Laboratories

Laboratories (labs) are work premises in which chemical, physical, biological, medical, genetic engineering or technical methods are used for research, analysis or training purposes. Since hazardous or biological substances frequently present a risk in laboratories, these substances are of particular relevance to occupational safety and health. Many safety furnishings are standardized. Examples are microbiological safety cabinets, emergency eyewash stations and fume cupboards. For laboratories in which work involving hazardous substances is performed, the BG RCI has issued laboratory guidelines in the form of DGUV Information 213-850 (Working safely in laboratories).

KAN’s work concerning laboratories includes the following topics:

ISO/TC 336, Laboratory Design

In response to a request by China, the ISO/TC 336 technical committee, Laboratory Design, was founded in 2021. Besides criteria for the planning and construction of laboratories, ISO/TC 336 also plans to formulate provisions concerning their operation. These are also to address the laboratory’s life cycle and sustainability aspects. In the DIN NA 055-02-05 GA mirror committee, Planning, construction and operation of laboratory buildings, a committee paper was drawn up at the instigation of KAN and the BG RCI which addresses occupational safety and health aspects. The intention is to prevent overlap and conflicts between the content of the standard and the bodies of national regulations. In Germany, these include the building regulations (BauO), the Ordinance on Radiation Protection (StrlSchV), Ordinance on Biological Substances (BiostoffV), Hazardous Substances Ordinance (GefahrstoffV) and the associated body of regulations, and DGUV Information 213-850. The aim of the occupational safety and health lobby is for a management standard to be drawn up at ISO level . This standard is to contain questions for planners, but not detailed solutions.

Laboratory aisle widths

The body of regulations and various standards (such as EN 14056, EN 12128) contain conflicting information on laboratory aisle widths. The ASR A1.2 Technical Rule for work premises sets out generic minimum requirements for room dimensions and circulation areas for work premises. Although the technical rule was initially intended to address the design of office premises, laboratories have not yet been excluded from its scope. The conflicts between the body of regulations and standards give rise to major uncertainties.

Fume cupboards/EN 14175 series of standards/SF6

Fume cupboards are among the most important items of laboratory safety equipment. The EN 14175 series of standards sets out test methods for in-situ assessment of the safety and performance of fume cupboards installed in laboratories. EN 14175-3, Fume cupboards – Part 3: Type test methods, describes a range of type test methods for characterizing laboratory fume cupboards. The required test gas mixture contains sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). Although non-toxic, this gas is highly harmful to the climate, with a global warming potential some 30,000 times that of CO2. Since SF6 is already prohibited in many countries, an alternative is needed. The search for a substitute for SF6, however, has proved difficult. Nitrous oxide (N2O) has been discussed as a possible substitute, but it raises occupational safety and health issues. N2O is generally unsuitable for use in tests performed in situ, as the risk cannot be ruled out of a significant leak from the fume cupboard occurring and, as a result, the maximum permissible workplace concentration for persons present being exceeded (see KANBrief 3/20).

Microbiological safety cabinets

Where work involving biological substances is performed in laboratories, microbiological safety cabinets constitute one of the most important safety furnishings. EN 12469, which covers this area, is currently undergoing complete revision and being incorporated into a new series of standards, which is expected to comprise five parts.