Book and Media Review pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
Review of Guidelines for Laboratory Design: Health, Safety, and Environmental Considerations, 4th Edition Shadi Abu-Baker,* Shahrokh Ghaffari, Mohannad Al-Saghir, Raj Thamburaj, and Tarig Higazi Ohio University Zanesville, 1425 Newark Rd, Zanesville, Ohio 43701, United States group of experts who represent all aspects critical for lab design, safety, and operation. The book is organized neatly and systemically, starting with guidelines common for all types of laboratories. Discussion then moves to the distinction between new construction projects and renovation projects before it details the guidelines and considerations for specialized laboratories. The current edition is updated with relevant information pertinent to typical and highly advanced laboratories. The book makes a clear distinction between general purpose and highly specialized laboratories, and further suggests unique or specialized labs that may be designed using a combination of the guidelines presented for both. This book is organized in six parts. In the first part, the common elements of lab design and renovation are discussed, including building and laboratory considerations. In the second part, the design guidelines for a number of commonly used laboratories are discussed, including lab layout, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, loss prevention, industrial hygiene, personal safety, and other special considerations. We are pleased to see that 20 specific labs that cover a broad spectrum of end users are described in detail in this section, including general chemistry, clinical, teaching, physics, animal research, pathology, anatomy, radiation, engineering, and nanotechnology labs, as well as many others. In the third part of the book, the layout and specifications of lab support service facilities and purpose-specific rooms such as support shops and storerooms and waste handling are described in detail. In the fourth part, a general description of installing the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are discussed. In the fifth part, administrative procedures are described, including the project execution and bidding formalities, commissioning and final acceptance criteria, and sustainable laboratory design. And finally, part six contains appendices and matrix tables related to safety items such as emergency showers, eyewash stations, warning signs, and checklists for health and safety. In the section of the book dealing with general and analytical laboratories, excellent suggestions are offered for designing a new building, as well as providing a wide range of choices for renovating just a single lab or a whole building. Several suggestions cover details such as placement of tables, counters, and other general laboratory furniture. In this section, one may find a variety of issues for these laboratories. One noteworthy point is to avoid having very sensitive instruments placed in the same area where many chemicals are in use on a daily basis. Another useful suggestion is to consider caution regarding safety; there are instances where a combination of nontoxic chemicals can generate a toxic substance; therefore, proper
Guidelines for Laboratory Design: Health, Safety, and Environmental Considerations; 4th ed., by Louis J. DiBerardinis, Janet S. Baum, Melvin W. First, Gari T. Gatwood, and Anand K. Seth. Wiley: Hoboken, New Jersey, 2013. 552 pp. ISBN: 978-0470505526 (hardcover). $149.95.
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hen Guidelines for Laboratory Design: Health, Safety, and Environmental Considerations, 4th ed. was written, the goal was to make it easier for lab users and designers to meet the many challenges and considerations inherent in laboratory design, such as complying with health, safety, and environmental requirements. The book emphasizes the critical nature of the communication between the laboratory users, construction engineers, administration, and environmental health and safety personnel for a successful lab design. Such a design provides the best place for scientists to engage in research or teaching with reduced health and safety risks, as has been discussed in this Journal.1,2 The authors make it quite clear that a safe and efficient lab does not come about just by hiring the best in the business, but through clear communication and genuine cooperation between all parties involved, including those who will be working in the lab.
Cover image provided by Wiley and reproduced with permission.
Reading and learning from a book of this kind with so many technical details and recommendations can easily overwhelm any reader. Credit should be given to the authors for their thoughtfulness in organizing the information in a rather unique fashion. Methods of organization such as listing identical topics under the same numerical designation make navigating the book unexpectedly easier, despite the many details. The appendices, table of units, and explanations for abbreviations and the like are helpful to those who are not familiar with some technical verbatim used in the book. Guidelines for Laboratory Design is by far one of the best in terms of layout, comprehension, and material. It is written by a © 2014 American Chemical Society and Division of Chemical Education, Inc.
Published: April 3, 2014 776
dx.doi.org/10.1021/ed500143m | J. Chem. Educ. 2014, 91, 776−777
Journal of Chemical Education
Book and Media Review
(2) Steere, N. Laboratory Design Considerations, Part 1. J. Chem. Educ. 1965, 42 (8), A583.
chemical storage and handling should be taken seriously. Because general and analytical laboratories are not normally designed to handle extremely hazardous material, the book gives a list of situations, dealing with carcinogenic materials, for example, that must be avoided and the list is a good reference resource for those who are new to the profession. The authors provide alternative choices to laboratory designs to meet the specific needs of users. These designs give specific suggestions regarding the location of equipment such as fume hoods, bulky instruments, benches, and space gaps for a safe working environment with ease of accessibility. Training of personnel in proper use of facilities and handling of safety equipment and dangerous substances is a must, especially in an academic environment in which a majority of users are untrained students. The authors’ recommendation of the separation of laboratories from office space is good, but in academic settings, especially in smaller institutions, this is not always possible. The possibility of construction and use of laboratories with restricted access will probably increase in the near future. Perhaps the authors should have addressed these types of laboratories in a separate section of the book rather than suggesting that the designers use of a combination of the guidelines of other types of laboratories. An area that needs some more detail is designing laboratories for future upgrades: for example, a BSL2 biomedical sciences laboratory intended for upgrade to BSL3 facility in the near future. Furthermore, we would like to see (in the next edition?) several economic versions of laboratory design guidelines, if possible. In today’s world, it is common to see unpredictable cuts for construction projects and the presence of such guidelines would allow the shift to a more economic version of these facilities. The authors acknowledge the use of elaborate and technical language across the spectrum of those involved in the process, for example, environmental health and safety, architect and design engineers, scientists and other end users. For ease of readability by those involved, we recommend that the appendices include a summary of guidelines of interest to each group, especially the scientists or end users. Chapters 1−5 and 16 may be of great interest and value to readers of this Journal. Writing a book of this kind is a challenge, and we commend the authors for a job very well done. We admired the inclusive nature of the book, and we appreciate the authors sharing their expertise. Perhaps the publishers could provide a customized version of this book, including just the chapters appropriate for a specific audience, such as chemists or biologists. In summary, this edition of the book addresses a broad spectrum of end users including administrators, researchers, instructors, engineers, and environment health officers. The book is a useful comprehensive reference for academic institutions, but perhaps not for individual instructors.
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AUTHOR INFORMATION
Corresponding Author
*E-mail:
[email protected]. Notes
The authors declare no competing financial interest.
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REFERENCES
(1) Kovac, J. Laboratory Design, Construction and Renovation: Participants, Process, and Product. J. Chem. Educ. 2000, 77 (9), 1126. 777
dx.doi.org/10.1021/ed500143m | J. Chem. Educ. 2014, 91, 776−777
