CCAC Guidelines on laboratory animal facilities - characteristics, design and development

Please note: the Guidelines described below were replaced by a revised set in July 2024.

These and other guidelines, along with frequently asked questions, can be accessed here.

The Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) issued guidelines in 2003 on laboratory animal facilities - characteristics, design and development.

This document concentrates on the characteristics of a laboratory animal facility and hence do not cover all subjects matter discussed in the "Guide to the Care and Use of Experimental Animals", Volume 1, Chapters II and III, (CCAC, 1993).

The relevant sections of the Guide should be consulted for areas not covered by these guidelines. Table of Contents: A. Preface; Summary of the Guidelines Listed in This Document; B. Introduction; C. The Characteristics of a Laboratory Animal Facility; D. The Process for the Planning, design and development of a Laboratory Animal Facility; E. References; F. Bibliography; G. Glossary; H. Abbreviations; Appendix A: Summary of relevant Guidelines; Appendix B: Examples of Detailed Space Descriptions; Appendix C: Excerpts from CCAC Guide to the Care and Use of Experimental Animals; Appendix D: A Simplified Example of Preliminary Size Estimation for an Animal Facility; Appendix E: Traffic Flow Patterns; Appendix F: Heat Production. List of Diagrams. 

The Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) is responsible for overseeing animal use in research, teaching and testing. Please note a correction in Chapter 6.4, entitled Doors. The correct sentence is: "A door sweep should be installed on the base of the door if the clearance exceeds 3.2mm" (not 32 mm).

The guidelines (115 pages) are available on the CCAC website. Please note that minor revisions were made to this guidelines document in May 2020 to remove outdated information.

ISBN: 0-919087-41-8

Price: Free of charge

The CCAC have produced an additional document about heating, ventilation and air conditioning.