Can you give me advise on ventilation, minimum equipment requirments etc. Regulations relating to darkrooms in schools.

-- Penny Gosling (Pennyinhk@hotmail.com), January 07, 2002

Answers

There are numerous books at your local library about setting up darkrooms. The Kodak web site also contains good information. I'd suggest talking to your (or a nearby) school district building and plant manager to find out what local regulations apply to school facilities. Similarly, your state education department will have references.

Setting up a darkroom is fairly straightforward when you pay attention to more-than-minimum ventilation, running water, and workflow. For a school, however, you will probably find other educators with experience in chemistry, shop, and other school facilities.

-- Jeff Polaski (polaski@acm.org), January 08, 2002.

You might also check with the Fire Marshall who can give you information on power draw, placement of electrical outlets & local requirements. They can be helpful as well as keep you from making costly mistakes.

-- Dan Smith (shooter@brigham.net), January 08, 2002.

If you're an employee within a state or a publicly funded school, I'd recommend getting some advice from an OSHA rep or the system's safety officer, or both. Safety issues are a little more complex when you get into public areas, or work-related areas. There are fire escape issues, ventilation, eyewash stations, safe chemical storage & handling areas, maybe even safety showers if your area is big enough. You'll need to have a lab manager in charge, and at the very least an MSDS sheet for every chemical on hand & in-use and have this stuff posted in a visible and accessible area. You basically need to cover all the bases for the lab in case of any unforseen accidents to protect both the people using the lab, and the school/facility itself...from either accidents or mistakes from bad judgement (read: lawsuit)....

That said, either OSHA, or manufacturers like Kodak and Ilford, have good books & pamphlets on darkroom design. If you're buying new equipment, alot of times vendors can offer turnkey help as well...Kodak used to offer design help as well ( they did a nice lab in my system years ago). Some books Kodak has include: "PhotoLab Design" (K-13), "Building A Home Darkroom" (KW-14).

Besides the safety & insurance issues, you need to check with the waste services in your area for any regulations regarding silver recovery as well. You'll probably have to get a recovery unit as well. Even if you're not an employee, I'd suggest going through the school's safety officer, especially if you're on school property. No matter how safe you are, accidents can & do happen. Good luck.

-- DK Thompson (kthompson@moh.dcr.state.nc.us), January 08, 2002.

Hi Penny,

The first thing that I would do is to see if your local college or other high shcoll has a photography department or dark room. They would be the best source as to finding out would your school would need to do to open a dark room. They should be up to date, best of luck

-- Gilbert R. Flores (flores559@aol.com), January 16, 2002.

Penny: I teach technology at the jr high level, trad. B&W photo is one area w/a darkroom. One logistical recommendation is: keep students only of the same gender in the room at a time (I rotate groups of students), esp if you are not in the darkroom yourself. Liability is always a consideration these days, esp in public schools. Videotape yourself doing various processes, have steps written (in permanent marker, not red!) on a white dry erase board about developing film and printing. Photograms are also a hit with students. We also do digital imaging, you might have them switch from alalog to digital just for the transition. Kids love it and have hands on stuff of their own, important for students of these grades, (and all ages!)We use Pentax K1000 cameras w/tri x and sprint developers. good luck, mark smith

-- mark smith (msmith@fayar.net), May 29, 2002.