Research Facility Decommissioning

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Research Facility Decommissioning

Research facility directors (faculty/lab managers/supervisors) must ensure that their vacated space is cleared for unrestricted future use (i.e. are free of all chemical, biological, and radioactive materials and hazardous equipment) when:

  • Leaving U-M space
  • Moving to a different U-M space (another building or lab within the same building complex)
  • Electing to permanently terminate the use of radioactive material

Research personnel are responsible for ensuring proper removal of all hazardous materials until the space is officially designated as being decommissioned. EHS must verify that the decommissioned space is ready for re-occupancy or renovation.

The Checklist for Decommissioning a Laboratory identifies the decommissioning tasks that must be completed as part of the laboratory decommissioning process.  If you are also terminating the use of radioactive materials, you must also complete the decommissioning tasks listed in the Checklist to Terminate Using Radioactive Materials. For more information, refer to the Laboratory Decommissioning guideline. Lab directors will be notified of the results of the final inspections by RHS, Biological Safety, and RSS.

NOTE: If you are renovating any laboratory or intended laboratory space, complete the Laboratory Space Modification Form prior to starting the renovation project.

Documents Needed When Leaving a Laboratory

DOCUMENT PURPOSE
Request Laboratory Decommissioning Inspection Alerts EHS that a lab director is leaving a laboratory
Laboratory Equipment Owner Decontamination Form Indicates to personnel servicing or moving your equipment that the equipment has been cleaned and is free of contamination. If the equipment is not a biological safety cabinet or has not been exposed to radioactive material, then complete the form, sign it, and attach it to the equipment. If the equipment is a biological safety cabinet or has been exposed to radioactive material,you will be required to complete the appropriate sections of the form and obtain authorization or clearance before the equipment can be serviced or moved.
Declaration of Surplus Form Tracks the location of surplus equipment.  Property Disposition requires this document at the time of delivery of the item.
U-M HVAC Refrigerant Equipment Input Form 1A Tracks chlorofluorocarbon and hydro-chlorofluorocarbon containing equipment (i.e. refrigerators and freezers) per EPA regulations. The U-M Plant Air Conditioning (AC) Shop requires this document for applicable, unwanted or surplus, equipment containing a refrigerant. NOTE: Refer to the EHS Refrigerant Management for the list of refrigerants tracked by Plant AC.

Laboratory Equipment Owner Decommissioning

The Laboratory Equipment Owner Decontamination Form indicates to personnel servicing or moving your equipment that the equipment has been cleaned and is free of contamination.  If the equipment is not a biological safety cabinet or has not been exposed to radioactive material, then complete the form, sign it, and attach it to the equipment.

If the equipment is a biological safety cabinet or has been exposed to radioactive material,you will be required to complete the appropriate sections of the form and obtain authorization or clearance before the equipment can be serviced or moved.

Equipment Maintenance or Disposing of Surplus Equipment

After the equipment maintenance is completed, contact the appropriate EHS program to schedule an appointment to re-certify the equipment for use in your laboratory.

Contact the following departments for proper disposal of unwanted or surplus equipment:

  • Biological Safety at EHSBiosafety@umich.edu to authorize biological safety cabinets for disposal
  • Radiation Safety at EHSRadSafety@umich.edu to authorize equipment and apparatus (refrigerators, freezers, centrifuges, etc) used to store or analyze radioactive materials for disposal
  • Property Disposition at (734) 764-2470 to collect unwanted/surplus equipment
  • Facilities Maintenance, Air Conditioning (AC) Shop at (734) 647-2059 to remove refrigerant from unwanted refrigerators
    The Refrigerants page lists the refrigerators that must go to Facilities Maintenance, AC Shop for proper management.

 

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