September 30, 1995
minimum air changes and negative room
Doors and Hardware:
pressure must be maintained in occupied labs.
Doors should swing out from laboratories as
Refer to the VA HVAC Design Manual, section
a means of safe egress; however they can
"Energy Conservation."
create hazardous conditions by blocking the
corridor traffic if not recessed into an alcove. VA
labs typically have doors that swing into the lab;
Concerns Specific To Research
however, when corridors are wide enough, the
Facilities:
doors should swing out. In new construction with
1830 mm (6') wide corridors, 1120 mm (3'-8")
door widths are appropriate permitting larger
Finishes:
equipment to be moved into the lab.
Interior finishes selected must allow for ease
Doors to laboratories and offices should be
of cleaning and provide a pleasing work
of a metal or metal clad type, with sound
environment for Research staff.
Early
deadening material applied to the inside and a
communication between Research staff, Interior
viewing window of shatter-proof glass. Doors to
Designer, and Architect is necessary to achieve
laboratory units should be self-closing and
successfully the desired finish.
lockable. Doors to offices shall be lockable but
not self-closing. Cylinder handles rather than
The finishes in labs must be impervious to
knobs are preferable in laboratories to facilitate
contaminants and able to withstand washing with
ease of opening. All doors shall be provided a
detergents. Lab floors should be of a non-slip
full width kick-mop plate to a minimum height of
finish. Common instrument rooms have latex
250 mm (10") from the bottom of the door. All
mastic floors and coved bases to allow for ease
doors will conform to current NFPA fire rating
of maintenance.
Since common instrument
codes. Floor mounted door stops should be
rooms and specialized equipment rooms (NMR)
provided when wall mounted bumpers will not
often house equipment of considerable weight,
provide an effective stop mechanism. Floor
floor loading capacity should be determined early
mounted stops need to be positioned so as to
in the project design phase.
provide unobstructed movement of equipment
Laboratory ceilings should be set at a
and pedestrian traffic.
minimum of 2700 mm (9'-0") from floor to ceiling,
with 600x1200 mm (2'x4') acoustical tile. If a
2700 mm (9'-0") ceiling height is planned, call for
Furniture:
a fume hood sash that will open fully within the
Furniture may include laboratory equipment
space. Ceilings in glassware washing rooms and
or casework.
biohazard containment labs are required to be
gypsum board or plaster to tolerate the treatment
Laboratory equipment is usually metal with a
of water and detergents.
chemical resistant coating to resist corrosion. It
includes but is not limited to tables, cabinets,
Walk-in refrigerator and freezer rooms
shelves, sinks, etc., and is utually installed by
consist of prefabricated units designed for field
the General Contractor. It is generally specified
assembly. The inside facing of walls and ceilings
for technical areas.
are stainless steel metal finishes.
Metal
casework and shelving must be rust-resistant.
Casework
may
include
laboratory
Lighting fixtures should be of watertight design.
equipment, but is more likely to be used in
administrative areas. It has more general use
Note:
Finishes are noted on the Design
and is likely to have more combinations of colors
Standards pages accompanying the guide plates.
and textures than laboratory equipment. It can
be plastic, metal, or wood. It is often installed by
the manufacturer under a separate contract.
Page 2-8
VA Design Guide -- Research Laboratory
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