N.J. Admin. Code § 7:18-7.2 - Laboratory facilities and safety

(a) A laboratory performing acute toxicity tests shall meet the following minimum requirements:

1. The laboratory shall meet all applicable requirements of N.J.A.C. 7:18-3, including, without limitation, N.J.A.C. 7:18-3.2;

2. The laboratory shall allocate floor space and bench top space as follows:

i. For bioassay-toxicity testing, the laboratory shall allocate at least 50 square feet of floor space with at least 20 square feet of bench top space. For each additional toxicity test to be performed concurrently, the laboratory shall allocate at least 15 additional square feet of bench top space;

ii. For rearing-holding of invertebrate test organisms, the laboratory shall allocate at least 50 square feet of floor space with at least 10 square feet of bench top space. For rearing-holding of vertebrate test organisms, the laboratory shall allocate at least 75 square feet of floor space with at least 15 square feet of bench top space; and

iii. The laboratory may either combine the water chemistry area with the equipment cleaning area, or separate the areas. The laboratory shall allocate a total of 60 square feet of floor space for water chemistry and equipment cleaning, with at least 20 square feet of bench top space. If the water chemistry and the equipment cleaning areas are separated, then the equipment cleaning area shall be no less than 15 percent (in square feet) of the floor and bench top space allocated to the water chemistry area. The water chemistry area is used for preparation and standardization of reagents and media, and for working with hazardous or noxious materials such as acids and solvents. The laboratory should separate this area from the area used for test organism culturing-holding and from the area used for toxicity testing. The equipment cleaning area is used for the decontamination of equipment used for sampling and/or testing and shall be separate from the test organism culturing-holding area and from the toxicity test testing area;

3. For bioassay-toxicity testing areas, the laboratory shall have a temperature-controlled room or water bath capable of maintaining the temperature of test solutions within +/-two degrees Celsius of the test temperature;

4. For test organism rearing-holding areas, the laboratory shall have:

i. A temperature-controlled room or chamber capable of maintaining the temperature of solutions within +/-two degrees Celsius of the selected temperature;

ii. A supply of distilled or deionized water adequate for making up reagents and media. The water shall satisfy the requirements of N.J.A.C. 7:18-7.4(a) for laboratory pure water; and

iii. A supply of high quality fresh and/or saltwater adequate for use in the rearing/holding tanks or vessels. The water shall satisfy the requirements of N.J.A.C. 7:18-7.4(b) for laboratory grade water; and

5. For water chemistry and equipment cleaning areas, the laboratory shall have:

i. Access to a well-ventilated area or fume hood for the safe use of noxious chemicals; and

ii. A supply of laboratory pure water satisfying the requirements of N.J.A.C. 7:18-7.4(a).

Notes

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:18-7.2