The primary objective of an educational facility like a school is to teach. The general assumption is that the facility is safe for all occupants. However, of all classrooms within a school, perhaps none offer a range of hazards as wide as chemistry laboratories. Indeed, there are building codes and minimum design requirements that must be met within these settings.
When designing or retrofitting lab facilities, decisions range from the lowest first costs necessary to meet the minimum code requirements to state-of-the-art best practices that increase the safety level desired by a school district.