Laboratory Environmental Conditions Outside of limits

[Slytrellis]

Hi All,
I just wondered what you generally do when the lab environmental conditions are outside of limits.
We immediately stop work and then do not restart until the lab has stabilized back within limits.

Are there any documents that give guidance on the suspension and resumption of work? Anything that has recommended stabilization periods?

 

[dwperron]

Unfortunately, none that I know of.

NCSLI RP-7 is a guide to setting up a Metrology lab. They recommend a 20°C area for dimensional calibrations and 23°C for other calibrations. They recommend relative humidity set to 0%, not to be allowed below 20% for ESD purposes.
These are the basic lab environmental requirements in the business, most labs model these parameters.
I have always set my lab tolerances based on my standards, keeping them in the acceptable environmental range so that I don't need to derate the tolerances on them. For the dimensional lab use usually keep the specification as tight as your HVAC system can maintain temperature. That cuts down on correction calculations for temperature. Stabilization is also based on the specifications of my standards.

 

[LabEnvironments]

Hello,
New to the site, but as far I know there is no set standard. When one of our customer labs has a fault we usually approach it depending on How far the lab went out of spec and for how long. With CMM Labs it depends on the size of the CMM and granite. Once again depending on the equipment in the lab. Most of our Labs Designed to run +/- .5c and we design the system to shut down anything outside of a +- 1c for repair or inspection. If you have a large piece of granite that is set in 24c temperature for the weekend we would recommend 72hr soak in 20c before you start measurements. Many variables, no set standard that I know of unless it comes from your equipment manufacturer.

 

[Steve Prevette]

Generally speaking, my experience is yes, they would stop work and figure out what is going on and fix it. My college roommate is now a Chief Toxicologist and always complaining the HVAC gives him fits. Where I work, if any work was accomplished on a test and it had not been noticed, we would likely write an NCR to track resolution of did it affect product.

 

[marystevens]

Thank you for sharing