Hi Ralph,
    Thank you for your inquiry on the 2011 edition of NFPA 45.
    In the 2011 edition of NFPA 45, the required door swing depends on the hazard classification of the lab. See the paragraphs below taken from the 2011 edition of NFPA 45.
    Overall, the laboratory occupancy must comply with the 2009 edition of the NFPA Life Safety Code, NFPA 101, unless otherwise modified by other provisions of NFPA 45.  NFPA 101 regulates door swing based on the occupancy classification.
    See Section 5.3, Requirements for Life Safety, for the occupancy classifications within NFPA 45 that align with the occupancies identified in NFPA 101.

	5.4.2 The required exit access doors of all laboratory work areas within Class A or Class B laboratory units shall swing in
the direction of exit travel.
	5.4.3* The required exit access doors of all laboratory work areas within Class C or Class D laboratory units shall be permitted
to swing against the direction of exit travel or shall be permitted to be a horizontal sliding door complying with NFPA 101, Life Safety Code.

    Thank you for using NFPA codes and standards.  I hope that this information is useful for your purposes.
    Please contact me if you would like to discuss this response further.
    This information is provided as a personal opinion from the NFPA Staff Liaison and should not be interpreted to be a Formal Interpretation as described below in the Important Notice.
    Please note the authority having jurisdiction determines compliance with the standard.
 Regards,
 Martha H. Curtis

Martha H. Curtis
Senior Chemical Specialist/Staff Liaison to NFPA 45
NFPA
1 Batterymarch Park
Quincy, MA  02169-7471
Phone: 617-984-7496
Fax: 617-984-7110
Email: mcurtis**At_Symbol_Here**nfpa.org

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IMPORTANT NOTICE: This correspondence is not a Formal Interpretation issued pursuant to NFPA regulations. Any opinion expressed is the personal opinion of the author, and does not necessarily represent the official position of the NFPA or its Technical Committees. In addition, this correspondence is neither intended, nor should be relied upon, to provide professional consultation or services.
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-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of Ralph B Stuart
Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 9:35 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Follow up RE: [DCHAS-L] Door swing in NMR room?

Thanks to everyone who responded to my request for information about the appropriate direction for the door to swing in an NMR lab setting. In addition to the answers that went to the list, I received several responses privately. While the regulatory and code references are vague enough to leave some interpretation in specific situations, the practical concern about assuring rapid exit during a sudden room pressurization in case of a quench seem to drive the practical side of this issue. Various people pointed to non-regulatory references from institutions such as the VA and the University of Pittsburgh that recommend this practice.

- Ralph

Ralph Stuart CIH
Laboratory Ventilation Specialist
Department of Environmental Health and Safety Cornell University

rstuart**At_Symbol_Here**cornell.edu

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