AS/NZS 2982.1:1997

1 - AS/NZS 2982.1:1997 LABORATORY DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION - GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
4 - PREFACE
5 - CONTENTS
8 - FOREWORD
9 - SECTION 1 SCOPE AND GENERAL
9 - 1.1 SCOPE
9 - 1.2 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS
11 - 1.3 DEFINITIONS
11 - 1.3.1 Air-handling system
11 - 1.3.2 Approved, approval
11 - 1.3.3 AQIS (Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service, Department of Primary Industry and Energy)
11 - 1.3.4 Contaminated
11 - 1.3.5 Corrosive
11 - 1.3.6 Cryogenic liquid
11 - 1.3.7 Dangerous goods
11 - 1.3.8 Designated radiation area (DRA)
11 - 1.3.9 Flammable
11 - 1.3.10 Flammable liquid
11 - 1.3.11 Flammable liquid storage cabinet
11 - 1.3.12 Flashpoint
11 - 1.3.13 Fume
11 - 1.3.14 Fume cupboard
11 - 1.3.15 Gas container
11 - 1.3.16 GMAC (Genetic Manipulation Advisory Committee)
12 - 1.3.17 Hazard
12 - 1.3.18 Hazardous substance
12 - 1.3.19 HEPA filter
12 - 1.3.20 Ignition source
12 - 1.3.21 International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP)
12 - 1.3.22 Laboratory
12 - 1.3.23 Laboratory- biological
12 - 1.3.24 Laboratory- extreme hazard
12 - 1.3.25 Laboratory- microbiological
12 - 1.3.26 Laboratory- radiation
12 - 1.3.27 Laboratory- radioisotope
13 - 1.3.28 Laboratory- radiological
13 - 1.3.29 Laboratory- secondary
13 - 1.3.30 Laboratory- tertiary
13 - 1.3.31 Laboratory waste
13 - 1.3.32 Mechanical ventilation
13 - 1.3.33 Natural ventilation
13 - 1.3.34 NHMRC (National Health and Medical Research Council)
13 - 1.3.35 Pathogen
13 - 1.3.36 Physical containment
13 - 1.3.37 Plenum
13 - 1.3. 38 Radiation protection adviser (RPA)
13 - 1.3.39 Reticulated services
13 - 1.3.40 Risk
13 - 1.3.41 Storage room for hazardous substances
13 - 1. 3.42 Zoonosis
14 - SECTION 2 GENERAL LABORATORY CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS
14 - 2.1 SCOPE OF SECTION
14 - 2.2 PROTECTION AGAINST SUNLIGHT
14 - 2.3 FLOORS
14 - 2.4 WALLS
14 - 2.5 CEILINGS
15 - 2.6 WINDOWS
15 - 2.7 BENCHES
15 - 2.8 FIXTURES, FITTINGS AND EQUIPMENT
15 - 2.9 SHELVING
15 - 2.10 FUME CUPBOARDS
15 - 2.11 LUNCH AND REST ROOMS
16 - 2.12 RESTRICTED ACCESS
16 - 2.13 NOTICES AND SIGNS
16 - 2.14 WATER HEATERS
17 - SECTION 3 RETICULATED SERVICES
17 - 3.1 SCOPE OF SECTION
17 - 3.2 IDENTIFICATION AND COLOUR CODING
17 - 3.3 ISOLATING DEVICE
17 - 3.4 EXPOSED SERVICE PIPES
17 - 3.5 RETICULATION FROM GAS CYLINDERS
17 - 3.5.1 General
17 - 3.5.2 Control of pressure
17 - 3.5.3 Pipes
17 - 3.5.4 Liquefied petroleum gas cylinders
17 - 3.6 VACUUM RETICULATION
18 - 3.7 HYDRAULIC SERVICES
18 - 3.7.1 General
18 - 3.7.2 Materials
18 - 3.7.3 Drinking water
18 - 3.7.4 Safety shower and eyewash
18 - 3.7.5 Disposal of liquid waste
19 - SECTION 4 ELECTRICAL SERVICES
19 - 4.1 STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS
19 - 4.2 LABORATORY POWER
19 - 4.3 LABORATORY LIGHTING
20 - SECTION 5 VENTILATION AND AIR QUALITY
20 - 5.1 GENERAL
20 - 5.2 VENTILATION FOR OCCUPANTS
20 - 5.3 NATURAL VENTILATION SYSTEMS
20 - 5.4 MECHANICAL VENTILATION SYSTEMS
20 - 5.5 AIRBORNE CONTAMINANTS
20 - 5.5.1 Exposure limits
21 - 5.5.2 Contaminant control
21 - 5.5.3 Control of flammable gases and vapours
21 - 5.6 LOCAL EXHAUST VENTILATION
21 - 5.7 VENTILATION OF STORES
23 - SECTION 6 HEALTH AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
23 - 6.1 GENERAL
23 - 6.2 SAFETY SHOWERS
23 - 6.3 HANDWASHING FACILITIES
23 - 6.4 SAFETY NOTICEBOARDS
23 - 6.5 SAFETY SIGNS
23 - 6.6 HAZARD SIGNS AND PLACARDS
24 - SECTION 7 STORAGE OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES
24 - 7.1 GENERAL
24 - 7.2 FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS CABINETS
24 - 7.2.1 General
24 - 7.2.2 Segregation
24 - 7.2.3 Maximum capacity
24 - 7.2.4 Cabinet venting
24 - 7.3 FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS STORES
24 - 7.4 COMPRESSED- GAS CYLINDERS
25 - 7.5 STORAGE AREAS FOR CORROSIVE MATERIAL
25 - 7.5.1 General construction
25 - 7.5.2 Floors
25 - 7.5.3 Notices
25 - 7.6 CHEMICAL STORAGE CUPBOARDS
25 - 7.7 STORAGE FOR SOLID AND LIQUID WASTES
26 - SECTION 8 BIOLOGICAL LABORATORIES
26 - 8.1 SCOPE OF SECTION
26 - 8.2 LABORATORY LAYOUT
26 - 8.2.1 Separation of work areas
26 - 8.2.2 Microbiological work areas
26 - 8.3 VENTILATION
26 - 8.4 STERILIZATION
26 - 8.5 BIOLOGICAL WASTE DISPOSAL
26 - 8.5.1 General
27 - 8.5.2 Incinerators
27 - 8.6 ANIMAL ACCOMMODATIONFACILITIES
27 - 8.6.1 Application
27 - 8.6.2 Separation of animal accommodation
27 - 8.6.3 Prevention of vermin
27 - 8.6.4 Separation of infected animals
27 - 8.6.5 Clean stores
27 - 8.6.6 Autopsy and experimental areas
27 - 8.6.7 Waste handling and storage
27 - 8.6.8 Cage wash area
27 - 8.6.9 Ventilation
27 - 8.6.10 Animal containment
27 - 8.6.11 Cleaning
27 - 8.7 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR MICROBIOLOGICAL LABORATORIES
27 - 8.8 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ANIMAL ACCOMMODATION
28 - 8.9 REQUIREMENTS FOR PLANT HOUSES
28 - 8.10 REQUIREMENTS FOR INSECTARIES
29 - SECTION 9 LABORATORIES IN WHICH RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS AND IONIZING RADIATIONS ARE USED
29 - 9.1 SCOPE OF SECTION
29 - 9.2 GENERAL
29 - 9.2.1 Radiation warning signs
29 - 9.2.2 Shielding
29 - 9.2.3 Limitation on access
30 - 9.2.4 General requirements for radiation laboratories
30 - 9.2.5 General requirements for radioisotope laboratories
31 - 9.3 MINIMUM CRITERIA FOR RADIOISOTOPE LABORATORIES
31 - 9.3.1 Laboratory Grading
31 - 9.3.2 General
31 - 9.3.3 Floor penetrations
31 - 9.3.4 Low-level laboratories
32 - 9.3.5 Medium-level laboratories
34 - 9.3.6 High-level laboratories
34 - 9.4 SUMMARY OF DESIGN REQUIREMENTS
35 - 9.5 STORAGE OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
35 - 9.5.1 Security
35 - 9.5.2 Shielding
35 - 9.5.3 Ventilation
35 - 9.5.4 Signage
35 - 9.6 REFERENCES
37 - SECTION 10 SECONDARY SCHOOL AND TERTIARY LABORATORIES
37 - 10.1 SCOPE OF SECTION
37 - 10.2 RETICULATED SERVICES
37 - 10.2.1 Gas isolating valves in secondary school laboratories
37 - 10.2.2 Controls labelling
37 - 10.3 ELECTRICAL SERVICES
37 - 10.4 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
37 - 10.5.1 Flammable liquids
37 - 10.5.2 Chemicals emitting hazardous vapours
38 - APPENDIX A - PLANNING, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
38 - A1 THE PLANNING BRIEF
38 - A2 SITING OF BUILDINGS
39 - A3 ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS WITHIN LABORATORIES
39 - A4 ACCESS
39 - A4.1 Control of access
39 - A4.2 Access for materials and equipment
39 - A5 WORK SURFACE HEIGHTS
40 - A6 STORAGE
40 - A6.1 Storage heights
40 - A6.2 Storage depths and access
40 - A7 FUME CUPBOARDS
41 - APPENDIX B - ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR MICROBIOLOGICAL LABORATORIES
41 - B1 GENERAL
41 - B2 WARNING SIGNS
41 - B3 PHYSICAL CONTAINMENT LEVEL 1 (PC1) REQUIREMENTS
41 - B4 PHYSICAL CONTAINMENT LEVEL 2 (PC2) REQUIREMENTS
42 - B5 PHYSICAL CONTAINMENT LEVEL 3 (PC3) REQUIREMENTS
43 - B6 PHYSICAL CONTAINMENT LEVEL 4 (PC4) REQUIREMENTS
45 - APPENDIX C - ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ANIMAL ACCOMMODATION
45 - C1 GENERAL
45 - C2 REQUIREMENTS FOR ANIMAL ACCOMMODATION CONTAINMENT LEVEL PC2
45 - C3 REQUIREMENTS FOR ANIMAL ACCOMMODATION CONTAINMENT LEVEL PC3
47 - APPENDIX D - REQUIREMENTS FOR PLANT HOUSES
47 - D1 GENERAL
47 - D2 REQUIREMENTS FOR PLANT HOUSE CONTAINMENT LEVEL PC1
47 - D3 REQUIREMENTS FOR PLANT HOUSE CONTAINMENT LEVEL PC2
47 - D4 REQUIREMENTS FOR PLANT HOUSE CONTAINMENT LEVEL PC3
48 - D5 REQUIREMENTS FOR PLANT HOUSE CONTAINMENT LEVEL PC4
49 - APPENDIX E - REQUIREMENTS FOR INSECTARIES
49 - E1 GENERAL
49 - E2 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INSECTARY CONTAINMENT LEVEL PC2
49 - E3 REQUIREMENTS FOR INSECTARY CONTAINMENT LEVEL PC3
50 - E4 REQUIREMENTS FOR INSECTARY CONTAINMENT LEVEL PC4

Sets out requirements relating to the design and construction of buildings which have laboratories. It applies both to new laboratories and to where existing buildings are converted to laboratory use. Special sections are included for hazardous substances, biological laboratories, radiological, secondary school and tertiary laboratories.

This Standard specifies requirements for the design and construction of laboratories. Sections 1 to 7 apply to all laboratories. Sections 8, 9 and 10 contain additional requirements that apply to biological, radiological, secondary school and tertiary laboratories.NOTES:1 This Standard is primarily intended for those aspects of laboratory building design and construction which relate to the safety of the occupants. Various construction requirements that are intended to minimize the hazards associated with laboratories are detailed.2 The design and construction of fume cupboards is excluded from this Standard since it is covered in AS 2243.8, but aspects of fume cupboard design which affect the ventilation of the laboratory are included.

First published in Australia as part of AS 2982-1987.
Jointly revised and redesignated in part AS/NZS 2982.1:1997.