Health and Safety During Lab Construction

HSPO offers guidance to PIs and the project team based on the type of research, use of chemicals, biohazardous or radioactive materials, special equipment, recent inspection findings or general facility requirements. It is important to obtain a projected chemical inventory EARLY in the design phase.

Design and Construction

• Laboratory standards & design guidelines are available as a resource guide for use during the planning and early design phase. 
• SOM Facility Design Guides (PDF)
• Design in Safety Features
  • Seismic Restraints for Laboratory Equipment - Why risk the loss of even small pieces of lab equipment?
  • Checklist for Seismic Safety Considerations for Office Renovations (PDF)
• Construction expectations - Maintenance, Renovation and Construction Safety related information is available on the University Environmental Health and safety Website.

Disposal and Decontamination

• Property Disposal - Check with your Department Property Administrator (DPA) to arrange proper disposal of equipment
• Information on decontamination of equipment and Research Equipment Disposal and Release to Surplus
  • Template Decontamination Letter for Equipment Disposal (MS Word)
  • Template Decontamination Letter for Equipment Service (MS Word)

Lab Activation and Set-up

Contact Safety and Emergency Management to schedule a New PI Briefings for any new faculty prior to starting up a new lab for guidance with reporting chemical inventories, staff training or equipment purchases.

Lab Deactivation occurs when lab space is vacated. This can be prior to a renovation, if a PI leaves Stanford, or a lab is being transferred to a new PI or department. The process involves the removal of all chemicals, both waste and unused product, biological, and/or radiological materials and associated hazards from a laboratory with the decontamination of working surfaces, including bench, cabinet, and fume hood surfaces, and other areas potentially contaminated with hazardous materials.

• Flammable Liquid or Chemical Storage Cabinets - See information in the Stanford Design Guide for flammable liquid storage cabinet requirements.
• Film Processors - See the requirements for Photoprocessing Requirements for New Installations

Cold Rooms, Warm Rooms, and Mold

• Coldrooms - See the following links to the EHS website for Cold Room Work Practices mold prevention and mold remediation.
• Water Damage Response (Mold Prevention)
• Warm & Cold Rooms – Safe Work Practices
• Mold Remediation

Fumehoods

• Fumehood and Ventilation information in the Stanford Laboratory Standard & Design Guide
• Stanford University Laboratory Fume Hoods – Performance Criteria and Certification Protocol
• Fumehood Use