Hea 03 Safe containment in laboratories

Aim

To recognise and encourage a healthy internal environment through the safe containment and removal of pollutants.

Assessment criteria

The following is required to demonstrate compliance for:

One credit - Laboratory containment devices and containment areas

1. An objective risk assessment of the proposed laboratory facilities has been carried out prior to completion of the Developed Design (RIBA Stage 3 or equivalent) to ensure potential risks are considered in the design of the laboratory.
2. Where containment devices such as fume cupboards are specified their manufacture and installation meet best practice safety and performance requirements and objectives, demonstrated through compliance with the following standards:
   1. General purpose fume cupboards: BS EN 14175 Parts 1-7 (as appropriate) 1BS EN 14175-1:2003 Fume Cupboards, Vocabulary, BSi BS EN 14175-2:2003 Fume Cupboards, Safety and performance requirements, BSi. BS EN 14175-3:2003 Fume Cupboards, Type test methods, BSi. BS EN 14175-4:2004 Fume Cupboards, on-sitetest methods, BSi. DD CEN/TS 14175-5:2006 Fume Cupboards, Recommendations for installation and maintenance, BSi. BS EN 14175-6:2006 Fume Cupboards, Variable air volume fume cupboards, BSi. BS EN 14175-7:2012 Fume Cupboards, Fume cupboards for high heat and acidic load, BSi.
   2. Recirculatory filtration fume cupboards: BS 7989:20012BS 7989:2003 Specification for recirculatory filtration fume cupboards, BSi. 2003.
   3. Microbiological safety cabinets: BS EN 12469:20003BS EN 12469:2000 Biotechnology. Performance criteria for microbiological safety cabinets, BSi. (for manufacture) and BS 5726:20054BS 5726:2005 Microbiological safety cabinets, Information to be supplied by the purchaser to the vendor and to the installer and siting and use of cabinets. Recommendations and guidance, BSi. (for installation).
   4. Clean air hoods, glove boxes, isolators and mini-environments: BS EN ISO 14644-7:20045BS EN ISO 14644-7:2004 Clean rooms and associated controlled environments. Separative devices (clean air hoods, gloveboxes, isolators and mini-environments), BSi.
   5. Articulated extension arms: PD CEN/TR 165896PD CEN/TR 16589 Laboratory installations - Capture devices with articulated extract arm, BSi.
   Or, for Schools, Sixth Form Colleges and Further Education with laboratories and fume cupboards for subjects up to and including 'A'-level (or equivalent):
   6. G9 Fume cupboards in schools7G9 Fume cupboards in schools, 2014, Consortium of Local Education Authorities for the Provision of Science Services. (Building Bulletin 888Building Bulletin 88: Fume Cupboards in Schools, 1988, Department for Education and Employment can be used for assessments in Northern Ireland) .
3. Where laboratory containment devices that are ducted to discharge externally are specified, the guidance in the National Annex of BS EN 14175-2 must be followed to ensure an appropriate discharge velocity is achieved.

One credit - Buildings with containment level 2 and 3 laboratory facilities

4. Where containment level 2 and 3 laboratory facilities are specified they must meet best practice safety and performance criteria and objectives. This is demonstrated as follows:
   1. Criterion 1 has been achieved.
   2. Ventilation systems are designed in compliance with the best practice guidance set out in 'DRAFT HSE Biological Agents and Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 2010'9The Biological Agents and Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 2010, HSE..
   3. Filters for all areas designated as containment level 2 and 3 are located outside the main laboratory space for ease of cleaning/replacement and the filters are easily accessible by maintenance staff or technicians.
5. The design team demonstrate that the individual fume cupboard location and stack heights have been considered in accordance with HMIP Technical Guidance Note (Dispersion) D110Guidelines on Discharge Stack Heights for Polluting Emissions, HMIP Technical Guidance Note (Dispersion) D1, 1993..

Checklists and tables

None.

Compliance notes

Methodology

None.

Evidence

Additional information

Relevant definitions

Fume cupboard/safety cabinet

Scientific equipment designed to limit a person's exposure to hazardous fumes or biological material. Air is drawn through the enclosure of the cupboard conducting the contaminated air away from the experimental area and those using the equipment.

Risk assessment

For the purpose of the relevant laboratory criteria in this issue, a risk assessment is a systematic consideration of any activity in which there is a hazard, followed by decisions on the substances, equipment and procedures used and on the restrictions and precautions needed to make the risk acceptably low. Below is a list of useful resources:

1. Schools, Sixth Form Colleges and Further Education building assessments can refer to CLEAPSS (www.cleapss.org.uk) for further advice.
2. Higher Education building assessments should discuss the most appropriate risk assessment with the end user of the building.

Other information

BS EN 14175 Fume cupboard discharge velocity: Part 2 states that the discharge velocity from fume cupboard extracts should be at least 7m/s but that a figure of 10m/s is preferable to ensure that the discharge will not be trapped in the aerodynamic wake of the stack. Higher discharge velocities may be required, especially in windy locations, but higher rates may cause noise problems.

BREEAM UK New Construction non-domestic buildings technical manual 2014
Reference: SD5076 – Issue: 5.0
Date: 23/08/2016
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