You had a very important word in this statement - NET.�
Each time a researcher crams in another refrigerator, tank, or piece of floor based equipment that is considered "permanent", they are effectively reducing the number of students that can work in a research lab.�The educational shop/lab areas are 50 square feet net.
The occupancies for college classrooms and labs per the International Fire Code (and likely consistent with the Life Safety Code - I do not have a copy handy right now) are considered B (business occupancies). Business areas require 100 square feet gross. In addition to the basic square foot requirements, there are also code requirements regarding exits, aisle width, etc. You might also wish to look at the chemical storage and handling requirements especially when evaluating research labs and stockrooms that maintain large chemical inventories. As indicated below, your local fire department can verify which of the fire codes applies to your facility. -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] DCHAS-L Digest - 19 Sep 2014 to 20 Sep 2014 (#2014-226) From: JAKSAFETY**At_Symbol_Here**AOL.COM Date: Sep 21, 2014 3:26 AM To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU CC: Building Occupancy Load limits educational occupancies for shops and labs to 50 square feet per person. See your state fire code and the state fire marshal for specific information which should be enforced by the local fire chief. James A. Kaufman, Ph.D. President/CEO The Laboratory Safety Institute (LSI) A Nonprofit International Organization for Safety in Science, Industry and Science Education 192 Worcester Street, Natick, MA 01760-2252 508-647-1900 Fax: 508-647-0062 Skype: labsafe Cell: 508-574-6264 Res: 781-237-1335 jim**At_Symbol_Here**labsafetyinstitute.org _www.labsafetyinstitute.org_ (http://www.labsafetyinstitute.org) Chair, ICASE Committee on Safety in Science Education International Council for Associations of Science Education _www.icaseonline.net_ (http://www.icaseonline.net/) P We thank you for printing this e-mail only if it is necessary In a message dated 9/21/2014 12:00:43 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, LISTSERV**At_Symbol_Here**listserv.med.cornell.edu writes: Date: Sat, 20 Sep 2014 06:51:32 -0400 From: "Secretary, ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety" <secretary**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG> Subject: Organic Chemistry Class Size I received this question in the divisional e-mailbox and Dr. Roslaniec said that she would appreciate thoughts from the DCHAS membership. - Ralph From: Mary Roslaniec <roslaniecm**At_Symbol_Here**mjc.edu> We are re-evaluating our lab class size. Historically, we have followed the ACS guidelines. Our General Chemistry and Introductory Chemistry courses hold no more than 25 students per lab and our Organic Chemistry for Science Majors class is generally below the 20 student limit. Our GOB courses span two semesters. The first is general chemistry and the second is organic/biochemistry combined; both are for the allied health majors. The Office of Two Year Colleges advised the following: �??To the best of my knowledge, there are no specific recommendations for biochemistry labs (certainly not in the Guidelines). However, you are considering a hybrid lab. Because the student/educator ratio is a safety consideration in the laboratory, I would go with the more stringent recommendations for organic labs. In other words, treat the organic/biochemistry lab as an organic lab, and limit the number of students to 20. True, this course is �??organic chemistry�??, however, it is at the GOB level. Our courses are impacted so we hesitate to lower the class size. So, my question is, is the recommendation for organic chemistry for the allied health majors really as strict as the organic chemistry lab for science majors? Thank you in advance for your information. Mary Roslaniec, Ph. D. Chemistry Professor Modesto Junior College Science, Math & Engineering 435 College Avenue Modesto, CA 95350 209-575-6285 209-575-6216 fax -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] DCHAS-L Digest - 19 Sep 2014 to 20 Sep 2014 (#2014-226) From: JAKSAFETY**At_Symbol_Here**AOL.COM Date: Sep 21, 2014 3:26 AM To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU CC: Building Occupancy Load limits educational occupancies for shops and labs to 50 square feet per person. See your state fire code and the state fire marshal for specific information which should be enforced by the local fire chief. James A. Kaufman, Ph.D. President/CEO The Laboratory Safety Institute (LSI) A Nonprofit International Organization for Safety in Science, Industry and Science Education 192 Worcester Street, Natick, MA 01760-2252 508-647-1900 Fax: 508-647-0062 Skype: labsafe Cell: 508-574-6264 Res: 781-237-1335 jim**At_Symbol_Here**labsafetyinstitute.org _www.labsafetyinstitute.org_ (http://www.labsafetyinstitute.org) Chair, ICASE Committee on Safety in Science Education International Council for Associations of Science Education _www.icaseonline.net_ (http://www.icaseonline.net/) P We thank you for printing this e-mail only if it is necessary In a message dated 9/21/2014 12:00:43 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, LISTSERV**At_Symbol_Here**listserv.med.cornell.edu writes: Date: Sat, 20 Sep 2014 06:51:32 -0400 From: "Secretary, ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety" <secretary**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG> Subject: Organic Chemistry Class Size I received this question in the divisional e-mailbox and Dr. Roslaniec said that she would appreciate thoughts from the DCHAS membership. - Ralph From: Mary Roslaniec <roslaniecm**At_Symbol_Here**mjc.edu> We are re-evaluating our lab class size. Historically, we have followed the ACS guidelines. Our General Chemistry and Introductory Chemistry courses hold no more than 25 students per lab and our Organic Chemistry for Science Majors class is generally below the 20 student limit. Our GOB courses span two semesters. The first is general chemistry and the second is organic/biochemistry combined; both are for the allied health majors. The Office of Two Year Colleges advised the following: �??To the best of my knowledge, there are no specific recommendations for biochemistry labs (certainly not in the Guidelines). However, you are considering a hybrid lab. Because the student/educator ratio is a safety consideration in the laboratory, I would go with the more stringent recommendations for organic labs. In other words, treat the organic/biochemistry lab as an organic lab, and limit the number of students to 20. True, this course is �??organic chemistry�??, however, it is at the GOB level. Our courses are impacted so we hesitate to lower the class size. So, my question is, is the recommendation for organic chemistry for the allied health majors really as strict as the organic chemistry lab for science majors? Thank you in advance for your information. Mary Roslaniec, Ph. D. Chemistry Professor Modesto Junior College Science, Math & Engineering 435 College Avenue Modesto, CA 95350 209-575-6285 209-575-6216 fax
Samuella B. Sigmann,
NRCC-CHO
Lecturer/Safety Committee Chair
A. R. Smith Department of Chemistry
Appalachian State University
525 Rivers Street
Boone, NC� � 28608
Phone: 828 262 2755
Fax: 828 262 6558
Email: sigmannsb**At_Symbol_Here**appstate.edu
�
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