1 Scope
NOTE This standard covers laboratory-grade casework, work surfaces, and chemical fume hoods furnished as an integrated furniture and containment system for wet and dry laboratory occupancies. (1.1)
NOTE Casework covered includes base cabinets, wall and overhead cabinets, suspended and freestanding bench tables, knee-space units, reagent shelving, and the chemical-resistant work surfaces mounted on them. (1.2)
NOTE Fume hoods covered are chemical containment hoods — bypass constant-air-volume (CAV), variable-air-volume (VAV), and ductless/recirculating (filtered) — including the hood body, liner, baffle, sash, airfoil, and integral service fixtures. (1.3)
NOTE The exhaust system serving the hood — ductwork, fans, dampers, and the VAV airflow control loop — is excluded from this standard and is specified under
Laboratory Exhaust And Fume Hoods; this standard addresses only the hood as a piece of containment furniture and its exhaust-collar interface.
(1.4) NOTE Biosafety cabinets (Class I, II, and III), laminar-flow clean benches, and clean benches are governed by NSF/ANSI 49 and provide product and environmental protection that chemical fume hoods do not; they are a distinct equipment category and are not covered here. (1.5)
NOTE Selecting a chemical fume hood where a biosafety cabinet is required — or the reverse — creates a regulatory and personnel-safety liability; confirm the containment objective (personnel only versus personnel/product/environment) with the Owner's Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) authority before specifying. (1.6)
NOTE Where a value below could be answered with a concrete selection it is presented as a datasheet field; locations, service-fixture arrangements, and hood placement that can only be drawn are deferred to the drawings. (1.7)
2 Referenced Standards
2.1Equipment, materials, and installation shall comply with the latest adopted edition of each of the following unless a specific edition is cited.
2.2Where referenced standards conflict, the more stringent requirement shall govern unless the Engineer of Record directs otherwise in writing.
NOTE SEFA recommended practices are voluntary consensus documents; where the Owner's EHS policy or the adopted building code imposes a stricter requirement, that requirement governs. (2.3)
| Standard |
Title |
| ANSI/ASHRAE 110-2016 (R2025) |
Methods of Testing Performance of Laboratory Fume Hoods |
| SEFA 1-2026 |
Laboratory Fume Hoods and Ventilated Enclosures |
| SEFA 8M-2020 |
Laboratory Grade Metal Casework |
| SEFA 8PH-2020 |
Laboratory Grade Phenolic Casework |
| SEFA 8W-2020 |
Laboratory Grade Wood Casework |
| SEFA 8P-2020 |
Laboratory Grade Polypropylene Casework |
| SEFA 8PL-2020 |
Laboratory Grade Plastic Laminate Casework |
| SEFA 7 |
Laboratory Fixture Fittings |
| ANSI/ASSP Z9.5-2022 |
Laboratory Ventilation |
| NFPA 45-2019 |
Standard on Fire Protection for Laboratories Using Chemicals |
| NSF/ANSI 49-2023 |
Biosafety Cabinetry: Design, Construction, Performance, and Field Certification |
| NFPA 70-2023 (NEC) |
National Electrical Code |
| IBC 2021 |
International Building Code (Section 1109 accessibility) |
3 Submittals
3.1 Action Submittals
3.1.1The Contractor shall submit the following action submittals for review and approval before fabrication:
- Shop drawings showing casework elevations, plans, sections, and dimensions, with every utility fixture, sink, cup sink, electrical receptacle, and service drop located and keyed to the MEP rough-in.
- Product data for each casework material, work-surface substrate, fume hood type, sash, liner, and service fitting.
- Color and finish samples for casework powder coat, work surfaces, and fume hood liner.
- A chemical-exposure matrix mapping each lab area to the reagents in use and the work-surface and casework material selected for it.
- Seismic anchorage calculations and connection details, stamped by a licensed engineer, for the project Seismic Design Category.
- A manufacturer-certified SEFA 8 third-party chemical-resistance and structural test report for the proposed casework material.
☑ Casework shop drawings (keyed to MEP rough-in)
☐ Product data (casework, work surfaces, hoods, fittings)
☑ Color and finish samples
☑ Chemical-exposure matrix
☐ Seismic anchorage calculations (stamped)
☑ SEFA 8 third-party test report
3.1.2The casework shop drawings shall be coordinated with and signed off by the mechanical, plumbing, and electrical trades before they are submitted.
NOTE The chemical-exposure matrix shall identify any reagent that is incompatible with the proposed work-surface or casework material so the conflict is resolved before fabrication. (3.1.3)
3.2.1The Contractor shall submit the following informational submittals:
- The manufacturer's ASHRAE 110 As-Manufactured (AM) test report for the proposed fume hood model at the specified face velocity.
- For ductless/recirculating hoods, the filter manufacturer's chemical-compatibility statement for the reagents listed in the chemical-exposure matrix.
- Manufacturer installation, operation, and maintenance instructions.
☑ ASHRAE 110 As-Manufactured (AM) test report
☐ Ductless filter chemical-compatibility statement
☑ Installation/operation/maintenance instructions
NOTE The As-Manufactured test report alone does not demonstrate field performance; the As-Installed and As-Used tests required under Testing are a separate field activity and submittal. (3.2.2)
3.3 Closeout Submittals
3.3.1The Contractor shall submit the following closeout submittals:
- The ASHRAE 110 As-Installed (AI) field test report for each fume hood, with EHS acceptance sign-off.
- The fume hood commissioning record, including face-velocity traverse and smoke-visualization results.
- Record (as-built) shop drawings reflecting installed conditions.
- Manufacturer warranty documents.
☑ ASHRAE 110 As-Installed (AI) field test report (EHS signed)
☐ Commissioning record (face-velocity traverse, smoke)
☑ Record shop drawings
☑ Warranty documents
4 Quality Assurance
NOTE The casework manufacturer shall be regularly engaged in the production of laboratory-grade casework and shall hold current SEFA 8 third-party test reports for the supplied material class. (4.1)
4.1.1Casework shall be certified to the SEFA 8 sub-standard matching its material class — SEFA 8M (metal), 8PH (phenolic), 8W (wood), 8P (polypropylene), or 8PL (plastic laminate).
4.1.2An "or equal" substitution shall be accepted only when the substitute carries a current SEFA 8 third-party test report from an accredited laboratory for the same material class.
NOTE Unqualified casework frequently passes initial inspection and then fails chemical-resistance or structural performance in service year two or three; the certified test report is the contractual safeguard against that failure mode. (4.1.3)
4.1.4The fume hood manufacturer shall demonstrate compliance with SEFA 1 and shall furnish ASHRAE 110 As-Manufactured test data for the supplied model at the specified design face velocity.
4.2 Installer Qualifications
4.2.1The installer shall be trained and authorized by the casework and fume hood manufacturer.
4.2.2Field testing and commissioning shall be performed by an independent agency qualified to conduct the ASHRAE 110 tracer-gas procedure.
5 Environmental and Service Conditions
NOTE Casework and work-surface material shall be selected from the chemical-exposure class of the lab it serves; a generic selection made without a chemical-exposure matrix is the leading cause of premature surface damage and warranty disputes. (5.1)
NOTE The material selection shall be coordinated with the cleaning and decontamination protocol of the occupancy, because aggressive cleaning agents and frequent wet-down change the governing exposure. (5.1.1)
● General chemistry (common reagents, dilute acids/bases)
○ Strong acid / oxidizer (concentrated, perchloric, HF)
○ Strong base / caustic
○ Organic solvents (ketones, chlorinated)
○ Radiological / wipe-down decontamination
○ Dry lab (no wet chemistry)
NOTE Epoxy resin work surfaces resist nearly all common laboratory reagents but are attacked by ketones and methylene chloride; polypropylene resists strong acids and bases but is incompatible with oxidizing acids; matching the substrate to the actual reagents is mandatory. (5.1.2)
NOTE Concentrated hydrofluoric acid attacks most work-surface materials and glass; areas where HF is handled shall use a material and finish documented by the manufacturer as HF-resistant. (5.1.3)
5.2 Seismic Conditions
5.2.1Tall, wall-hung, and island casework in Seismic Design Category C through F shall be anchored per a design stamped by the Engineer of Record using the manufacturer's product-specific connection details.
NOTE Seismic anchorage is routinely overlooked until close-out inspection; resolve the anchorage design during shop-drawing review, not at final inspection. (5.2.2)
6 Casework Materials and Construction
NOTE The casework substrate shall be selected for the chemical-exposure class, the cleaning protocol, and the structural duty of the lab; each material trades chemical resistance, cleanability, and cost differently. (6.1)
● Cold-rolled steel, epoxy powder coat
○ Phenolic resin
○ Polypropylene (all-plastic)
○ Wood, chemical-resistant finish
○ Stainless steel (304/316)
NOTE Steel casework is the general-purpose default for most wet and dry labs; phenolic suits high-moisture wet labs; polypropylene suits strong-acid and strong-base environments; stainless suits pharmaceutical and cleanroom-adjacent areas; wood suits teaching and dry labs. (6.1.1)
6.1.2Cold-rolled steel casework shall be finished with an epoxy powder coat applied to a minimum 3 mil dry film thickness.
6.1.3Casework exposed to hydrofluoric or perchloric acid shall receive a two-part acid-resistant topcoat over the standard powder coat.
6.1.4The standard casework color shall be a neutral light gray (Munsell N7 or equivalent) unless the drawings specify otherwise.
Light gray (Munsell N7)
White
Pearl / off-white
Manufacturer custom color
6.2 Mounting System
NOTE The casework mounting system shall be selected for serviceability and reconfiguration needs and coordinated with the slab and wall construction. (6.2.1)
● Floor-mounted freestanding
○ Suspended (hung on continuous wall rail)
○ Modular island with service spine
NOTE Suspended casework leaves the floor clear for cleaning and allows base cabinets to be relocated without demolition; it requires a continuous structural wall rail and increases seismic anchorage demand. (6.2.2)
6.3 Cabinet Construction and Hardware
6.3.1Base cabinet bodies shall be of double-wall construction in the selected substrate, with corrosion-resistant or chemical-resistant hardware throughout.
6.3.2Drawer slides shall be full-extension and rated for the specified static load.
6.3.3Door hinges shall be the concealed European type unless an institutional five-knuckle hinge is specified for heavy-duty service.
● Concealed European (self-closing)
○ Institutional five-knuckle
6.3.4Adjustable cabinet shelves shall support a uniformly distributed load of at least 50 lb/ft per SEFA 8M; overhead wall-cabinet shelves shall support at least 25 lb/ft.
6.4 Standard Dimensions
6.4.1Base cabinets shall be 36 in. high (carcass) yielding a finished work-surface height of 34 in. to 35 in., and 24 in. deep; wall cabinets shall be 12 in. to 13 in. deep.
7 Work Surfaces
NOTE The work-surface substrate shall be selected from the chemical-exposure class and specified by material and thickness; the substrate is the most chemically abused surface in the lab and a mismatch fails fastest. (7.1)
● Epoxy resin
○ Solid phenolic resin
○ Stainless steel (304)
○ Stainless steel (316)
○ Chemical-resistant HPL / high-pressure laminate
NOTE Epoxy resin is the default wet-lab work surface for its broad reagent resistance, monolithic dished construction, and heat tolerance. (7.1.1)
7.1.2Epoxy resin work surfaces shall be a minimum 1 in. thick for general use, increased to 1.25 in. in heavy-use areas.
7.1.3Solid phenolic work surfaces shall be 0.75 in. to 1 in. thick and shall not be used where prolonged ketone exposure is expected.
7.1.4Stainless steel work surfaces shall be a minimum 16 gauge, with 316 specified where chloride or pharmaceutical cleaning chemistry is present.
7.1.5Sinks and cup sinks integral to the work surface shall be of the same chemical-resistant material as the surface or a compatible material approved by the manufacturer.
8 Fume Hoods
NOTE The fume hood type shall be selected for the energy code, the containment duty, and the renovation constraints of the project; the choice drives both safety performance and lifetime HVAC energy. (8.1)
○ Bypass CAV (constant air volume)
● VAV (variable air volume)
○ Ductless / recirculating (filtered)
○ High-performance low-flow VAV
NOTE VAV hoods are the default for new construction because state energy codes and LEED effectively require them; a constant-volume hood can consume three to five times the HVAC energy of a VAV hood. (8.1.1)
8.1.2A CAV hood shall not be specified in new construction without a documented energy analysis justifying the exception.
NOTE Ductless/recirculating hoods filter and return air to the room; activated-carbon and HEPA media do not capture all solvents, so a ductless hood shall not be specified without the Owner's EHS sign-off on chemical compatibility with the filter media. (8.1.3)
8.2 Nominal Size and Configuration
8.2.1The nominal hood width shall be specified as the clear interior working width; 6 ft is the most common selection.
8.2.2A 6 ft nominal hood provides 71 in. to 72 in. of clear interior width; interior depth shall be 24 in. to 28 in., with 28 in. preferred where deep apparatus is used.
8.3 Sash
NOTE The sash configuration shall be selected for the work task and for face-velocity uniformity; the sash type determines the openable area and how velocity distributes across the face. (8.3.1)
● Vertical-rising
○ Horizontal-sliding
○ Combination (horizontal panels within a vertical sash)
8.3.2The sash shall be glazed with laminated safety glass and fitted with a stop or alarm at the design working height.
8.3.3The design working sash height for a VAV hood shall be 18 in. unless the drawings or EHS require a different working opening.
8.4 Liner, Baffle, and Airfoil
8.4.1The hood liner shall be a chemical-resistant material matched to the chemical-exposure class — typically epoxy-coated steel, solid phenolic, polypropylene, or stainless steel.
○ Epoxy-coated steel
● Solid phenolic resin
○ Polypropylene
○ Stainless steel (316)
8.4.2The rear baffle shall be adjustable to distribute exhaust across the upper and lower slots and shall be removable for cleaning.
NOTE The airfoil sill shall be designed to sweep the bench surface and shall not create a turbulent recirculation zone at the hood face. (8.4.3)
9 Service Fixtures
NOTE Utility service fixtures mounted on casework and fume hoods shall comply with SEFA 7 for color coding, valve handle abbreviation, and performance. (9.1)
9.1.1Each service fixture shall be color-coded and labeled per SEFA 7 so the medium (gas, air, vacuum, water) is identifiable at a glance.
9.1.2The services roughed in to each bench and hood shall be selected from the lab program and coordinated with the MEP design.
☑ Cold water
☐ DI / RO water
☑ Natural gas
☐ Compressed air
☑ Vacuum
☐ Nitrogen
☑ Drain / cup sink
☑ Electrical receptacle
NOTE Cup sinks, gas cocks, receptacles, and DI/water drops must be located on the casework shop drawings and confirmed before slab pour or wall rough-in; a missing coordination point cascades into change orders. (9.1.3)
9.1.4The exact location and routing of each service fixture and drop shall be as shown on the drawings lab service-fixture plan. 9.2 Electrical
9.2.1Electrical receptacles integrated into casework base units shall comply with NFPA 70 (NEC), including ground-fault protection where required by Code.
9.2.2Receptacles within 6 ft of a sink shall be GFCI-protected.
10 Accessibility
NOTE Each laboratory suite shall provide at least one accessible workstation and one accessible fume hood location; standard hoods have a 36 in. sill and require a modified base or pedestal to meet reach range, so the accessible location must be coordinated early. (10.1)
10.1.1The accessible work-surface height shall not exceed 34 in.
10.1.2An accessible knee space shall provide a clearance of at least 27 in. high by 30 in. wide by 19 in. deep.
10.1.3The accessible fume hood work surface shall be set at a maximum of 34 in. to bring controls and the work zone within ADA reach range, per IBC 2021 Section 1109 and the ADA accessibility requirements.
☑ Accessible casework workstation (34 in. max surface)
☑ Accessible knee space (27 x 30 x 19 in. min)
☐ Accessible fume hood (34 in. max sill)
11 Fire Protection and Chemical Storage
NOTE Chemical storage within laboratory furniture shall comply with NFPA 45; casework is not a substitute for a listed flammable-storage cabinet. (11.1)
11.1.1Flammable liquid stored in a non-rated base cabinet shall not exceed the per-lab-unit limit established by NFPA 45.
11.1.2Flammable-storage cabinets and acid/corrosive-storage cabinets shall be FM- or UL-listed specialty units, specified separately from standard casework.
Standard casework (no rated storage)
Flammable storage (FM/UL-listed)
Acid / corrosive storage (lined, vented)
Solvent + acid combination
NOTE Vented storage cabinets connected to the hood or exhaust system shall be coordinated with the exhaust design under
Laboratory Exhaust And Fume Hoods so the added load is accounted for in the airflow balance.
(11.1.3) NOTE The fume hood design face velocity shall be set from a hazard assessment per ANSI/ASSP Z9.5-2022, not from a single prescriptive number; the standard has shifted from fixed face velocity to a performance-based approach. (12.1)
NOTE The design face velocity shall be specified with the sash position at which it is measured; "100 fpm" at full-open is a different requirement than "100 fpm" at the 18 in. working position, and the sash height must always be stated. (12.1.1)
12.1.2The design face velocity at the working sash position shall be as scheduled, with a typical range of 80 fpm to 100 fpm for general chemistry.
12.1.3No individual face-velocity measurement in the traverse shall deviate more than 20% above or below the average.
12.1.4A VAV hood shall have an EHS-approved minimum exhaust setpoint, typically 300 CFM to 400 CFM, coordinated with room pressurization and makeup-air capacity.
NOTE The VAV minimum-flow setpoint shall be coordinated between the hood supplier and the HVAC controls contractor; an unmatched minimum causes room pressure imbalance and containment spillage. (12.1.5)
NOTE A 6 ft CAV hood at 100 fpm with an 18 in. sash opening typically exhausts 700 CFM to 1,000 CFM; this airflow is a load on the exhaust system specified under
Laboratory Exhaust And Fume Hoods.
(12.1.6) 13 Testing
NOTE Fume hood performance shall be demonstrated by the ASHRAE 110 tracer-gas method at the three test conditions; manufacturers supply only the As-Manufactured result, and the field tests are a separate, explicitly required scope. (13.1)
13.1.1The hood shall meet an As-Manufactured (AM) rating of 4 AM 0.05 — average tracer containment not exceeding 0.05 ppm at a 4 fpm face-velocity test margin.
● 4 AM 0.05 (industry standard)
○ 4 AM 0.10
○ 8 AM 0.05 (stringent)
13.1.2An As-Installed (AI) ASHRAE 110 test shall be performed on each hood after installation and the exhaust system is balanced.
13.1.3The ASHRAE 110 field test conditions required shall be selected so that field performance, not just factory performance, is verified before acceptance.
☑ As-Installed (AI) test
☐ As-Used (AU) test
13.1.4Each hood shall pass a face-velocity traverse and a smoke (visualization) test as part of commissioning, with results recorded.
NOTE The commissioning protocol — face-velocity traverse, smoke visualization, and the ASHRAE 110 As-Installed test — shall be a contractual submittal requirement with EHS acceptance sign-off, not a contractor option. (13.1.5)
13.1.6Casework structural and chemical performance shall be evidenced by the manufacturer's SEFA 8 third-party test report; field re-testing of casework is not required where the certified report is provided.
14 Installation
NOTE Casework and hoods shall be installed plumb, level, and rigidly anchored, with continuous bench runs aligned and work surfaces sealed at walls and between sections. (14.1)
14.1.1Casework shall be anchored to the structure per the approved seismic anchorage details.
14.1.2Work surfaces shall be set in a continuous bead of chemical-resistant sealant at the wall and at every joint, and joints in epoxy surfaces shall be field-welded or epoxy-filled to a continuous, cleanable surface.
14.1.3Service fixtures and drops shall be connected only after the rough-in locations on the approved shop drawings are verified in the field.
NOTE The fume hood shall be connected to the exhaust collar furnished under
Laboratory Exhaust And Fume Hoods; the responsibility split at the collar shall be confirmed before installation to avoid a gap in scope.
(14.1.4) 14.1.5Protective coverings shall remain on work surfaces and hood liners until final cleaning.
15 Delivery, Storage, and Handling
NOTE Casework and hoods shall be delivered, stored, and handled to protect finishes and work surfaces from impact, moisture, and contamination. (15.1)
15.1.1Materials shall be delivered in the manufacturer's protective packaging and shall not be delivered until the space is enclosed, weather-tight, and the wet trades are complete.
15.1.2Casework and work surfaces shall be stored indoors, off the floor, and protected from construction traffic and moisture.
15.1.3Damaged or contaminated units shall be repaired to manufacturer standards or replaced, not patched in the field.
16 Warranty
NOTE The manufacturer shall warrant the casework, work surfaces, and fume hoods against defects in material and workmanship for the specified period. (16.1)
16.1.1The casework and work-surface warranty period shall be as specified, with a minimum of one year from Substantial Completion.
16.1.2The fume hood warranty shall cover the hood body, sash, liner, and integral controls for the same minimum period.
17 Spare Parts
NOTE Spare parts and maintenance materials shall be furnished so that finishes and wear items can be maintained without re-procurement. (17.1)
17.1.1The Contractor shall furnish touch-up finish for the casework powder coat and matching sealant for the work surfaces.
☑ Casework touch-up finish
☑ Work surface sealant
☐ Spare sash glazing
☐ Spare service-fixture handles / index buttons
17.1.2Spare ductless-hood filter sets, where ductless hoods are provided, shall be furnished in the quantity recommended by the filter manufacturer for the first year of service.