Laboratory safety is the "bottom line of the bottom lines"—a single chemical spill or electrical fire can be enough to put a company at risk of production shutdown, rectification, or even legal liability. Safety regulations in a new materials lab should cover four main areas: fire safety, chemical management, electrical safety, and personal protection.

Fire Safety: Labs should be equipped with suitable fire extinguishers based on the type of chemicals—precision instrument areas (DSC, rheometers, FTIR, etc.) should have CO₂ extinguishers (which won’t damage electronic equipment), while chemical storage areas should have dry powder extinguishers and fire sand. Labs over 50㎡ should have at least two exits that are kept clear. Smoke detectors and manual alarm buttons are standard.

Chemical Management: Keep a chemical inventory and MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) records. Flammable solvents (THF, acetone, toluene, etc.) must be stored in explosion-proof refrigerators or flammable safety cabinets, with amounts not exceeding what is needed for one day. Strong acids and bases should be stored separately, as should oxidizers and reducers—these are basic principles of chemical safety. Expired chemicals should be regularly disposed of by qualified hazardous waste companies.

Electrical Safety: Precision instruments should use independent power circuits to avoid sharing with high-power equipment. All sockets must be grounded, and wiring should be regularly checked for aging and overloads. No flammable materials should be within 1 meter of high-temperature equipment such as muffle furnaces.

Personal Protection: Labs must wear safety goggles and lab coats. When handling strong acids, bases, or organic solvents, wear chemical-resistant gloves. Labs should have eyewash stations and emergency showers, checked monthly to ensure they work.

Dehuisci’s (www.dehuisci.com) lab construction plans include an overall layout of safety regulations. Contact: 0512-67071902.