Hazardous Materials Management for Tomorrow's Laboratories

Lisa C. Green and Rod Mazandarani, AIA, LEED® AP, Earl Walls Associates

Today's researchers are involved in a broad range of investigations where various scientific areas are blurring together to create a synergistic approach to research. Laboratories are becoming more sophisticated in the type of equipment and materials they use. Acids, flammables, explosives, pyrophorics, biological agents and radioactive materials are now commonly found in larger quantities and with novel uses and handling requirements.

For traditional laboratories, quantities of hazardous materials were often measured in grams. With the addition of pilot size processing equipment, laboratories may contain hundreds of liters or may have piping that can deliver large quantities of high pressure hazardous gases into the work area if a system failure occurs. These larger quantities impact many aspects of the laboratory and the surrounding facility, including material handling, detection systems, and materials of construction.

Planning and programming these facilities now requires consideration of all the issues outlined above. Failure to properly evaluate and plan for the use of hazardous materials can be costly and, in some cases, can significantly impact the ability to do planned research. In the worst case, safety can be compromised by omission of safety systems, proper emergency ventilation, and improper material handling.

The goal of this presentation is to outline a methodology for approaching the design of the modern laboratory handling hazardous materials, including the presentation of real-world examples of designing and implementing laboratories that protect the environment and the personnel working in them. This approach spans pre-planning to post-occupancy, involving the owner, the design team, environmental health and safety personnel, local code officials and the researchers who will ultimately occupy the building. A key component is the use of engineering staff that specialize in hazardous materials to provide the expertise needed, coupled with the traditional architectural programming function.

Labs21 Connection:

The spirit of the presentation is to share knowledge with the laboratory design community by presenting an improved methodology for planning and monitoring the proper storage, delivery, handling and disposal of hazardous materials with the goal of a safer workplace and a cleaner environment. In this effort, we will support the Labs21 pursuit of sustainable laboratories particularly in the attempt to protect occupant safety and minimize overall environmental impacts. Furthermore, our topic is compatible with many of the credits included in the Labs21 Environmental Performance Criteria such as safety and risk management, hazardous material handling, chemical resource management, and indoor environmental quality.

By combining the in depth knowledge of hazardous materials from the perspective of a chemical engineer with the architectural training of a laboratory planner, we will demonstrate a more comprehensive system for managing hazardous materials for tomorrow's more sophisticated laboratories. The inclusion of real-world examples from various laboratory facilities will demonstrate the applicability and implementation of these strategies and will allow us to highlight their strengths and weaknesses.

Biographies:

Lisa C. Green is a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering and a Master of Science degree in Analytical Chemistry. She currently works as a program manager for Earl Walls Associates located in Alpharetta, Georgia.

Ms. Green has over twenty-five years experience in designing advanced technology facilities that employ high purity chemicals and gases in several disciplines, including laboratory management, project design, and manufacturing management. She has held the position of Distinguished Member of the Bell Laboratories Development staff as a recognized leader in the areas of chemicals and gases and is considered a subject matter expert in inorganic trace elemental analysis, especially for corrosive, hazardous and/or ultra-pure materials.

Rod Mazandarani, AIA, is a graduate of the Newschool of Architecture & Design with a Master of Architecture degree and a graduate of Penn State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Integrative Arts. He currently works as a Laboratory Programmer for Earl Walls Associates located in San Diego, California.

Rod is a LEED accredited professional and is active in the research, education and presentation of the firm's sustainable design philosophy. He was a poster presenter at the 2005 Labs21 conference in Portland, Oregon. Rud has laboratory programming and design experience with projects throughout the country.

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