Maintain Min. Stack Velocity?
Maximize Separation? Stack Heights & Locations? Manifold?
Increase Exhaust System Reliability = Redundant Fans? EPS?
Minimize Complexity to Insure Proper Operation/Maintenance?
Codes
Any specific code Restrictions on things such as Manifolding?
Performance Testing of Fume Hoods
Provide Comfort / Conditioning
What Current vs. Future Equipment Heat Loads are required?
Does any Equipment have Increased Temperature Sensitivity?

Commitment to monitor and maintain requisite Good Lab

Practices by conscious and informed users
Commitment to monitor and maintain corresponding
measurement and control systems that provide
performance and diversities that make concepts possible

Trends in Laboratory Design

Design Implications of Lab Objectives

Evaluation process needs comprehensive team approach

AND thorough understanding of current and future needs
benchmarked by good data on existing operations

With Low Flows & good hood containment, little room

contamination or need for it under normal conditions BUT

Trends in Laboratory Design

Following issues and questions suggest a checklist of

considerations that are essential to establish realistic and
practical limits of right-sizing a lab exhaust system.

Convergence in Airflows

Essential Design Questions traditionally Addressed

Is the Lab an Air Driven Environment?

Do fume hoods /exhaust devices dictate room airflows?

Do materials and procedures dictate certain minimum
room air dilution rates = ACPH, mixing effectiveness?

Are space loads significant enough to drive supply air?

Are they continuous or daily or seasonally variable?

Are space temperatures lower because of gowning

Do cooling needs depress required cooling coil temps?

Do Activities really require labs to be negative pressure?

Is space pressurization required at All times?

Is Lab a 100% Exhausted Environment?

Are materials / risks (potentially) present at All times?

Are Lab dynamics (effectively) monitored?

Essential Design Considerations (Contd)

How does Occupancy affect airflows?

Will Laboratory really be an Occupied space?

How often are people present and for how long?

Will labs be automated?

Laboratory Monitoring

Can or is the occupancy monitored?

How well monitored are Lab activities?

Is monitoring continuous and alarmed?

How effective is the sensing?

Can airflows & effectiveness of ventilation be tracked?

Major Code Drivers in Labs Basics

ensure that chemicals originating from the laboratory shall
not be recirculated.
Lab hood face velocities and exhaust volumes sufficient to
contain contaminants generated within the hood provide
containment of the possible hazards and protection for
personnel at all times when chemicals are present in the
hood.
Air exhausted shall be discharged sufficient to prevent reentry of chemicals & prevent exposures to personnel.

Environmental Control

How critical is space temperature and humidity control?

How critical is air cleanliness?

Is increased filtration a requirement or option?

Conceptual Model of Capacity and Energy Impacts of

Conservatism in Defining Lab Design Requirements

Basic Design Considerations

Fume Hood Use Basic Guidelines

Space Equipment (and Lighting) Heat Load Density

Ventilation Rates (ACPH), Occupied and Unoccupied

Fume Hood and Device Exhaust Make-up Air

Sash Area (In Use, Set-up, Not In Use?)

Face Velocity

Minimum flows under NO load or no containment?

Diversities (equip and hood) for Room and System

Room Pressurization

Hours of Operation

Duct and Stack Velocities

100% Exhaust OR selective recirculation?

Above Considerations have Normal (occupied/unoccupied)

Conditions and Off-Normal (Spill) Conditions

Confirm that the hood is operational

switch is in the "on" position
check the airflow gauge or observe "flow check ribbon"
Maintain operations at least 6" inside the hood face.
Lower sash to optimum height.
height at which airflow is maximized without creating turbulence
unattended /explosive processes, conduct behind a lowered sash
Keep head out of hood
Keep hood storage to an absolute minimum.
Keep the back bottom slot clear
Raise large objects at least two inches off the hood surface
Minimize foot traffic around the chemical hood.
Other sources of competing air currents such as open windows and fans
must also be avoided
Use extreme caution with ignition sources

if possible, ignition sources should remain outside the hood at all times.
Replace hood components prior to use.