Energy Saving Potentials In Laboratory Facilities In The Context Of Safe Environment

Laboratory facilities are known as significant energy consumers. High ventilation rates arerequired for providing safe and comfortable environment as well as optimum operation of theequipment. Air from laboratories involving chemical activity is exhausted to the outdoors andshould be replaced by outside air. Recirculation is not considered a good practice with regard tosafety. Protection of the outside surroundings is an additional environmental challenge. Thepurpose of the study is to reveal various ways of saving energy through minimizing theventilation rates in laboratory facilities in the contest with providing safety conditions inlaboratory space. Two key contributors are analyzed: the air flow requirements from laboratoryexhaust equipment and the minimum air change recommended by laboratory design guides orengineering and safety practice.