Skip to main content
UF Campus Aerial Photo

Equipment Decontamination

When is Equipment decontamination Necessary?

Laboratory equipment must be decontaminated when it is:

  • repaired onsite by Facility Services, IFAS, or any other contractor
  • Moved:
    • By UF Asset Management
    • By commercial company
    • Through public areas (elevators, public corridors, etc.)
    • To a storage area outside of laboratory space
  • Disposed of/surveyed out of UF Inventory
  • Shipped offsite (i.e., back to vendor, to another campus, etc.)
  • Sent out for repair or maintenance

Equipment Decontamination Process

  • Decontaminate the lab equipment in a manner appropriate for the hazards or potential hazards:
    • Chemical Hazards will be removed from equipment and surfaces using soap and water.
    • Biological Hazards will be removed from equipment and surfaces using a 10% bleach solution, 30-minute contact time, and all bleach residue removed with ethanol or IPA. Alternatively, you may use an EPA-registered disinfectant following the required contact time. Note: Biosafety Cabinets used with biohazards must be professionally decontaminated with gas/vapor before moving, disposing of, or repairing contaminated plenums within the cabinet. Contact your vendor to decontaminate this equipment before submitting this form to EH&S.
    • Radiation Hazard will need to be assessed by the Radiation Safety Office. Never remove a radiation hazard sticker without authorization from the Radiation Safety Office. Please contact the RSO at 352-392-1589 or rso@ufl.edu for more information.
  • Complete the UF Equipment Decontamination Form. If the form is being submitted by someone other than the PI/supervisor, the PI/supervisor will need to approve the form. An automatic email will be sent to them with a link to the form.
  • EH&S will review the form to ensure the decontamination method used is appropriate. Once approval is granted, the PI and person who submitted the form will receive an email receipt.
  • Once the form is approved, print the approval receipt and affix it to the equipment. If an asset tag was listed, your Department’s property custodian will automatically receive approval notification via email.
  • Maintain a copy of the signed form in your records.
Submit a Decontamination Form

Non-Laboratory Fridges

A decontamination form must be submitted for all refrigerators and freezers, including those not used in labs, prior to releasing the unit to Surplus. If your fridge is located in an office or kitchen, please follow these steps for proper pick up or disposal:

  • Submit a decontamination form to EH&S. For the hazards section, select Other. Specify that the fridge was not located in a lab space and there are no hazards present.
  • If the unit is no longer working and will be disposed of by Surplus, contact an HVAC company to remove the freon prior to requesting pickup. EH&S does not remove or dispose freon.
  • Submit a pick up request to Surplus through your department’s property custodian.