Laboratory Decommissioning
Decommissioning will return a laboratory to a move-in ready state for the next occupant and should occur for laboratories that are being closed or moved. General guidance for laboratory decommissioning is listed below. However, departments are encouraged to have their own specific policies. Failure to identify all waste streams for disposal may incur direct cost to the department.
Laboratory Decommissioning Guidance:
- The principle investigator (PI) should coordinate the removal of laboratory equipment and supplies. Facilities Management should be notified of any necessary repairs.
- Chemicals must separated into surplus and disposal. Surplus chemicals are any in-date chemicals that could be reused within a department or the university.
- PIs are responsible to identify unknown chemicals before disposal. Disposal of unknown chemicals may result in direct cost to the department.
- Online chemical inventory lists should be updated for transferred and disposed chemicals. If a PI is leaving the university, please contact EHS to remove the PI from the online inventory list.
- Disposal of all hazardous waste will be routed through EHS Material Management following procedures outlined in Section 6.6. Please contact EHS regarding any waste-related questions.
- The decommissioned laboratory will be cleaned and decontaminated if required.
- Removal of engineering controls that affect laboratory ventilation such as fume hoods must be coordinated with Facilities Management to ensure proper room ventilation.
- For laboratories that use biological agents or radioactive substances, please coordinate decommissioning with the Biological Safety Officer and Radiation Safety Officer.