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LABORATORY SITING
Laboratories and lab environments are often considered to be among the most contaminated environment, these is because most experiments conducted within laboratories are potential health hazards to the surrounding
Experiments conducted may also be affected by the surrounding conditions e.g. Vibrations, drought, noise, light etc.
Laboratories must therefore be sited:
- Away from cafeterias, health units and other residential places.
- Away from traffic e.g. roads, railway lines, etc.
- In proximity to delivery points, botanical gardens, green house and animal houses
- It should be oriented in east to west direction to avoid stray light from interfering with chemicals, which can explode due to exposure to sunlight.
- Be sited as close to one another for easy management.
Material for Constructing Laboratories
Most of chemicals and substances used in the laboratories may be reactive to the materials used in the construction of laboratory walls and other surfaces causing them to deteriorate faster, it is therefore very important to select construction materials that are either inert or less reactive to these chemicals .laboratory facility should be constructed of materials that:
- Are appropriate for the intended purpose
- Durable and comfortable to work on e.g. not slippery,
- That can offer maximum security and safety to the chemicals and equipment’s.
- Minimize risks and hazards associated with the chemicals e.g. prevent radiations from radioactive, oxidation, explosion, fire and other forms of deterioration by the chemicals