Pamela Auburn, PhD

From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU> on behalf of Samuella Sigmann <sigmannsb**At_Symbol_Here**APPSTATE.EDU>
Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2018 11:00 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Justification for lower cap for teaching labs

Hi Harry - I found this from an NSTA document.

For educational science laboratories, the requirement is 50 square Feet net per person or 4.6 square meters net per person (NFPA 101 - 2012 Occupant Load Factor table 7.3.1.2 - Shops, laboratories, vocational rooms, pg. 101 - 74).

http://static.nsta.org/pdfs/OvercrowdingInTheInstructionalSpace.pdf


That table is on page 84 in the 2018 version.
S-

Jim - can you point to a reference for that?  SBC (Southern Building Code), IBC (International) or other?

Thanks, 

Harry

On Wed, Aug 29, 2018 at 9:24 AM James Kaufman <jim**At_Symbol_Here**labsafety.org> wrote:

Pam,

Take a look at the building occupancy load in the building/fire codes.  It is normally limited to 50 sq ft per person in labs in educational occupanies. 

PS.  "There's more to lab safety than just labs!"

James A. Kaufman, Ph.D.

Founder/VP of Education
The Laboratory Safety Institute (LSI)
A Nonprofit Educational Organization for Safety in Science, Industry, and Education

192 Worcester Street, Natick, MA 01760-2252
508-647-1900  Fax: 508-647-0062 
Cell: 508-574-6264  Res: 781-237-1335
Skype: labsafe; 508-401-7406 

jim**At_Symbol_Here**labsafety.org  www.labsafety.org

Teach, Learn, and Practice Science Safely

On Tue, Aug 28, 2018 at 8:57 PM Pam <aubu**At_Symbol_Here**hotmail.com> wrote:

Currently the labs classes here are capped at 32. I know that the ACS recommends no more than 25. Are there any other sources I can quote as a draft a letter to our Dean to lower the cap in chem labs. We are a two year school so when I say that labs are capped at 32 that would be ONE pair of experienced eyes in the room. There are no TAs. 

I am also looking into the square footage of the room 

Right now I am working with groups of 4 so not all students are getting a true lab experience. Some are just watching

Thanks

Pamela Auburn, PhD

2041 Branard Houston TX 77098

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Harry J. Elston, Ph.D., CIH
Principal
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