Laboratory Ventilation Design Standards

Laboratory ventilation depends on a set of engineering controls. With laboratories using a range of chemicals & hazardous materials, it’s hard to decipher which ventilation standard to apply to your own laboratory.

In this infographic, we’ve detailed the 5 ventilation standards listed by ASHRAE and which one would be the best suited to your laboratory. If you’re looking with help to identify which type of compliance standard to go with, contact us today.

Design Level	Key Pointers
VSDL-0	Quantities of Hazardous Chemicals – Negligible No potential for airborne generation Negligible potential for severity Control Strategy – Dilution ventilation Who should use it? Computer/ Instrumentation labs, Teaching labs, Temperature controlled rooms
VSDL-1	Quantities of Hazardous Chemicals – Small Negligible potential for airborne generation Low potential for severity Control Strategy – Dilution & local exhaust ventilation points Who should use it? Shop areas with chemical storage, Quality control labs, biological labs with no volatile hazards.
VSDL-2	Quantities of Hazardous Chemicals – Moderate Low potential for airborne generation Low potential for severity Control Strategy – Dilution & removal, Local exhaust ventilation, Fume hoods Who should use it? Biochemistry labs (dealing with aqueous solutions), Academic teaching labs.
VSDL-3	Quantities of Hazardous Chemicals – Large High potential for airborne generation High potential for severity Control Strategy – Dilution & removal, Local exhaust ventilation, Fume hoods, Isolators Who should use it? Chemical synthesis labs, Research labs
VSDL-4	Quantities of Hazardous Chemicals – Very large Very high potential for airborne generation Extreme potential for severity Control Strategy – Dilution & removal, Local exhaust ventilation, Fume hoods, Isolators Who should use it? Chemical development labs, Polymer synthesis labs, High-hazard research labs, Chemical synthesis labs

Source: ASHRAE (2018)

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