Findings of two recent surveys on safety equipment in laboratory facilities are presented. The first survey was a pilot study of emergency shower and eye wash equipment. This study was followed by a more comprehensive random survey of safety equipment in 2,820 labs. Among other findings, the surveys indicate that many plants are underequipped, or not equipped at all, to provide the protection regarded as minimum by safety authorities. A guide is contained based upon information from the two surveys which presents fundamentals for evaluating emergency water equipment for existing laboratories or for new or enlarged installations. (RH)