Higher Education Lab Suites: What are they, and how will the new building and fire codes transform laboratory design?

Building and fire codes are evolving with recent editions of the International Building and Fire Codes adding "Higher Education Lab Suites" as a new option. In this session, leaders demonstrate how Lab Suites offer a solution to resolve chemical Maximum Allowable Quantity (MAQ) compliance issues, while transforming research labs into flexible, interactive spaces. They compare Control Areas with Lab Suites and highlight the main differences including allowed chemical storage and use quantities, fire separations, liquid tight floors, sprinkler hazard levels and basis of design, and implications for lab exhaust and standby generator capacity. They describe the benefits of Lab Suites for supporting programmatic and design goals.