Creating The Safest Classroom And Lab Atmosphere Essays - Heating

Creating the Safest Classroom and Lab Atmosphere The Findings of the Legal/Safety Group After being dubbed the legal group, Chris, John, Jen, Jens, and Spencer began thinking about what this title meant. After talking about the meaning of our group, both to each other and to professor Sidebotham, it was concluded that the semantics behind legal formed the following definition. Le' gal: Pertaining to safety, i.e. anything that will keep Cooper Union out of legal trouble. We worked from there, and researched Uniform Building Code literature, OSHA manuals, and literature regarding the development of labs for chemical and biological use, as well as literature on the disposal of created waste. The following is an overview of precautions, safety measures, guidelines, and precedent which will theoretically create the safest, and most professional classroom and lab atmospheres. Information is presented on labs from the most innocuous, to the most potentially threatening. SECTION I THE CLASSROOM As simple as a classroom may seem, much thought should go into its design and construction. Seeing as how it will be the incubator of great minds, the classroom incorporated into room 643 should meet all safety regulations, while being a pleasant place to learn. Light, ventilation, exits, access, and fire safety must all be considered when building a classroom. The Uniform Building Code states that a classroom is a Group E occupancy, and follows that statement with a series of legislation. The legal aspects of a classroom begin with the basics?light and ventilation. An enclosed area designated as a classroom has to have natural light from windows which should have an area proportional to at least 1/10 the total floor area. Ventilation from exterior openings should be proportional to at least 1/20 the total area. Where this is not possible, artificial light and mechanical must be implemented to accomplish the same effect, whereby ventilation would be achieved at 5 ft3/min. of outside air, and 15 ft3/min. per occupant. Entrances and exits must also follow guidelines dictated by the Uniform Building Code. The exits of the proposed classroom cannot be more than 75 feet from an exit corridor, enclosed stairway or the building's exterior. An exit through an adjoining room is also possible if the exit to exit distance does not exceed the specified 75 feet., and there are no obvious obstructions. Passage through a storage facility or haz-mat lab in the neighboring rooms would be unacceptable. The exit corridor walls and ceilings must be at least 1-hour-fire resistive construction with protected openings. The width of exit lanes must also be proportional to at least the number of occupants divided by 50. Also, since the classroom requires only two exits, the distance separating them must be at least half the length of the room's diagonal. As far as access to the room is concerned, it must acc essible to the physically handicapped. This access should come in the form of a ramp or elevator. The classroom atmosphere must also follow fire safety guidelines. Walls floors, and partitions must all be of a material consistent with construction requirements, and must be more effective than smoke or draft stops. All of the door openings must be fitted with fire assemblies, and be at least self or automatic closing, tight fitting, and smoke/fire protective, with a rating of at least 20 minutes. The storage closets near the classroom must be of at least 1 hour fire resistive construction. As a new structure within Cooper, the classroom should also get up to code by having a sprinkler system, which is necessary in ALL occupancies. SECTION II THE LABS One of the most important pieces of the lab building puzzle is the installation of an acceptable skeleton. The infrastructure of any lab is a key to its smooth and safe operation. Ventilation, plumbing, climate control, accessibility, stor age, electricity, and fire control should all be integral parts of a lab, not carelessly placed afterthoughts. The following few paragraphs touch on the basics required for safe operation considered "up to code." Entrances and exits, as well as everything else in the lab, must be handicap accessible. Doors must have glass panels, and push outward in the direction of exit. Each lab must have two exits, each allowing for a different evacuation path. Air systems must be specifically designed to properly accommodate lab work. Toxic fumes and contaminated air must be driven from the lab through a series of ducts, which vent the air via a powerful fan. Air intake ducts must also be carefully situated by a distance of at least 30 feet from discharge vents so