I'm recommending that chemicals delivered to Labs should be stored in vented Chem. cabinets with 0.5cfm psf to create neg. pressure with respect to the rest of the Lab. Then, chemicals in use are moved to fume hoods that run 24-7.
Is this overkill? Would it be adequate to store chemicals in unvented, purpose-made chemical cabinets?
Stacey Olson
SW Regional Design Resilience LeaderGensler
16 thumbs up
October 15, 2019 - 1:58 pm
Hi Joyce, I'm curious how this worked out for you. Thanks,
Joyce Kelly
Architect - Cx Provider - Green Building SpecialistGLHN Architects & Engineers
27 thumbs up
October 15, 2019 - 2:07 pm
We went with the overkill option to be on the safe side.
Grace Heraly
4 thumbs up
April 1, 2024 - 2:14 pm
Joyce and Stacey - if we use this path and have chemicals stored in those chemical cabinets and use fume hoods for chemicals in use, do we still have to comply with the door closer requirement?
Candice Rogers
PresidentPaladin, Inc
21 thumbs up
June 6, 2024 - 11:25 am
This thread is why I logged in today. We have a similar scenario with BSC cabinets and fume hoods, but the prep room/chem storage is open to the rest of the lab. Do these need door closer requirements as well? Or, does the lab as a whole become the room requiring door closers - it already meets space pressurization requirements relative to adjacent areas.
Grace Heraly
4 thumbs up
June 6, 2024 - 1:51 pm
Candice, I think the entire lab space would become the room needing to comply with the space separation requirements. I reached out to a LEED Coach on this question - asking if we have a lab with fume hoods and exhausted chemical cabinets, does that space still need to comply with the door closers and walls to deck/hard lid ceiling requirement. The Coach confirmed that strategy is sufficent to exhaust the space, but it does still need door closers and walls to deck/hard lid.