Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024
(a) Scope. When
laboratory-type hoods, also known as laboratory fume hoods, as defined below
are used to prevent harmful exposure to hazardous substances, such hoods shall
conform to all applicable provisions of Article 107, and shall conform to
provisions of this section.
EXCEPTION NO . 1: Inspection doors or clean-out doors
in exhaust ducts required by Section
5143(a)(3) do not
apply to laboratory-type hood operations.
EXCEPTION NO . 2: Biological safety cabinets as defined
below are exempt from the requirements of this section. Class II biological
safety cabinets may be used to prevent harmful exposure to cytotoxic agents
during their compounding or preparation for parenteral use. Biological safety
cabinets may be used to control harmful exposure to aerosols and particulate
matter, provided the presence of the substance in the biological safety cabinet
does not present a risk of fire or explosion. When biological safety cabinets
are used to control exposure to these hazards they shall meet the requirements
of Section 5154.2.
(b) Definitions.
Biohazard agent means a replication capable pathogen
which is a disease causing microorganism and is capable of causing diseases in
humans including viruses, microbes and sub viral agents. The agent includes the
agent, products of infectious agents, or the components of infectious agents
presenting a risk of illness or injury.
Biohazardous materials are any materials that would
harbor biohazardous agents such as human blood, body fluids, or tissues that
may be contaminated with biohazardous agents.
Biological safety cabinet. A ventilated cabinet which
serves as a primary containment device for operations involving biohazard
agents or biohazardous materials. Three classes of biological safety cabinets
are described in Section
5154.2.
Hazardous Substance. One which by reason of being
explosive, flammable, poisonous, an irritant, or otherwise harmful is likely to
cause injury or illness if not used with effective control methods.
Laboratory-Type Hood. A device enclosed except for
necessary exhaust purposes on three sides and top and bottom, designed to draw
air inward by means of mechanical ventilation, operated with insertion of only
the hands and arms of the user, and used to control exposure to hazardous
substances. These devices are also known as laboratory fume
hoods.
(c) Ventilation
Rates.
(1) Laboratory-type hood face
velocities shall be sufficient to maintain an inward flow of air at all
openings into the hood under operating conditions. The hood shall provide
confinement of the possible hazards and protection of the employees for the
work that is performed. The exhaust system shall provide an average face
velocity of at least 100 feet per minute with a minimum of 70 fpm at any point,
except where more stringent special requirements are prescribed in other
sections of the General Industry Safety Orders, such as Section
5209. The minimum velocity
requirement excludes those measurements made within 1 inch of the perimeter of
the work opening.
(2) When a
laboratory-type hood is in use to contain airborne hazardous substances and no
employee is in the immediate area of the hood opening, the ventilation rate may
be reduced from the minimum average face velocity of at least 100 feet per
minute to a minimum average face velocity of 60 feet per minute if the
following conditions are met:
(A) The
reduction in face velocity is controlled by an automatic system which does not
require manual intervention. The automatic system shall increase the airflow to
the flow required by (c)(1) when the hood is accessed.
(B) The laboratory-type hood has been tested
at the reduced flow rate according to the tracer gas method specified in
Section 7, Tracer Gas Test Procedure, of ANSI/ASHRAE 110-1995, Method of
Testing Performance of Laboratory Fume Hoods, which is hereby incorporated by
reference, and has a hood performance rating of 4.0 AU 0.1 or less. The test
may be performed with or without the mannequin described in the ANSI/ASHRAE
110-1995 tracer gas method.
The tracer gas test need only be performed once per
hood. However, if employers have chosen to perform the tracer gas test on
subsequent occasions, it is the most recent record of test results and test
configuration that shall be maintained pursuant to subsection
(c)(2)(C).
(C) The record of
the most recent tracer gas test results and the "as used" test configuration
shall be maintained as long as the automatic system is operable and thereafter
for five years.
(d) Operation. Mechanical ventilation shall
remain in operation at all times when hoods are in use and for a sufficient
time thereafter to clear hoods of airborne hazardous substances. When
mechanical ventilation is not in operation, hazardous substances in the hood
shall be covered or capped off.
(e)
Special Requirements.
(1) The face velocity
required by subsection (c) should be obtainable with the movable sashes fully
opened. Where the required velocity can only be obtained by partly closing the
sash, the sash and/or jamb shall be marked to show the maximum opening at which
the hood face velocity will meet the requirements of subsection (c). Any hood
failing to meet requirements of subsection (c) and this paragraph shall be
considered deficient in airflow and shall be posted with placards, plainly
visible, which prohibit use of hazardous substances within the hood.
(2) When flammable gases or liquids are used,
or when combustible liquids are heated above their flashpoints, hoods shall be
designed, constructed, and installed so that hood openings at all sash
positions provide sufficient airflow to prevent ignitable concentrations.
Concentrations in the duct shall not exceed 20% of the lower explosive
limits.
(3) In addition to being
tested as required by Section
5143(a)(5), hoods
shall meet the following requirements:
(A) By
January 1, 2008, hoods shall be equipped with a quantitative airflow monitor
that continuously indicates whether air is flowing into the exhaust system
during operation. The quantitative airflow monitor shall measure either the
exact rate of inward airflow or the relative amount of inward airflow. Examples
of acceptable devices that measure the relative amount of inward airflow
include: diaphragm pressure gauges, inclined manometers, and vane gauges. The
requirement for a quantitative airflow monitor may also be met by an airflow
alarm system if the system provides an audible or visual alarm when the airflow
decreases to less than 80% of the airflow required by subsection (c).
(B) Qualitative airflow measurements that
indicate the ability of the hood to maintain an inward airflow at all openings
of the hood as required by subsection (c)(1) shall be demonstrated using smoke
tubes or other suitable qualitative methods. This demonstration shall be
performed:
1. Upon initial
installation;
2. On an annual
basis;
EXCEPTION TO SUBSECTION (3)(B)2.: The frequency of the
tests may be reduced to every two years if a calibration and maintenance
program is in place for the quantitative airflow monitor or alarm
system.
3. After repairs or
renovations of the hood or the ventilation system in that part of the facility
where the hood is located; or
4.
After the addition of large equipment into the
hood.
(4)
Exhaust stacks shall be located in such a manner with respect to air intakes as
to preclude the recirculation of laboratory-type hood emissions within a
building. To protect employees on the roof, any one of the follow methods shall
be utilized:
(A) Chemical treatment,
absorption on activated charcoal, or scrubbers;
(B) Dilution of toxic materials below
prescribed exposure limits prior to discharge;
(C) Locked gates, doors or other equivalent
means acceptable to the Division which prevent employee access to exhaust stack
discharge areas while hoods are in operation unless personnel are provided with
appropriate respirators and other personal protection; or
(D) Exhaust stacks extending at least 7 feet
above the roof and discharging vertically upward. Where rain protection is
desired, high velocity discharge or concentric-duct, self-draining stacks
(Figure V-9) or equivalent may be used. Rain caps which divert the exhaust
toward the roof are prohibited.
FIGURE V-9EXAMPLE OF A CONCENTRIC-DUCT
SELF-DRAINING STACK
Click
here to view image
(5) Where emissions from the exhaust stack
are likely to cause harmful exposure to employees, an effective air cleaning
system shall be provided. Where virulent pathogens are likely to be released in
the hood, incinerators or equally effective means of disposal shall be provided
in the exhaust system to prevent employee exposure. See Section
5154.2 for requirements for
biological safety cabinets.
(6)
Blowers exhausting laboratory-type hoods in which hazardous substances are used
shall be mounted outside the building or in service rooms outside the working
area. For hoods with single, independent exhaust systems, blowers may be
mounted inside the building provided that corrosion-resistant, sealed-joint
duct-work is used.
(7) When
perchloric acid is evaporated in laboratory-type hoods, the provisions of
Section 5143(a)(4) shall
apply. The materials of construction shall be inert, smooth, and nonabsorbent.
Organic polymers shall not be used except for inert fluoropolymers, such as
polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE] and tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene
copolymer [Teflon FEP], or similar nonreactive material. The hood and exhaust
system shall be washed down with water for decontamination and prior to opening
for maintenance.
EXCEPTION: Portable laboratory scrubbing apparatus for
perchloric acid digestions may be used in lieu of the special requirements of
this paragraph.
(f) Operator Qualifications. The employer
shall ensure that employees who use laboratory-type hoods are trained to:
(1) Use the hood and its features
safely;
(2) Determine the date of
the last performance test conducted pursuant to subsection (c)(2)(B) and if the
hood performance met the requirements of this section;
(3) Understand the general hood purpose,
airflow characteristics, and potential for turbulent airflow and escape of
hazardous substances from the hood; and,
(4) Know where the quantitative airflow
monitor or alarm system is located on the hood and how it is used to indicate
an inward airflow during hood operation.
1. New
section filed 8-12-76; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 76, No.
33).
2. Editorial correction of subsection (e)(4) (Register 76, No.
48).
3. Amendment of subsections (b) and (e)(4) filed 4-16-80;
effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 80, No. 16).
4.
Amendment filed 10-11-94; operative 11-10-94 (Register 94, No.
41).
5. Amendment filed 7-31-2006; operative 8-30-2006 (Register
2006, No. 31).
6. Change without regulatory effect providing more
legible illustration for Figure V-9 filed 3-2-2009 pursuant to section
100, title 1, California Code of
Regulations (Register 2009, No. 10).
Note: Authority cited: Section
142.3, Labor
Code. Reference: Section
142.3, Labor
Code.
