Note: The following requirements apply to H-7 occupancies only.

1.  Laboratory design shall incorporate storage capabilities of compressed gas cylinders of toxic and highly toxic gases per the following table. The number of lecture bottle cylinders [approximately 5 cm x 33 cm (2 in. x 13 in.)] shall be limited to 25.

NFPA 45, Table 8-1

Storage Systems

2.  Laboratory design shall include one of the following storage systems for toxic and highly toxic compressed gas cylinders:

  • ventilated gas cabinets/exhausted enclosures/laboratory fume hoods; or
  • separate ventilated gas storage rooms without other occupancy or use, which have explosion control.

CCR, Title 24, Part 9, Section 8003.3

CCR, Title 24, Part 9, Section 8003.1.12

3.  When gas cabinets or exhausted enclosures are provided they shall:

  1. Be located in a room or area which has independent exhaust ventilation;
  2. Operate at negative pressure in relation to the surrounding area;
  3. Have self-closing limited access parts or noncombustible windows to provide access to equipment controls, with an average face velocity of at least 200 fpm and with a minimum of 150 fpm at any part of the access port or window; and with design criterion of 200 fpm at the cylinder neck when the average face velocity is >200 fpm.
  4. Be connected to an exhaust system;
  5. Have self-closing doors and be constructed of at least 0.097 inch (12 gauge) steel;
  6. Be internally sprinklered;
  7. Be seismically anchored;
  8. Contain not more than 3 cylinders per gas cabinet, except where cylinder contents are 1 pound net or less, in which case gas cabinets may contain up to 100 cylinders;
  9. Be fitted with sensors connected to alarms to notify in the event of a leak, or exhaust system failure.

CCR, Title 24, Part 9, Section 8003.3.1.3.1, 8003.3.1.3.2, 8003.3.3.1.8 

4.  When separate gas storage rooms are provided they shall:

  1. Operate at a negative pressure in relation to the surrounding area;
  2. Direct the exhaust ventilation to an exhaust system.

CCR, Title 24, Part 9, Section 8003.3.1.3.4

Treatment

5.  Treatment systems for the exhaust of toxic and highly toxic gases must be reviewed and approved by EH&S.

SCCo Toxic Gas Ordinance No. NS-517.44

EH&S reviews treatment systems to ensure they are compliant with TGO requirements and are consistent.

Emergency Power

6.  Emergency power shall be provided for exhaust ventilation, gas-detection systems, emergency alarm systems, and temperature control systems.

CCR, Title 24, Part 9, Section 8003.3.1.4

Detection System

7.  A continuous gas detection system shall be provided for Class I and II toxic gases regulated by Santa Clara County’s Toxic Gas Ordinance to detect the presence of gas at or below the permissible exposure limit in occupiable areas and at or below 1⁄2 the IDLH (or 0.05 LC50 if no established IDLH) in unoccupiable areas. The detection system shall initiate a local alarm and transmit a signal to a constantly attended location. Activation of the monitoring system shall automatically close the shut-off valve on toxic and highly toxic gas supply lines to the system being monitored.

CCR, Title 24, Part 9, Section 8003.3.1.6, 8003.3.1.7

SCCo Toxic Gas Ordinance No. NS-517.44

Guidance about the gases to be monitored, alarm set points, and where and how the alarms annunciate must be provided by the campus EH&S.

8.  An approved supervised smoke detection system shall be provided in rooms or areas where highly toxic compressed gases are stored indoors.

CCR, Title 24, Part 9, Section 8003.3.1.7

Security

9.  Storage areas shall be secured against unauthorized entry.

CCR, Title 24, Part 9, Section 7401.6.1