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From: drsamples**At_Symbol_Here**COMCAST.NET
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Lab Safety Caps in Chem Labs
Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2013 00:00:55 +0000
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: 2064357646.2367281.1377216055266.JavaMail.root**At_Symbol_Here**sz0055a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net
In-Reply-To <9F3B003643FC5F42930EFB83E276C8600249649927D2**At_Symbol_Here**HNXEXCH.hendrix.local>


Dear Shelly and all,

The ACS guidelines for 2-yr and 4-yr chemistry programs reference the 25 lab cap. Here is the quote from the 2-yr program:

  • Laboratory capacities should not exceed 25 students.(5) At least 50 square feet of net space per student should be provided, including lab tables and benches. 

These guidelines are available at:

http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/policies.html

Actually, looking at this document again, I see that NFPA is referenced in the above quote.  NFPA 101, Life Safety Code, 2006 Edition; National Fire Protection Association: Quincy, MA, 2005.   Hopefully, this is an easy document to obtain.

Thanks to everyone who has responded, I appreciate the input.

Sincerely,

Marjorie Samples
drsamples**At_Symbol_Here**comcast.net
From: "Shelly Bradley" <Bradley**At_Symbol_Here**HENDRIX.EDU>
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2013 10:27:56 AM
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Lab Safety Caps in Chem Labs

That is a great question. I could only find a reference on the ACS website to capping at 24 for high school labs. I couldn't find anything for college level. Is there such a document?

 

Shelly Bradley

NRCC-CHO

Authorized OSHA Trainer
Instrumentation Specialist
Laboratory Development Assistant
Campus Chemical Compliance Director
Department of Chemistry
Hendrix College
Conway, AR 72032
(501) 450-3812
bradley**At_Symbol_Here**hendrix.edu

 

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of drsamples**At_Symbol_Here**COMCAST.NET
Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2013 11:31 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Lab Safety Caps in Chem Labs

 

It's the beginning of a new semester here in the beleaguered California community colleges, and there is again an administrative push to over enroll students in chem labs.

 

So I am interested in the history of the 24-25 chem lab safety caps. Does anyone know why 24-25 has been deemed the upper safety limit and what evidence was used? Also, exactly what agencies and organizations (in the US and abroad) besides ACS and LSI recommend these caps?

 

For those of you in California, is it true that when a new chem lab is designed for a state-funded school that the lab design is based on 24 students? This is what I've heard, and architects seem to design California chem labs around this magic 24, but is it state-mandated?

 

Sincerely,

Marjorie Samples

Folsom Lake College, Folsom California

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