This standard applies to the ventilation in most laboratories and is written for all laboratory ventilation stakeholders. An emphasis is placed on those with legal responsibilities and liability for providing a safe laboratory. However, users/operators, industrial hygienists, other safety and environmental professionals will also find the standard written for their needs.

The standard cannot establish strict liability in all cases but does attempt to fix accountability in many relationships that exist with its context. Please note that such relationships are defined throughout the standard and generally encompass the following: administration - occupant, employer - employee, management - staff, owner - occupant, owner - tenant, teacher - student, designer - owner, etc.

This standard does not apply to the following types of laboratories, hoods or systems except as it may relate to general laboratory ventilation:
- animal facilities,
- biosafety cabinets,
- explosives laboratories,
- high containment facilities (e.g., BSL 3, BSL 4, facilities operating under "chemical surety plans," etc.),
- laminar flow hoods and isolators (e.g., a clean bench for product protection, not employee
protection),
- radioisotope laboratories, and
- fire, smoke or emergency response systems.

General laboratory safety practices are not included except where they may relate to the ventilation system's proper function or effectiveness.

This standard does not apply to comfort considerations unless they have an effect on contaminant control ventilation.