26 February 1993
Interior doors should have full width kick plates and bumper
ventilated cages, laminar flow units, and racks enclosed in heavy
guards at a height that protects them against moveable
plastic sheeting. Some barrier systems require special ventilation
equipment. Doors should be lockable, self closing and master
and other engineering features.
keyed to the station or computer controlled. Most should have
Large Animal Housing
closers with hold open devices. The door handles should be
flush mounted or recessed. Handicapped type door handles
Dogs, cats, primates and domestic farm animals are
instead of knobs are useful in animal room areas to facilitate easy
considered "large animals" in a biomedical research setting. Dogs
opening. Automatic openers on doors to the cage wash room
are not routinely housed in traditional cages, but rather in most
facilitate the movement of equipment.
cases are kept in runs or pens that are large enough to permit
exercise. If properly designed, these pens are also suitable for
Interior Finishes
housing most domestic farm species used in biomedical research
laboratories.
Interior finishes of animal facilities must be smooth,
Primates must be maintained under conditions conducive to
impermeable to moisture, and capable of withstanding the impact
their "psychological well being". These animals are sometimes
of animal cage racks and other equipment. Concrete Masonry
housed in compatible pairs or groups as a means of promoting
Unit walls should have flush joints with a 1/8-inch thick portland
psychological well-being. Pair or group housing requires cages
cement plaster skim coat finish and sealed with epoxy paint.
of a larger size than used for individually housed animals and this
Bumper rails or curbing are needed to prevent wall damage in
must be taken into consideration when planning door sizes,
animal housing rooms and corridors. Bases of corridors and
animal room configuration, and cage wash areas.
animal rooms should be coved to allow for ease of cleaning.
Rooms housing dogs or primates are typically noisy,
Walls of animal rooms and the cage wash area must withstand
therefore, if possible they should be separated by a sound barrier
periodic washing with detergents, disinfectants and water under
from administrative offices and rooms in which rodents and
high pressure. Rooms housing dogs, swine, and primates are
rabbits are housed.
subject to particularly harsh treatment that may include high
pressure washing and at times steam cleaning. The soiled side
Interior Doors and Hardware
of the cage wash room must tolerate the most extreme conditions
of steam, heat, large amounts of water, strong detergents,
Hospital type door jambs should be used throughout interior
disinfectants, acids and heavy traffic.
spaces with door stops located 8 inches from the floor to facilitate
Places for harborage or entry of insects and vermin must be
mopping. Doors in corridors to offices and in heavy traffic areas
eliminated by sealing all junctions and penetrations with a
should have windows of shatter proof glass. They should fit the
caulking material to which paint will bond. All pipes and ducts
frames tightly, be mounted without a sill and be equipped with
should be furred or placed above the ceiling. Ceilings in animal
self sealing, externally mounted sweep strips if the space
areas should be smooth, moisture-proof, and free of imperfect
between the closed door and floor exceeds 3/16 inch. Doors to
junctions. Ceilings of portland cement plaster should be sealed
animal rooms should not be less than 84 inches high by 42
and finished with epoxy or comparable paint.
Ceilings
inches wide, and preferably 48 inches wide, to facilitate moving of
constructed of absorbent material are unacceptable.
Light
cages and other equipment. Animal room doors throughout the
fixtures should be waterproof, surface mounted, and vermin
VMU should be metal or metal clad, with small viewing windows.
VA Design Guide -- Veterinary Medical Unit
Page 2-9
Previous Page
