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
