Laboratory Ventilation Risk Assessment and CFD Methods for Semiconductor Facilities Presented by C&IH and Padre Consulting at SESHA 2026

A technical session on laboratory ventilation risk assessment and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling will be presented by C&IH and Padre Consulting at SESHA’s 48th Annual Symposium, held April 13–16, 2026, in Tempe, Arizona.

The presentation, Using Computational Fluid Dynamics to Assess and Optimize Laboratory Ventilation, will examine performance-based approaches to evaluating laboratory airflow and ventilation effectiveness in semiconductor research and production environments. The session introduces a structured Laboratory Ventilation Risk Assessment (LVRA) framework for evaluating hazard potential, occupancy patterns, control measures, and ventilation performance criteria, including application to ventilation turndown strategies during periods of low or no occupancy.

The session will also review relevant laboratory ventilation standards and best practices and demonstrate how CFD can be used to analyze airflow patterns, hood containment performance, and supply and exhaust configurations. A semiconductor laboratory case study will illustrate how CFD visualization can identify airflow stagnation zones, evaluate the effectiveness of ventilation controls, and support the optimization of ventilation setpoints.

The presentation is intended for environmental health and safety professionals, industrial hygienists, and engineers involved in laboratory design, ventilation performance, and exposure control in semiconductor and other technology industries.

Session instructors include C&IH Exposure Modeling Engineer Cassidy Strode and Padre Consulting Services Managing Principal Steve Trammell.

Additional information about the symposium and technical program is available on the SESHA 2026 Annual Symposium Website.