Spatial Standards for Classrooms, Libraries,

Laboratories and Workshops for Higher Educational

Institutions

Organized by Minster of Science and Higher Education (MoSHE)

Prepared By:
Jemal Jibril Muhammed (PhD) - Jimma University
Alemayehu Golla (MSc) - Bahir Dar University
Teshome Chala Addune (MSc) - Adama Science and Technology University
Sisay Tumsa Senbetu (Ass.Prof) - Arba Minch University
Konno Bodde Hirbaye (MSc) - Hawassa University

Bishoftu, Ethiopia
March 2021
Forward.................................................................................................................................................. iii
1. Classrooms ..................................................................................................................................... 1
1.1. Conventional Classrooms ......................................................................................................... 1
1.1.1. Classification and Requirement of Classrooms ................................................................. 1
1.1.2. Miscellaneous Requirements of Classrooms ..................................................................... 3
1.2. Smart Classrooms .................................................................................................................... 6
1.2.1. Classification of the Smart Classroom .............................................................................. 7
1.2.2. Recommended Smart Classrooms for Different Programs ................................................. 2
1.3. Inclusive Learning Environment............................................................................................... 2
2. Libraries......................................................................................................................................... 3
2.1. Conventional Library ............................................................................................................... 3
2.1.1. Classification of Spaces in Library.................................................................................... 3
2.1.2. Space Requirements for Library Sections.......................................................................... 5
2.2. Digital Library ......................................................................................................................... 6
2.2.1. Recommended Types of Library for Different Programs ................................................... 7
2.2.2. Space Requirements in at Library ..................................................................................... 7
3. Laboratories and Workshops ........................................................................................................ 9
3.1. Laboratories ............................................................................................................................. 9
3.1.1. Computer Laboratory ....................................................................................................... 9
3.1.2. Social Science Laboratories ............................................................................................ 10
3.1.3. Natural Science Laboratories .......................................................................................... 10
3.1.4. Engineering Laboratories................................................................................................ 10
3.1.5. Miscellaneous Requirements for All Laboratories............................................................... 11
3.2. Workshops ............................................................................................................................. 15
References............................................................................................................................................ 17

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List of Tables

Table 1: Recommended Smart Classrooms for Different Programs ................................................. 2

Table 2: Library administration sub sections ...................................................................................... 5
Table 3: Minimum required space in the Library ............................................................................... 6
Table 4: Recommended Types of Library for Different Programs ................................................... 7

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Forward

This draft document entitled with “Spatial Standards for Classrooms, Libraries and
Laboratories and Workshops for Ethiopian Higher Educational Institutions” contains the
minimum standard criteria for university classrooms, libraries, laboratories and workshops which
stipulates the minimum space, ventilation and lightening requirements. Higher public and private
institutions need to justify these criteria for the existing programs or they should fulfill while
they open new undergraduate and postgraduate level programs. The Ministry of Science and
Higher Education (MoSHE) has the mandate to regulate the effective implementation of the
standard.

Standard classrooms, libraries and laboratories/workshops play key roles in ensuring quality
education in higher institutions. However, Ethiopian Higher Educational Institutions (HEI) did
not have national standards to regulate the design, construction and operation of building
infrastructure such as classrooms, libraries and laboratories/workshops, dormitories, offices,
student service centers, and staffs‟ residence. Therefore, this standard guideline will overcome
the stated higher institutional problems and helps to achieve the quality education strategy set by
the MoSHE.

The standard document is prepared by a team of technical members from different universities
who have long-year experience in various fields of studies. The preparation of the document
process has been supervised by MoSHE. The work was done using systematic research methods
such as thorough document review, observation and analysis.

The Technical Team

(Building Infrastructure Division)

March, 2021

Bishoftu, Ethiopia

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1. Classrooms
- A classroom is a learning space in which people learn. Classrooms are found in
educational institutions of all kinds, ranging from preschools to universities, and may
also be found in other places where education or training is provided, such as
corporations and religious and humanitarian organizations.
- Base on the facilities which are provided in the room the classrooms are categorized as
conventional class rooms and smart classrooms.

1.1. Conventional Classrooms

1.1.1. Classification and Requirement of Classrooms

- Conventional classrooms are types of classrooms furnished with common facilities
such as chair and table for students and teachers, blackboard, and whiteboard.
- Based on the number of students it serves for and based on the function conventional
classrooms are categorized as following:

i. Regular classrooms
- Regular classrooms are most common learning spaces.
- They have movable furniture, and are very flexible.
- Furniture can be rearranged to allow for lecture, seminar, group work, or anything
else the instructor might require.
- Regular classrooms contain 30 to 75 non-fixed seats. Flat floors are required.
- Allow a minimum of 2.5m from the front of the room to the first row of seats.
- The size of this type of classroom is based on the minimum space size use for one
student should be 1.5m2
ii. Seminar/collaborative classrooms
- Seminar/Collaborative classrooms are a subset of regular classrooms in which the
teaching methods require group work and accommodate flexibility in furniture
arrangement to meet most types of pedagogy.
- The furniture is movable and flexible. Seminar/collaborative classrooms contain up to
30 non-fixed seats.

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 - The size of this type of classroom is based on the minimum space size use for one
student should be 2.3m 2.
iii. Lecture Hall
- Lecture halls are larger tiered classrooms, usually with either fixed seating or fixed
tables and movable chairs.
- Lecture Halls contain 75 - 150 seats tiered floors (aisles may be sloped but seating
areas must be tiered).
- The dimensions of the seating tier or tray must easily accommodate movement behind
seats.
- Theater‐style seating with attached tablets or fixed tables with free‐standing chairs.
- A curved configuration is preferred where possible
- The size of this type of classroom is based on the minimum space size use for one
student should be 1.2m 2.
iv. Auditoria
- Auditoria are larger tiered class rooms; usually with fixed seating.
- Auditoria contain more than 150 seats.
- Aisles may be sloped but all seating areas must be tiered.
- Theater‐style seating with attached tablets are allowed.
- A curved configuration is optimum the dimensions of the seating tier or tray must
easily accommodate movement behind seats.
- Primary entrances should be placed on the side walls rather than the rear wall
whenever is possible to reduce the light reaching the projection screen when the doors
are opened during the class.
- The auditoria should have double doors at each entrance seats should have number
plates
- The size of this type of classroom is based on the minimum space size use for one
student should be 1.2m 2.
v. Drawing room/ studio:
- It is professional classroom where students receive hands-on instruction
- It is a space which you spend long time for learning, exploring, experimenting and
growing.

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 - Drawing room/Studio classes include distinctive educational techniques, such as
"desk critics" (project critiques delivered at a student's desk) and "juries", meetings of
the students with more than one tutor around the production of students for a multi-
layered open discussion where all students are supposed to participate.
- It is equipped with adjustable drafting tables and chairs, pin-up boards, shelves, set of
drawing instruments and templates, cutting mattes and related. Tables also need to
support the computers.
- The size of this type of classroom is based on the minimum space size use for one
student should be 3m2.
- A single drawing room should not accommodate more than 30 students.

1.1.2. Miscellaneous Requirements of Classrooms

a. Classroom Floor Height
- The minimum headroom such as under the bottom of beams, fans and lights shall not
be 2.6m measured vertically under such beam, fan or light.
- The minimum area of all type of classroom should be 40m2, but the minimum area for
seminar classroom could be 25m2.
b. Daylight and Ventilation
- All rooms shall be provided with adequate ventilation by means of open able
windows or by mechanical means; in case of open able windows the area of the open
able window shall not be less than one twentieth (1/20) of the floor area of the room.
- A minimum of 6 air changes per hour shall be attained through a combination of
natural and artificial ventilation.

c. Lighting
The lighting system of the any type of classroom
- Should have a variety of different lighting possibilities to suit the varied needs of
classroom activities, such as reading, presenting, interacting, watching multimedia,
and taking notes.
- Lighting should be zoned front to back to allow for scenes to be created that lighten
and darken the classroom for better view-ability of multi-media.

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 - Light controls (switches) shall be located in close proximity to instructor‟s teaching
space.
- Artificial lighting shall be provided where natural lighting is not adequate to attain a
general luminance level of 500 lux in buildings in which night occupancy is
anticipated.
- Corridors, passageways, stairways, ramps and other components of means of
circulation in buildings in which night occupancy is anticipated shall be provided
with emergency lighting.
- Storey below grade, underground structures and windowless buildings of educational
having a capacity of more than 50 occupants per storey shall be provided with
emergency lighting.

d. Electrical Power Supply (socket outlets)

- It is recommended to use “Conduit Wiring” for installation of sockets and lighting as
the cables are drawn into conduit tubing. These are laid (normally on the surface of
the concrete slab and covered by the screed and concealed in the wall construction)
to the points where electricity is required.
- Place socket outlets in the classrooms at 2m intervals and necessary to allow for
minimum of 30% Student utilization.

e. Classroom Gate Signage:

- All university Classroom is made of durable materials and is double-sided for

viewing in any direction.
- They hang at the top of classroom entrance and can be stacked for the needs of a
particular classroom situation.
f. Flooring
- Classroom flooring should be long lasting, easy to clean and inexpensive to maintain.
- The type of flooring chosen is based on the type of classrooms and the quality of finishes in
the room.
- The flooring of a general classroom (regular and seminar) should either be an
industrial grade stain-resistant carpet or vinyl tile with a smooth finish.

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 - The flooring of large classrooms (lecture hall and auditorium) should be durable tile or
a nonskid surface, such as vinyl, rubber tile or epoxy.
- For auditorium classrooms, industrial grade, stain resistant carpet can be installed in
areas of the room, preferably only in aisles, entryways, and the instructor‟s areas.
- The surface reflectance value of flooring shall be within the range of 30-50%.
g. Wall
- Internal classroom walls shall run deck‐to‐deck, with a Sound Transmission
Coefficient (STC) rating of 50 minimum.
- The finishes used in a classroom should be chosen with the room‟s acoustics in mind.
- All painted wall surfaces inside a classroom should be lighter in color, durable, non-
glare finish.
- The reflectance values of painted wall surface shall be within the range of 40-60%.
h. Ceiling
- The surface of the ceiling must be designed to accommodate the required acoustical
properties of the room.
- Ceiling panels shall have a Noise Reducing Coefficient (NRC) of 0.65 and 0.85, and a
STC of 50.
- Ceiling material to be non‐sagging (humidity resistant) lay‐in acoustical tile for most
ceiling areas. Nominal size 0.6 m x 0.6 m or 0.6 m x 1.2 m.
- The reflectance values of ceiling surface shall be within the range of 70 - 90%.
i. Door and Window
- Doors should be located at the back of the classroom to ensure that students who are
entering or exiting the space will not disrupt instruction.
- In rooms that require two or more egress points, the doors should be located as far
from the presentation area as possible while still meeting current building codes.
- Each door leaf to be a minimum of 0.90 m wide, including those used in pairs at
double doors.
- Door shall be equipped with a vision panel made of shatterproof glass and tinted to
reduce light transmission.
- The preferred size for a vision panel is 0.60 m high by at least 0.10 m wide.
- Window shall be provided for all types of classrooms.

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 - The presence of a window in a classroom provides ventilation, lighting, and sensory
stimulation of the outside world to students and instructors.
- Window treatments in a classroom should be opaque to help reducing exterior light
interference into the room.
- Windowless classrooms may be provided to avoid noise pollution from outside of the
room.
j. Classroom General Facilities
- All classrooms should contain projector and project displaying board.
- For lecture halls and Auditoria class rooms the ceiling speaker and wireless
microphone should be provided.
- Additionally, it is good if all conventional classrooms have internet access.
- Provide 1toilete (which has Male & female separated toilets, and hand wash) for each
500m2 area of any building
k. Colors for Learning
- Colors in the classroom environment should maximize information retention, stimulate
participation, and will boost active learning.
- Color can affect our feelings, memory, attention and motivation to work due to their
impact on our emotions.
It is recommended to use the colors as per the types/pedagogical needs of classrooms
- Off-White: Improves attention and instills feelings of positivity
- Brown: Can reduce feelings of fatigue and improve feelings of relaxation or make
students feel more secure
- Yellow: Increases creativity and attention and instills a general feeling of positivity
- Orange: Can improve alertness
- Green: Peaceful and calm
- Purple: Peaceful and calm
- Red: Inspires alertness, excitement and creativity

1.2. Smart Classrooms

- Smart classrooms are technologically enhanced that enable teaching and learning
opportunities. A smart classroom is a ramped-up mode of education which, instead of

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 taking away from education or the attention span of students, adds opportunities to the
existing conventional classroom setup.

1.2.1. Classification of the Smart Classroom

- Based on the facilities and technology enhancement smart class rooms categorized under
three levels
Level - 1 Smart Classroom
Minimum type of equipment‟s it includes
- Internet facilities - Learning management system (ICT)
- White board - Good lightening system
- Digital display screen which - Noise protection system
connected to internet system
Minimum size of this smart class room should be 60m2 which the space usage for each student is
2m2.
Level - 2 Smart classrooms
Minimum type of equipment‟s it includes
In addition to equipment‟s in level - 1 smart classrooms it should includes
- Computers /PDU (Personal Display - Document Camera (Visual
unit) for each student Presenter)
- Wide-angle Webcam - Portable teacher station
- USB Wireless Microphone - Ceiling Speakers
- Basic lecture capture - Sound system
Minimum size of this smart class room should be 50m2 which the space usage for each student is
2m2.

Level - 3 Smart classrooms

All aspects of a level - 2 smart classroom with the addition of the following:
- Room audio reinforcement
- Facilities to support Virtual reality
- Digital Podium
- H-Back system
- Digital white board

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Minimum size of this smart class room should be 25m2 which the space usage for each student is
2.5m2.

1.2.2. Recommended Smart Classrooms for Different Programs

Table 1: Recommended Smart Classrooms for Different Programs

Program level Minimum Recommended level of Class smart

For Under graduate programs Level - 1
For Master degree programs Level - 2
For PhD programs Level - 3

1.3. Inclusive Learning Environment

Inclusive learning environment should consider person with disability like physical or mental
impairment, which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out
normal day-to-day activities as
- It is a way of thinking about teaching and learning that helps give all students an equal
opportunity to succeed.
- This approach offers flexibility in the ways students and teachers access material,
engage with it and show what they know.
- Developing lesson plans this way helps all kids, but it may be especially helpful for kids
with learning and thinking differences.
It also should incorporate a two level approach:
- User-Aware Design: pushing the boundaries of 'mainstream' products, services and
environments to include as many people as possible.
- Customizable Design: design to minimize the difficulties of adaptation to particular users.
Accordingly, the classrooms ought to comply with Standards for Accessible Design which
accommodate
- 4 to 25 seats 1; 26 to 50 seats 2; 51 to 300 seats 4; 301 to 500 seats 4 and
- above 100 it will need to plus 1 additional space for each total seating capacity increase
of 100

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2. Libraries
The evolving role of the library has created a set of new and complex challenges for those
delivering library buildings and services. The libraries of the twenty-first century are no longer
simply familiar repositories for books with space for reading and lending. They have changed
and expanded, been rethought and redesigned. Academic Libraries now provide an increasingly
wide range of services, using a multitude of media, and reach a more diverse audience than ever
before serving for 24 hour access
- Support for teaching, learning and research
- Place where new knowledge is generated and exchanged
- Large specialist and research collections
- Separate IT and multi-media areas
In summary the primary objective of any library system is
- To collect, store, organize, retrieve and make available the information sources to the
information users.
- To become „ideas stores’ and ‘knowledge gateways‟, there is pressure to increase the
extent of non-library accommodation within their walls.
Based of service libraries available in the higher education (university) can be categorized as
conventional library and digital library.

2.1. Conventional Library

2.1.1. Classification of Spaces in Library

A library performs a number of specialized activities. Based on each specialization, the library
work is divided into various sections as following.

a. Acquisition
- Every library has to build up a collection of information sources (knowledge containers).
These may be in print or non-print or electronic formats. Functions of acquisition section
include selection, ordering, receiving supplies, making record entries in the stock register
(accessioning) and processing the bills for payment.

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b. Technical Processing Section
- This space is intended for the newly acquired book preparation for library use. For this
purpose, these are classified, catalogued, entries filed in library catalogue and books
shelved on display racks or in the stacks. As a visitor to library, you may not be familiar
of such functions in a library, because these are performed behind the scene.
c. Circulation Section
- This Section deals with membership work, issue and return work and work related to
users‟ requirements. Generally, a specially designed circulation counter is used for doing
circulation work. Circulation section is frequently use for borrowing and returning of the
books.
d. Reference Section
- Reference Section collects and organizes a number of reference books. Reference book is
one which is not read like text book from beginning to end.
e. Periodicals Section
- Periodicals Section collects and organizes a number of periodical publications (such as, a
journal, magazine, newspaper).
f. Reading Hall
- Reading room is a quiet room in a library where aside for reading and studying.
- It is the principal area for gaining access to the library‟s general collections of books.
g. Book Store
h. Maintenance Section
- Maintenance Section is responsible for jobs such as organization of collection, shelving
and re-shelving, dusting and cleaning, mending and binding, weeding and stock
verification.
i. Audio Visual Room

- Visual recordings (with or without soundtrack) irrespective of their physical base and
recording process used, such as films, filmstrips, microfilms, slides, magnetic tapes,
kinescopes, video grams (videotapes, videodiscs), optically readable laser discs;
 intended for public reception either by television or by means of projection on
screens or by any other means,
 intended to be made available to the public,

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 - Sound recordings irrespective of their physical base and the recording process used,
such as magnetic tapes, discs, soundtracks or audiovisual recordings, optically read laser
discs;
 Intended for public reception by means of broadcasting or any other means,
 Intended to be made available to the public.
j. Administration
- The purpose of the Administration Section is to promote those activities which relate to
library administration and management issues in general. The section is intended to serve
the needs of library staff especially whose who supervise other staff. It helps manage
operations of other sections of the library. The administration of the library has the
following sub sections.

Table 2: Library administration sub sections

S.No Section list Minimum size of office room

1 Library Director office 18m2
2 Secretary office 18m2
3 Team leader offices 14m2
4 Shift coordinator office 14m2
5 Locker and Changing room 18m2

2.1.2. Space Requirements for Library Sections

- In order to give standard service the minimum space size of each section of the
conventional library should be as following.

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Table 3: Minimum required space in the Library

` Library Sections Minimum space required

1 Acquisition Section 30m2
2 Technical Processing Section 50m2
3 Circulation Section  60m2 for up to 1000 users
 80m2 for up to 2000 users
 100m2 for greater than 3000 users
4 Reference Section 50m2
5 Periodicals Section 60m2
6 Reading Hall 2.33m2/student
7 Book Store 50m2
8 Maintenance Section 60m2
9 Discussion Room 80m2
10 Audio - visual Room 60m2
11 Digital Library 2m2/student
12 Administration See other table above

2.2. Digital Library

- A digital library is an online database of digital objects that can include text, still images,
audio, video, digital documents, or other digital media formats. In addition to storing
content, digital libraries provide means for organizing, searching, and retrieving the
content contained in the collection. This library is furnished by computers use for reading
and seats for the users.

The following services might be provided in digital library

- Plagiarism testing
- WEBOPAC
 E-book
 E-course
 E-Journal
 E-Databases
- E-patent (Optional)

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 - Online support
- Institutional Repository

2.2.1. Recommended Types of Library for Different Programs

Table 4: Recommended Types of Library for Different Programs

Program level Minimum Recommended Library type

For under graduate programs Digital library and Conventional library
For master degree programs Digital library and Conventional library
For PhD programs Digital library and Conventional library

Note:
- Female library shall be constructed or arranged near to female dormitories.
- Any higher education institute shall have a digital library which can minimum
accommodate 25% of total number of students in the institute.

2.2.2. Space Requirements in at Library

i. Aisle
- Circulation, should at least 15% of floor areas for access and socializing.
- The ramp width should be minimum of 1.2m and 1.83m at turning point. The maximum
slope of the ramp should be 25 % (1:4)
- Space between two shelves for closed access would be minimum of 0.7m
- Space between two shelves for limited access would be minimum of 1m
ii. Floor Height
- For room less than 10m 2 area the minimum clear height should be 2.6m
- For large reading space above 10m 2 area the minimum head height should be 3m.
- For room having Mezzanine the overall head height of the room should be minimum 5m
iii. Floor Finishing
- Floor finishing materials should be smooth, non-slipper, impervious and easy to clean
iv. Ventilation
- All rooms shall be provided with adequate ventilation by means of open able windows or
by mechanical means; in case of open able windows the area of the open able window
shall not be less than one twentieth (1/20) of the floor area of the room.

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 - A minimum of 6 air changes per hour shall be attained through a combination of natural
and artificial ventilation
v. Lighting System
- The minimum lighting capacity should be 500Lux
vi. Security System/Camera
- Library security is a continuous process including several factors, which should
follow a logical progression.
- The main advantage of library security is to provide sufficient level of the security
to most of the book collection, which is highly susceptible to theft and mutilation.
- The security camera installed in the library should be high resolution color indoor
mini dome security camera or equivalent which provides 30-foot night vision, auto
iris with 306 mm lens, and covers an area of 30 ft x30 ft, with 420 lines of
resolution
vii. Fire Protection
- When considering the potential catastrophe of a fire, it‟s important to note that
damage can be greatly reduced when smoke and heat are effectively controlled.
The expanse of space inherent in libraries means that smoke spreads quickly in
these types of structures.
- Fire alarms and smoke sensor systems are an absolute must for these buildings,
followed by physical systems that will deploy in the case of an emergency.
viii. Toilet
- Toilet having male & female space along with hand wash should be provided for each
500m2 area and should be available at all floors.
ix. Wall Mounted Watch/Clock
- There has to be wall mounted watches visible fall majority of the library users

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3. Laboratories and Workshops

3.1. Laboratories
- A laboratory is a facility which provides controlled conditions in which scientific
methods including research, development and analysis may be performed and/or taught.
- Wet laboratories: utilize, test and analyses chemicals, drugs or other material/biological
matter. They typically require piped services (including water, specialized utilities) and
ventilation, e.g. chemical science, biomedical laboratories.
- Dry laboratories: contain dry stored materials, electronics and/ or large instruments.
They typically require some piped services, accurate temperature and humidity control,
dust control and clean power, e.g. analytical, engineering laboratories.
- Based on the nature of the laboratories the laboratories are classified into different
categories as computer laboratories, social science laboratories, science laboratories and
engineering laboratories.

3.1.1. Computer Laboratory

i) Space area: 2m2/student
ii) Floor Height: the minimum floor height st any point should not be less than 2.6m
iii) Maximum Number of students in one laboratory room: each computer laboratory
should be adjusted to serve for 40 maximum numbers of students.
iv) Floor Finishing: floor finishing materials should be smooth, non-slipper, impervious
and easy to clean
v) Electric system installation: the minimum lighting capacity should be 500Lux and
the two sockets for each computer.
vi) Day Light and Ventilation
- All rooms shall be provided with adequate ventilation by means of open able windows or
by mechanical means; in case of open able windows the area of the open able window
shall not be less than one twentieth (1/20) of the floor area of the room.
- A minimum of 6 air changes per hour shall be attained through a combination of natural
and artificial ventilation
vii) Fire Protection: Each computer lab should have fire fighters

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 viii) Toilet: 1toilet(which has Male & female separated toilets, and hand wash) for each
maximum 500m 2 area of any building
ix) Lab Expert Office: Each lab should have one expert office of at least 6m 2 areas and
one dimension of the room should be at least 2m.
x) Laboratory Room Signage: Each computer laboratory should have one signage
which is hanged at the top of room entrance and can be stacked for the needs of a
particular laboratory room situation.
xi) Internet Access: each laboratory room should have internet access which is
sufficient to all computers installed in the lab.
xii) Security Camera: each should be equipped with appropriate security camera.

3.1.2. Social Science Laboratories

- For any social science and law laboratory provide minimum space of 2m 2/person.

3.1.3. Natural Science Laboratories

- Laboratory allocation may be driven by space per researcher (e.g. biology and chemistry
laboratories) or by equipment needs (e.g. analytical and engineering laboratories) leading
to greater variances between facilities.
- Based on the above scenarios, the minimum space usage for any laboratory room should
be of 3m2/person and the space occupied by the laboratory equipment‟s should not be
greater than 50% area of each laboratory Room

3.1.4. Engineering Laboratories

- The minimum space usage for any laboratory room should be of 3m 2/person and the
space occupied by the laboratory Equipments should not be greater than 50% area of each
laboratory Room
Note: Additional Spaces of any Laboratory
- Laboratory expertise office having minimum space of 6m2 and minimum dimension of
the room should 2m
- Storage: this is uses to store different materials which use to different laboratories tests as
ingredient.

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3.1.5. Miscellaneous Requirements for All Laboratories
i. Floorings
- Flooring should be seamless consisting of a nonslip material with an integral cove base
(skirting) extending at least 10 - 20 cm up all walls.
- Floor coverings should be of monolithic materials, such as seamless vinyl or epoxy.
- Floors also must be sealed, and able to withstand harsh cleaning agents.
- For chemical labs, the covering must be impervious to water, resistant to acids, alkalis,
solvents and disinfectants and easy to clean.
- Floors must hold up to grease and solvent spills as well as to destructive scrapes, cuts,
and impact loads from falling materials and sharp tools.
- All surfaces should be impermeable and washable with bleach or other disinfecting
solution.
- All cracks and construction seams in floors, walls, and ceilings should be sealed with
epoxy or another chemically resistant, long-lived sealant.
- Heavy material boxes, bulky gas cylinders or shop materials can knock into walls and
scrape floors; sturdy materials should be used to construct walls and floors.
- If very heavy loads such as heavy machines and/or mechanized materials‟ handling
equipment are predicted, structural engineers should be consulted on recommendations of
floor loading capacity.
ii. Walls
- High-performance, institutional grade, water-soluble latex paints are appropriate finish
coatings in chemical laboratories.
- The surfaces of the room must be covered with a non-reflective material or finish.
- All wall surfaces should be impermeable and washable so that laboratories can be
cleaned properly and decontaminated.
- Walls should be waterproof, and smooth. Glazed ceramic tile, epoxy paint on plaster,
concrete block, or water-resistant sheetrock is preferred wall finishes.
- Walls, ceilings and floors should have at least 2-h fire-rated resistance.
- For some laboratories such as Autopsy, Biosafety, Morgues, X-ray rooms, walls should
extend and be sealed to the underside of the structure of the floor or roof above.

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- Latex paints, as they generate relatively low volatile organic compounds (VOC)
emissions during application and drying periods, can perform well on many wall
substrates when surfaces are properly prepared: clean, dry, and primed.
iii. Ceilings
- The surface of the ceiling must be designed to accommodate the required impermeability,
acoustical and aesthetical properties of the laboratory room.
- Suspended ceiling materials that have good acoustical performance are often used in
laboratories to diminish noise levels, to cover ducts, conduit, and piped utilities.
- Common suspended ceiling systems include painted, solid, and seamless gypsum
wallboard, sealed metal panels, sheets of formed composite material with impervious
surfaces, and sealed fiberglass panels.
- Solid gypsum wallboard assemblies can provide fire-rated ceilings where required by
building or fire codes.
iv. Doors and Windows
- Doors should be wide enough and the route width (aisle) sufficient to accommodate large
equipment.
- Door height and width and aisles should also be adequate for materials handling
equipment, such as fork-lift trucks, used for transporting heavy and bulky items.
- All laboratory doors must have a minimum size of 1.1 × 2.0 cm.
- Minimum door dimensions for exit doors are 0.8 m × 2.0 m.
- All exit doors should swing in the direction of exit travel.
- Vision panels shall be provided in the active leaf of all laboratory and lab support doors.
- Doors must be sealed so as to prevent from moisture and chemical attacks.
- Doors must be rated for 1.5-h fire resistance.
- Windows are desirable but it should not be overlooked by other buildings.
- All windows must be sealed and double-glazed with laminated glass.
- Windows can be located above benches that are positioned between chemical hoods.
v. Aisles
- Aisles between benches or machines should have a minimum clearance of 1.5 m.

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- Major aisles in machine and woodworking shops should be wider than 1.5 m to
accommodate the large sizes of materials and apparatus commonly handled in these types
of shops and materials‟ handling equipment.
- The major aisle width should be determined by the largest machine used or
largest piece of material to be processed to allow servicing, relocation, or replacement
without moving other machines aside.
vi. Lightings
- Good lighting is critical in most laboratories.
- Ceiling lighting should be provided by many closely spaced fixtures to avoid the heavy
shadows cast by large equipment.
- Interior lighting, depending on the type of the laboratory with the exception of dark
rooms, should be high-output fluorescent/LED fixtures designed to provide 100 - 750 lux
evenly distributed when measured at 1.0 m above the floor.
- Fluorescent lamps should have moisture-proof covered socket ends.
- High-intensity lamps and special ceiling- or wall-mounted fixtures are required in
procedure and sterile operating rooms.
vii. Ventilations
- Laboratories have HVAC (heating, ventilation, air-conditioning) requirements that are
different from those of a normal classrooms or office buildings.
- Depending on the type of laboratory, a rate between 4 - 20 air changes per hour (ACPH)
is generally adequate when fume hoods are not in operation in microscale teaching
laboratories.
- Laboratory Hoods:
 Laboratory hoods are a form of local exhaust ventilation commonly found in
laboratories/workshops using dusts, toxic, corrosive, flammable, or malodorous
substances.
 The purpose of a laboratory fume hood is to prevent or minimize the escape of
contaminants from the hood into the laboratory air, and to provide containment.
 Generally, an average face velocity of 0.41 to 0.63 meter per second (m/s) is
recommended. For some exceptional labs, such as Radiation laboratory, up to a
maximum of 0.75 m/s may be used.

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viii. Plumbing Facilities
- Sinks – Lab Sinks/Hand Wash Sinks:
 Sinks should be constructed of materials such as stainless steel or epoxy resins that
are resistant to chemical and other spillage.
 The drain should have a removable, cleanable strainer to prevent solid materials from
getting into the drainage system.
 Hand-washing facilities should be located within the laboratories and in change and
shower rooms.
- Liquid Wastes:
 Acid-resistant waste piping should be used for many kinds of laboratory drains.
 Hazardous waste control system should be provided in all laboratory facilities.
- Water Pressure:
 Sufficient water pressure should be available for all building needs.
 Separate piping loops are necessary for the sprinkler system and for potable water;
the latter category includes drinking fountains, emergency eyewash fountains, deluge
showers, lavatory sinks, and water closet water.
ix. Fire and Smoke Detections
- Laboratory buildings should be equipped throughout with a heat sensitive fire and smoke
detection systems as a minimum.
- All new laboratory buildings or lab renovation projects shall be provided with a fully
addressable, speaker type fire alarm system.
x. Emergency Facilities
- Emergency Showers:
 Emergency deluge showers are used to dilute and wash off chemical spills on the
human body.
 Primary emergency deluge showers must be located within 10-s travel time or 7.6 m
travel distance from the place of contact.
- Emergency Eyewashes:
 The reaction of many chemicals with the human eye is very rapid.
 There should be at least one eyewash facility per laboratory module if the occupants
use strong chemicals.

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  For laboratories with fewer than four benches, there should be at least one eyewash
fountain per laboratory and it should be so located that no more than 3–4 seconds are
required to reach it from the most remote workstation.
- Fire Extinguishers:
 At least, one fire extinguisher should be located at each workbench.
 The type of extinguisher is dependent on the use of the laboratory. A clean agent such
as CO2 is appropriate for chemical operations.

3.2. Workshops
The space size for workshop should be
- For Conventional work shop provide minimum space size of 6m 2/person
- For Heavy Machinery workshop provide minimum space size of 8m 2/person
Additionally any laboratory and workshop should satisfy the minimum requirement listed below
i) Floor Height
- For any science laboratory room provide 3m floor head height
- For any Engineering Laboratory room provide 3m floor head height
- For any workshop room provide 4m floor head height
ii) Maximum Number of Students in One Laboratory room
- Each science and engineering laboratory should be adjusted to serve for 25 maximum
numbers of students.
iii) Floor Finishing: floor finishing materials should be smooth, non-slipper, impervious,
non-combustible, chemical resistance and easy to clean
iv) Electric System Installation: the minimum lighting capacity should be 500Lux and the
number of socket outlets and phase type should be sufficient for the Equipments installed
in the corresponding lab room.
v) Ventilation
- All rooms shall be provided with adequate ventilation by means of open able windows or
by mechanical means; in case of open able windows the area of the open able window
should not be less than one twentieth (1/20) of the floor area of the room.
- A minimum of 6 air changes per hour shall be attained through a combination of natural
and artificial ventilation

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vi) Fire Protection: Each computer lab should have fire fighters
vii) Toilet: toilet (which has Male & female separated toilets, and hand wash) for each
maximum 500m2 area of any building
viii) Lab Expert Office: Each lab should have one expert office of at least 6m 2 areas and one
dimension of the room should be at least 2m.
ix) Laboratory Room Signage: Each computer laboratory should have one signage which is
hanged at the top of room entrance and can be stacked for the needs of a particular
laboratory room situation.
x) Internet Access: each laboratory room should have internet access which is sufficient to
all computers installed in the lab.
xi) Security Camera: each should be equipped with appropriate security camera.

Note:
- In the research university or the university which deliver PhD program in addition to
the minimum requirements listed above the following requirements should be
included
- Researcher /postgraduate student Offices should be arranged in each laboratory room
for each researcher which the minimum size of the room is 12m 2/researcher/student
and one dimension of the room should be at least 3m.
- Separated laboratory room should be arranged for post graduate program students
from under graduate program students.
- For any university which has researcher staffs each laboratory should have researcher
office which has the standard size of 12m 2/researcher and one dimension of the room
should be at least 3m.
- Any laboratory and workshop Equipments which are heavy and has vibrational effect
should be installed on the ground floor and if these Equipments are installed on the
suspended floor the floor should be design for this specific purpose.
- For laboratory room which needs special floor finishing type provide floor finishing
according to the recommendation of corresponding laboratory type national/
international standard

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References

1- ASU (2020), Laboratory Guidelines, Arizona State University, Arizona.

2- NDSU (2017), Classroom Design Manual, North Dakota State University, North Dakota.
3- Diberardinis, L.J., Baum. J.S., First, M.W., Gatwood, G.T., Seth, A.K. (2013), Guidelines for
Laboratory Design, Fourth Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
4- Johannes Kister (ed.) (2012). Nuefert: Architects Data. Fourth Edition. A John Wiley &
Sons, Ltd., Publication
5- Joseph De Chiara and John Hancock Callender (ed.) (1987). Time Saver Standards for
Building Types. Second Edition. McGraw-Hill Inc.
6- Mortland, K.K., Belanger, A.C., Markin, R.S., Maul, P.J., Richmond, J.Y. (2007),
Laboratory Design, Approved Guideline, Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, Vol-
27, No.7, Pennsylvania.
7- Minister of Urban Development Construction and Housing (2014). Ethiopian Building Code
Standards – 12 (EBCS – 12): Building Spatial Design
8- Pamela Buxton (ed.) (2015). Metric Handbook: Planning and Design Data. Fifth Edition
9- University of Albany (2014), Classroom Design Guidelines, University of Albany, New
York.
10- UCONN (2016), Classroom Design Guidelines, University of Connecticut, Connecticut.
11- UNC (2013), Laboratory Design Guidelines, Department of Facilities Services, University of
North Carolina, Carolina.
12- Washington University (2015), How to Design a University-Managed Classroom,
Washington State.

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