Lee,

We had the same issue when our LEED-certified building first opened.  We worked with the company that programmed the occupancy sensors to modify the sensitivity of the program.  It took a couple of hours over the phone, but we were able to reach a sensitivity level that still met LEED standards, but gave the researchers more flexibility.

Thanks,

Autumn

--

Autumn Timpano, MPH

Lab Facilities Manager

ICTAS, Virginia Tech

325 Stanger Street

425 Kelly Hall (0193)

Blacksburg, VA  24061

(540) 553-5511

aclapp**At_Symbol_Here**vt.edu

Has anyone had issues with occupancy sensors in laboratories?  We have a new research building on campus and one of the steps taken to achieve LEED certification was to install occupancy sensors in all the laboratories.  We are now having issues with the lights going off when the laboratory is occupied.  This is a concern for me, particularly when we have employees working in biosafety cabinets and fume hoods and the lights go out.  Laboratory work typically does not involve large amounts of movement and we teach our researchers not to make quick or exaggerated  movements when working in our biosafety cabinets and fume hoods, so these sensors are having difficulty detecting  movement and are shutting the lights off.   I am hoping some of you have experienced the same problem and can provide recommendations on how to resolve the issue.

Your feedback is greatly appreciated.

Kind regards,

Lee

K. Lee Stone M.S., MT (ASCP), NRCC-CHO

Laboratory Safety Manager

Chemical Hygiene Officer

President- IUPUI Staff Council

My Page

Lockefield Village

980 Indiana Avenue, Room L4430

Indianapolis, IN 46202

317-278-6150 (T)  |  (317) 278-2158 (F)  | 

IUPUI-Environmental Health and Safety

Problems cannot be solved at the same level of awareness that created them.
- Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

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