1/7/2016

Designinglaboratoryventilationsystems|ConsultingSpecifyingEngineer

Research
Username
Forgotpassword?

Trending

Webcasts

Newsletters

Magazine

Subscribe
ManageAccount

*******
NewProducts

Power

Sponsoredby:

Fire,LifeSafety

Electrical,Lighting

BuildingTypes

CodesandStandards

HVAC

Designinglaboratoryventilationsystems
J.PatrickBanse,PE,andChrisSt.Cyr,SmithSeckmanReidInc.,Houston

01/21/2014

Share

Criticalpo
webcast:
powersys

Labconsiderations
Clinical(biological)labsaregenerallylocatedinhospitalsbutaresometimesseparate,independent,andlocatedawayfrom
thepatientcareandtreatmentareas.Thelabmaybeclassifiedasabusiness(B)occupancy,butiflocatedwithinthehospital,
itissubjecttohospitallicensingrequirements,whichincludeproperairchangerates,pressurerelationships,andtemperature
andrelativehumidityrequirements.
Functionsassociatedwithclinicallabsincludebacteriology,biochemistry,cytology,glasswashing,histology,microbiology,
pathology,andserology,aswellasgenerallabfunctions.Manyofthesefunctionsoccurinsmallerseparateroomsdueto
odors,spacetemperature,andlocalcapturerequirementsaswellasworkersafety.
Supplyairflowarrangement,airflowvelocity,andpointofcaptureareall
extremelyimportanttotheoverallfunctionandsuccessfulcontainmentof
contaminants,odors,andgasvapors.SupplyairdevicesofGroupA(outlets
mountedinorneartheceilingthatdischargeairhorizontally)orE(outlets
mountedinorneartheceilingthatprojectprimaryairvertically)shouldbe
locatedintheceilingwherepracticalanddeliverairsothevelocitynearafume
hoodisapproximately50%ofthehoodfacevelocityorinmostcasesabout50
fpm.Hoodsshouldbelocatedoutofthegeneralwalkwaytominimizeair
currentsanddisruptionofairflow.TheHVACdesignengineermustbeinvolved
inthelabplanningtoprovideinputtomaketheairflowandventilationsystem
functionalwithoutsacrificingsafety.Computationalfluiddynamics(CFD)maybe
aconsiderationinspecialcasesorforcomplexHVAC/labdesigns.
AccordingtoASHRAE62.12010,air(return,transfer,exhaust)shallbe
classifiedanditsrecirculationlimitedinaccordancewithitsclassification.There
arefourclassesofairaccordingtothestandard.
Class1:Airwithlowcontaminantconcentration,lowsensoryirritationintensity,andinoffensiveodor.Class1airmaybe
recirculatedortransferredtoanyspace.
Class2:Airwithmoderatecontaminantconcentration,mildsensoryirritationintensity,ormildlyoffensiveodors.Class2
airmayberecirculatedwithinthespaceoforigin,butnottoaClass1space.
Class3:Airwithsignificantcontaminantconcentration,significantsensoryirritationintensity,oroffensiveodor.Class3air
mayberecirculatedwithinthespaceoforigin,butnottoanyotherspace.
Class4:Airwithhighlyobjectionablefumesorgasesorwithpotentiallydangerousparticles,bioaerosols,orgasesat
concentrationshighenoughtobeconsideredharmful.Class4airshallnotberecirculatedortransferredtoanyspacenor
recirculatedwithinthespaceoforigin.

NFPA99:
changest
edition

Ladderca
system

Highperf
medicala
education
design:S
buildings
efficiency

Highperf
medicala
education
design:H

Regulatio
commerc
fanefficie

Exactfitp
heatpum

Applying
heatand
systems

Motorcon

Adaptive
morethan
preservat

FumehoodexhaustairisdefinedbyStandard62.1inTable52asaClass4.NFPA45,paragraphs8.3and8.4,alsocoincide
withthisrequirement.OutdoorairestablishedasaminimumventilationrateintheStandardlists10cfm/personand0.18
cfm/sqftasaminimumforthebreathingzone,whichisdefinedasaspace3to72in.abovethefloor.
Class4fumehoodairdischargeseparationfromairintakesoroperablewindowsshouldbenocloserthan30ftbutalsomeet
therequirementsofNFPA45andANSI/AIHAZ9.5.ExhaustratesnotedinASHRAE62.1Table64forsciencelabsnotea
minimumexhaustrateof1.00cfm/sqft.Withenoughfumehoodsthiscanusuallybemet,butlocalizedexhaustforodorcontrol
and/ortomeetminimumventilationrates,airchange,ornonrecirculationrequirementsmayalsobeneeded.
OnethingtonoteisthatventilationairisdefinedinASHRAE62.12010asthatportionofsupplyairthatisoutdoorairplusany
recirculatedairthathasbeentreatedforthepurposeofmaintainingindoorairquality(IAQ).Whilethemajorityofventilationair
usedforproperIAQandmakeupairisoutdoorair,itmaybepossibletofilterandtreatClass2and3exhaustairforuseas
makeupairorroutetheexhaustairthroughanenergyrecoverydevicewithlimitedleakage,possiblysavingenergy.
Fumehoodexhaustfansshouldbethetypethatdischargeairverticallywithsufficientvelocity(3000fpmminimum)andwith
adequatestackheight(7ftminimumaboverooflevel,10ftrecommended)toallowfanobservationandmaintenancewithout
beingexposedtothedischargeairstream.Thestackheightprovidesbetteropportunityfordilutionaswell.Toachieve
sufficientairvelocity,anexitconethatreducestheoutletstackdiameterandthusincreasestheairvelocitymaybenecessary.
Keepinmindthissuddendiameterchangecanaddasignificantpressuredropbyanaverageof0.5in.w.g.Redundantfans
forcriticalapplicationsareoftenemployedtoprovideconstantairflowinhoodsandsimilarapplications.Controlsforfan
operationusuallyconsistofcurrentsensingrelaysonfanmotors,airflowswitches,ordifferentialpressureswitchesthatprove
fanoperationandairflow.Controlsequencesofoperationwouldidentifylead/lagfanoperation,alarmstatus,andproven
airflowindicationinaBASand/orlocallyatthefumehood.
Exhaustsystemsfromchemicalfumehoodsmaybeductedindividuallyfromeachhoodtoitsownfanorbemanifoldedfrom
http://www.csemag.com/singlearticle/designinglaboratoryventilationsystems/c1c757851f246fc24659c706d4cd909c.html?tx_ttnews%5BsViewPointer%5D=1

1/5

1/7/2016

Designinglaboratoryventilationsystems|ConsultingSpecifyingEngineer
Exhaustsystemsfromchemicalfumehoodsmaybeductedindividuallyfromeachhoodtoitsownfanorbemanifoldedfrom
severalhoodstoonefan.Thislatterarrangementrequirescarefulairbalancingandpossiblyredundantdischargefanstoavoid
anentirelabbeingshutdownuponalossofairflow.Additionally,compatibilityofchemicalsandcontaminantsmustbecarefully
evaluatedbeforeexhauststreamsarecombinedtoavoidpotentialhazardsorcorrosion.Manifoldedsystemscanbeeither
constantvolumeorvariablevolume.Pressuredependentsystemsareconstantvolumeonlyandusuallyemploymanual
volumedampersforbalancing.Anychangestoasystemsuchasaddingorremovingafumehoodwouldrequirerebalancing
oftheentiresystem.Pressureindependentsystemsareeitherconstantorvariablevolumeandemploypressureindependent
airvolumeregulatorsorairvalveswitheachfumehoodorexhaustdevice.Controloftheairflowdevicecanbefromsash
positionsensorsorairvelocitysensorsatthefumehood(facevelocitydetermination).Thereareothermethodsaswell,butthe
goalistoprovideconstantminimumrequiredhoodfacevelocityforproperfumeandvaporcapture.

Largechemicallabssuchasteachingandsciencelaboratorieswithmanyfumehoodsmaybeabletotakeadvantageof
differingusagefactorsthatcanreducetheamountofexhaustandmakeupairrequired,thussavingenergyandincreasing
equipmentlife.Theusagefactormustbeusedprudentlyandgenerallytakesthefollowingintoconsideration:totalnumberof
fumehoods,availableairflowdiversity,typeoffumehoodcontrols,laboratorymakeupairandventilationsystemtype,number
ofdevices(hoods)thatmustoperatecontinuously,andhourspersession/dayhoodsareactuallyinuse.

Somechemicalssuchasformalin,formaldehyde,andglutaraldehydeareusedas
tissuepreservativesandsterilantsinclinicallabsandsimilarhealthcaresettings.
Manytimesthesechemicalsareusedinoperationsperformedintheopenat
counterlevelwiththetransferoftheliquidfromonecontainertoanotherby
pouringorbygravitythroughahose.Thisactionallowsfumestobecome
airborneandmustbecapturednearthepointofusebyproperairflowdirection.
Airflowacrossthebackoftheworkerwiththepointofcaptureandpickupatthe
counterlevelisagoodmethod.Airvelocityattheworksurfaceneedstobeslow
enoughtonotevaporatethechemical,butyetadequateenoughattheinlet(100
fpmminimum)tocollectthevaporsandpreventthemfrompermeatingthe
adjacentworkstations.Bestpracticeguidesandstandardsforthesafeuseof
thesechemicalspreparedbyOSHAandAssociationfortheAdvancementof
MedicalInstrumentation(AAMI)recommendairchangeratesandpointofvapor
releaseairflowguidelines.
Airbalanceandpressurizationoflabspacescanbetrickywithcontrolsandair
systemresponsescontinuallyfluctuatingduetoopeningofdoorstoadjacent
spacesorairflowvolumeschangingtoaccommodatespacetemperature
requirements.Accurateairmeasurementsofsupplyairdevicesandexhaust
systemsareneededtobalancethesystem.Strategicplacementofpressure
sensorswillhelpdetermineiftherequiredpressurerelationshipisbeing
maintained.ANSIZ9.5recommendsthatanairvolumerateoffsetbeusedratherthancontrollingtoaspecificdifferential
pressure.However,thisoffsetwilltypicallyresultina0.01to0.02in.w.g.differential.Figure5showsagenerallabwith
pressuresensorlocations.
Ductconstructionshouldbespecifiedandprovidedtoachievelessthan1%leakageofdesignairflowhowever,thedesign
goalforbothsupplyair(positive)andexhaustair(negative)ductsystemsshouldbeforzeroleakage.Exhaustduct
constructionandmaterialsshouldbeappropriateforthechemicalsandfumesthataretobecaptured.TheHVACdesigners
shouldconsultwithlabusersandsafetypersonneltoobtainalistofthetypesandquantitiesofchemicalsproposedtobeused
bothinandoutsideoffumehoods,alongwithstoragequantitiesanticipated.Thechemicaltypewillhelpthedesignerchoose
thecorrectductmaterialandjointingmethodtoeffectsafemovementofthevaporsandcontaminants.
Spacetemperature(70to75F)andrelativehumidityrequirementsaredependentonthelabfunctionandheatgaintothe
space.Labpersonnelwearingprotectiveclothingmayrequiretemperaturesinthelowerportionoftherangeinordertoremain
comfortable.Whileaspecificrelativehumidityisnotidentifiedinthevariouscodes,itisusuallymaintainedinthe30%to60%
range.Withtheconstantvolumeairsupplyinmostlabs,temperaturecontrolofoccupiedworkareasisusuallyachieved
throughsingleductreheatsystemsordoubleductairterminalunits.
TheMERVratingsareameasurementscaleestablishedbyASHRAE52.22007thatidentifiestheefficiencyandcapture
capabilityofparticlesizesfrom10micronstolessthan0.3microns.TheMERVratingsrangefrom1through20withthehigher
thevalue,thegreaterthecaptureandefficiency.AMERV8filterwilltrapgreaterthan90%ofparticlessizes3.0to10microns.
AMERV13filterhasadustspotefficiencyof89%to90%andwillcapturedropletnucleiof1.0to3.0micronssuchasthat
fromasneeze.HigherMERVratingsof16willcapturebacteriaandparticlesassmallas0.30microns.Usually,aMERV14
(90%to95%efficiency)isusedinanairsystemsupplyingairtoalab.

http://www.csemag.com/singlearticle/designinglaboratoryventilationsystems/c1c757851f246fc24659c706d4cd909c.html?tx_ttnews%5BsViewPointer%5D=1

2/5

1/7/2016

Designinglaboratoryventilationsystems|ConsultingSpecifyingEngineer

AirsuppliedtolabsrequiresfiltrationofaMERV13minimumin
centralairsystemsrequiringeither1or2filterbedsinorderto
providerelativelycleanairforthelabenvironment.Somefunctions,
suchaspharmacologicalpreparation,infectious,orradioactive
materialuse,requireHEPAfiltersonboththesupplyandexhaust
airstreams.SometimestheHEPAfiltersareinstalledatthepointof
airdeliveryintotheroom,butmoreoftentheworkisisolatedtoa
ClassIorClassIIbiosafetycabinetwiththeHEPAfiltersinstalled
inthecabinet.Filtersintheexhauststreamofthesecabinetsmust
bedesignedtoallowthesaferemoval,disposal,andreplacement
ofthesefilters,suchaswithabagin/bagouttypeoffilterholding
assembly.Workinabiosafetycabinetrequiresacleanwork
surfacebutalsoallowsforthedispersionofbacteriaandrelated
particles.Propercaptureoftheseparticlesthroughfiltrationis
essentialforsafeoperation.Abagin/bagouthousingincorporates
abagthatcompletelycoversthefilterpriortoitsremovalsoall
particlesarekeptonthefilterandnotaccidentallyreleasedintothe
occupiedenvironmentorontopersonnelchangingthefilter.
Animalfacilityconsiderations
Laboratoryanimalsrequirecomfortable,clean,andtemperaturecontrolledconditionsthataffordpropersafetyandwelfareof
eachanimalspecies.TheHVACdesignforsuchspacesmustconsiderthetemperatureandrelativehumidityranges
associatedwithnotonlytheanimals,buttheresearchprotocolfortheparticularstudy.Airdistributionandairmovementare
dependentonthehousingoftheanimals.Opencages,shoeboxcages,speciestype,numberandsizeofanimals,lengthof
stayinprimaryorsecondaryenclosures,andheatgenerationoftheanimalsareconsiderationsthatmustbepartoftheHVAC
designparameters.TheASHRAEHandbookHVACApplicationshaslabdescriptionsandisagoodguide,alongwith
referencesfordesignconsiderationsofanimalfacilities.
Regulations,standards,andgoodpracticedesignrequirementsfromvariousorganizationsmustbereviewedandfollowedas
theywouldapplytotheparticularapplication.Theseinclude:
AmericanAssociationforAccreditationofLaboratoryAnimalCare(AAALAC)
BiosafetyinMicrobiologicalandBiomedicalLaboratories,CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention(CDC)
InstituteforLaboratoryAnimalResources(ILAR)
TheAnimalWelfareActwithauthorityvestedintheU.S.Dept.ofAgriculture(USDA)
GuidefortheCareandUseofLaboratoryAnimals,NationalResearchCouncil
CodeofFederalRegulations(CFR)21,Part58:GoodLaboratoryPracticesforNonClinicalLaboratoryStudies.
Temperatureandrelativehumidityinanimalspacesmustbeflexibleandcloselycontrolledtomatchtheresearchprotocol.
Temperaturerangesbetween64to85Farecommonwitha+/2Faccuracy.Relativehumidityrangesof30%to60%are
consideredacceptable.
Anairchangerateisacalculationofspacevolumeandairflowwhichresultsinthenumberofminutesittakesfortheairto
change.Anexample:a20x20ftroomwitha9ftceilingheighthasavolumeof3600cubicfeet(cf).Ifthespaceissupplied
with900cfmofair,theairwouldbechangedevery4minutes(3600cf/900cfm=4minutes),whichthenresultsin15ACH
(60min/hour/4min).Placementofsupplyairandairremovaldeviceswilldetermineifalloftheairisactuallychanged.Thisis
partoftheoveralldesignchallenge.
Airchangeratesof10to15ACHhavebeenacceptedguidelinestokeepodors
undercontrolandprovideadequateventilationforhighrespirationrateanimals.
WhiletheACHmaybesuitable,otherfactorssuchasanimalheatgain,lightsand
equipmentheatgain,otherexhaustrequirements(fumehoods),andquantityof
animalsmustbeconsideredtodeterminecorrectairflow.
Airdistributiondevicetypeanddeliveredairvelocity,alongwithhighorlowreturn/exhaustplacement,mayaffectactual
ventilationratesorcreatedrafts.Fluctuatinganimalpopulationmayallowforreducedairflowrateswhilemaintainingdesired
spaceconditions.
Otherspacesandfunctionsgenerallyassociatedwithanimalfacilitiescage
washing,surgeryrooms,foodstorage,treatmentrooms,refrigeratedstorage
rooms,andnecropsylabsrequirecarefuldesign,airquantity,filtration,
temperature,andrelativehumiditycontrol.Isolationorquarantinespacesarealso
foundinthesefacilitiesandaretreatedsimilartootherairborneinfectious
isolationrooms.
HVACdesignforlaboratoriesrequiresteamdiscussionsandplanning,
identificationofdesignparameters,andadherencetoapplicabledesigncodes
andstandards,alongwithawillingnesstoagreeontheultimategoalsworker
safety,fumeandvaporcontainmentandcapture,productpreservation,and
adherencetoresearchprotocol.HVACsystemsforlabscannotbedesignedina
vacuum.Themoreyoulearnalongtheway,thebetterthesystemdesignand
layoutwillbecomeandthebetterfunctionalitythelabwillhave.
http://www.csemag.com/singlearticle/designinglaboratoryventilationsystems/c1c757851f246fc24659c706d4cd909c.html?tx_ttnews%5BsViewPointer%5D=1

3/5

1/7/2016

Designinglaboratoryventilationsystems|ConsultingSpecifyingEngineer

J.PatrickBansehasmorethan35yearsofexperienceintheconsultingengineeringfieldwiththepast30yearsinhealthcare
designandengineering.HeisamemberofConsultingSpecifyingEngineer'seditorialadvisoryboard.ChrisSt.Cyrisasenior
mechanicaldesigner.Hehasmorethan24yearsofmechanicaldesignexperience,withthepast15yearsinthedesignof
healthcarefacilitiesandclinicallabs.
RelatedNews:
Designinglabventilationsystems26.01.201501:32
ControlsequencesforHVACsystems21.11.201320:06
IAQandenergymanagement23.10.201320:47
Selectingchillers,chilledwatersystems16.09.201300:00
<Backto:Home

<<First <Previous 1 2 Next>Last>>

Postacomment
Loginorcreateanaccounttosubmityourcommentforthisarticle.

ROB,NC,UnitedStates,02/21/1411:27AM:
Althoughthisisaveryintroductoryarticle,Ifindsomeoftheitemsoutdatedandtroubling.Amongtheseare:1.Bylaw,OSHA
clearly states that face velocity cannot be used as a measurement of worker safety. 2. Lab air cannot be used to dilute or
protectaworkerfromchemicalexposure,onlysourcecontrolmaybeused.3.ASHRAE110isonlyaproceduretodetermine
spillrate,itisnotapass/failtest.4.Theillustrations/photosprovidedareofgeneralpurposehoodsthatprovidenoprotection
from splash or blast in accordance with NFPA 45. 5.The use of diversity in lab design is a major cause of hood failure and
workerexposure.Keepinmindtheliabilitythatremainswiththedesignerforaslongasthehoodisinservice.
Anonymous,11/09/1509:44PM:
Agoodreferenceforstarters
Jared,UnitedStates,02/10/1607:00AM:
Yeslaboratoriesarethemostvitalspacesinallhealthcarecenters.Nodoubttechnologicalbreakthroughsarecreatingnew
waysforlaboratoryfunctioning.Alongwithnewequipmentsaspresentatilexmedical.com,designersaregivingpreferencesto
labenvironmentsformakingitmoreappropriateforresearch.

Events&Awards

MagazineArchives

PurePower

ProductoftheYear

40UnderForty:GetRecognized

MEPGiantsProgram

ConsultingSpecifyingEngineer'sProductofthe
Year(POY)contestisthepremierawardfornew
productsintheHVAC,fire,electrical,and...

ConsultingSpecifyingEngineermagazineis
dedicatedtoencouragingandrecognizingthemost
talentedyoungindividuals...

TheMEPGiantsprogramliststhetopmechanical,
electrical,plumbing,andfireprotectionengineering
firmsintheUnitedStates.

More

Articles
CareerSmart
CaseStudiesandWhite
Papers
Codes&Standards
Magazine
IndustryRoundup
MagazineArchives
ProjectsinProgress

Blogs

NewProducts
NewProducts
Innovationsfromthe
Industry
CSEProduct&Media
Showcase
ProductoftheYear

Topics
Automation,Controls
Codes&Standards
ElectricalSystems
Fire&LifeSafety
HVAC/R
Lighting
Plumbing,Piping

More

Training,Tools
AppsforEngineers
CareerSmart
CaseStudyDatabase
Videos

More

EventsandAwards News,Views,Blogs Newsletters

40Under40
MEPGiants
ProductoftheYear
UpcomingEvents

CareerSmart
Collaboratingagainst
counterfeitelectrical
products
CuttheCopper
EngineeringChange
IEEEPowerPerspectives
IndustryNews
InsightsonPower
ResearchAnalystBlogs
RSSFeeds
SocialMedia
Understanding
Specifications,Codes,

Codes&Standards
ElectricalSolutions
Fire&LifeSafety
HVAC
NewsWatch:Data
Centers
NewsWatch:Educational
Facilities
NewsWatch:Hospitals
PurePower
eNewsletterArchive

Advertising
CaseStudyDatabase
Listing
ContactUs
Innovationsfromthe
Industry
InternetProfiles
Magazine
CSEProduct&Media
Showcase

http://www.csemag.com/singlearticle/designinglaboratoryventilationsystems/c1c757851f246fc24659c706d4cd909c.html?tx_ttnews%5BsViewPointer%5D=1

AboutUs

TermsofUse
AppsforEngin
ControlEngine
AboutCFEMe
AdvisoryBoard
HowtoContrib
ContactUs
Magazine
ContentStream
MagazineArch
EGSAOnPea
Performance
PlantEngineeri
PrivacyPolicy

4/5

1/7/2016

Designinglaboratoryventilationsystems|ConsultingSpecifyingEngineer
andStandards

http://www.csemag.com/singlearticle/designinglaboratoryventilationsystems/c1c757851f246fc24659c706d4cd909c.html?tx_ttnews%5BsViewPointer%5D=1

PurePower
Subscribe

5/5