Meaningful Access in Labs Can Produce Better Research, Scientists

One of the highlights of I2SL’s 2025 virtual, international Education Week was the Canadian plenary session on enhancing accessibility in lab design and operation. Keynoted by two speakers from the Rick Hansen Foundation and an architect specializing in accessibility in laboratories, the session challenged participants to empower every user of the lab space and create a meaningful experience for lab users by “building better bumpers” into the design and equipment of laboratories. From more thoughtful layouts of lab furniture to fume hoods that accommodate scientists in wheelchairs, there are a number of best practices for more accessible research workspaces.

Built on the legacy of a Canadian who completed a 40,000-kilometer multinational wheelchair marathon to raise awareness, the Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) is working to accelerate a global movement to remove barriers to inclusion for people with disabilities. Building codes do not go far enough in meaningful accessibility, noted RHF Director of Accessibility Services Roman Romanov, so RHF developed a collaborative rating system for built environment accessibility. RHF certification has a category for specialized learning spaces such as laboratories, addressing aspects such as maneuverability and the ability to reach equipment controls.

For example, RHF gives points for fume hoods that remove overhead obstructions and place controls where they can be reached at various heights. Likewise, eye wash stations and showers must be able to be accessed within 10 seconds and on the same level as research operations, with no obstructions. And with a growing body of evidence of the effects of chemicals on some individuals, Romanov said, RHF may address chemical sensitivities in their ratings in the future.

Joshua Klyber of Jensen Hughes offered best practices for accommodating mobility issues, neurodivergence, and other user considerations in lab space planning. He described the “doughnut approach,” where a large lab space features a central lab in the middle with specialty equipment and rooms around the edges. Because neurodivergent individuals—the highest percentage of disabilities—may have difficulty in noisier workspaces, the louder equipment can be enclosed in smaller rooms away from the main lab activity.

For bench arrangements, Klyber said, aisle widths and turning spaces should be able to accommodate wheelchairs. He suggested lowering benchtop heights to 31 inches and depths to 24 inches so that those in wheelchairs can reach the bench and anything on top of it; he also noted that these reduced dimensions should apply to a full 36-inch benchtop. Klyper offered best practices for accessible fume hoods, including lower valve heights, mechanical sashes (instead of manual), variable height hoods, and some hoods with no storage underneath so that wheelchairs can fit underneath them.

For more information about accessibility in labs and other buildings, visit the RHF website at www.rickhansen.com. Accessibility to all the Education Week recordings is available on for as low as $25 for I2SL members; visit www.i2sl.org/education-week.