This lab policy applies to door holders starting from the 2025 Fall Cycle. This version of the lab policy was last modified on Jul 2, 2025 and has been ratified by Wireless officers on Jul 4, 2025.
Wireless Lab Rules and Expectations
The Wireless Club lab/shack/makerspace is located in 503 Hayden Hall. If you are a Wireless member approved for independent lab access, you will be issued a door code. The lab is accessible at all times under normal circumstances.
General Expectations
The club space is accessible for members with door codes. We encourage you to use the lab for personal projects, coursework, or club-related activities. Please remember that this is a communal space for club members, and you must show respect for club property, other members, and personal belongings.
There are computers in the lab available to members of the club. Please be aware that these computers are connected to the university network and therefore subject to university policy on network use. Priority should be given to ham radio operation for the computer connected to the radio at the back of the shack.
We encourage that you use electronic components and other consumables provided by the club in your personal projects in a reasonable manner. For order requests, please contact the Lab Manager.
Failure to meet lab space expectations may lead to penalties, suspension or revocation of independent lab access.
Obtaining Lab Access
In order to be eligible to apply for lab access, you must fulfill these criteria:
- Join the Wireless Club Slack
- Be a current Northeastern student
- Attend at least three Wireless Club events during the current cycle (meetings, workshops, outings)
Door codes are active until the end of the current cycle. Each year is split into two cycles:
- Fall Cycle: July 1st - December 31st
- Spring Cycle: January 1st - June 30th
Once you are eligible, you can apply for a door code by following instructions posted on our website. We charge a $10 non-refundable fee for lab access per cycle.
Door codes are issued to individuals and under no circumstances should be shared with anyone else. If you violate this rule, your access will be terminated. If you accidentally leak your code, you should report it immediately to an officer of the club.
If you held a door code during the previous cycle, you can skip requirement 3 and apply for renewal immediately.
Safety Guidelines
The Wireless lab contains equipment which can cause personal harm if not handled properly. It's expected that you understand the dangers and know how to use a tool, if you choose to do so. Do not use tools you are not familiar with.
General safety guidelines:
- Be aware and be alert
- Know the dangers of materials and tools you are using.
- Wear gloves when working with chemicals.
- Do not start fires.
Safety guidelines for the soldering stations:
- Wear glasses of some sort.
- Use an ESD strap when working with sensitive electronics.
- Keep flammable items and materials away from the station.
- Have proper airflow when soldering.
- Turn off soldering equipment when you are done.
Safety guidelines for power tools
- Wear glasses of some sort.
- Do not operate power tools while wearing loose clothing.
- Tie back long hair and remove loose jewelry.
Personal Items
If you are frequently in the lab and work on personal projects, you may request a drawer for storing personal project items. Vacant drawers may be assigned to members by club leadership
Drawer allocations generally will persist while you are a part of the club and continue holding a door code, unless it remains empty for a long time. You may also give up your drawer at any time. If you do not renew your door code access, your drawer allocated may be forfeited (although you will be notified beforehand).
Storing personal items outside of drawers must be approved with club leadership. If you are unsure if you are able to keep something in the lab, please contact the Lab Manager.
Tool Usage
In order to use certain tools and equipment in the shack, you must speak and be approved by the Lab Manager and complete any training required.
The tools which require approval are:
- HF radio setup (back of the shack)
- 3D Printers
- Power tools (excluding drills & impactors)
Some tools don't require explicit permission, but should not be used unless you are comfortable with them. This items are either difficult to replace/repair if used incorrectly or can cause personal harm. If you are unsure, please take the time to learn from a member of the club before using them on your own.
The tools you should be cautious with are:
- Soldering equipment
- Electronic test equipment (oscilloscopes, network analyzers, etc.)
- Power drills & impactors
Borrowing Equipment
Consumables are available to all members for personal projects without needing to check anything out. A limited number of more valuable items are available to check out for project use. Equipment like will always be marked with an asset tag.
If you are interested in learning what items can be checked out or how the process works, please speak with the Lab Manager.
Special Circumstances
Under extraordinary circumstances, parts of the lab or the entire lab may be temporarily inaccessible for general use. Examples include radio maintenance, facilities maintenance, or event preparation.
A notice will be posted on the door of the lab and via Slack to explain the situation.
Guests
Guests, excluding individuals under sanctions, can be brought into the lab by door code holders. If you bring someone to the lab or allow someone outside in, you are responsible for their actions while they remain in the club space. This rule does not apply when the lab is open to the general public, such as during weekly meetings, public events, and ham exams.
It is perfectly understandable that you may need to step out of the lab briefly; however you may not leave guests unattended in the club space. If you need to leave the lab for more than a short period, please take your guest with you or coordinate with another door code holder to supervise them.
Access Revocation
Failure to follow rules outlined in this document may lead to an official warning or revocation of lab access, as deemed appropriate by the officer board.
The current President, Vice-President, and Lab Manager are able to:
- Issue warnings to members.
- Suspend lab access for up to a week for major offences or during investigations.
Full access revocation may only be administered through a majority vote at an officer board meeting.
If your lab access was revoked, you may be deemed ineligible for lab access in the future based on the discretion of the officer board.
Emergency Response
Please make note of the location of the fire extinguisher attached to the central column in the main room. If you believe club equipment was stolen, you should report the incident to the officer board.
If you are unable to extinguish the fire by your own means, exit the lab and pull the fire alarm immediately on your left. Exit the building, wait for authorities to show up and explain the situation to them.
You must report emergencies related to the club space to Wireless leadership. Please ensure your personal safety and follow orders of public safety officials before reaching out by any means necessary.
Emergency phone numbers are listed for reference.
- NUPD Non-Emergency Line: (617) 373-2121
- NUPD Emergency Line: (617) 373-3333
- National Emergency Line: 911
Leaving the Lab
Before leaving the lab, you must clean up the work benches after yourself. This includes:
- Discarding any trash.
- Disposing of food waste properly.
- Powering down and returning the tools back to their respective locations.
- Storing projects away.
Additionally, if no one else is using the tools, you must:
- Ensure soldering irons are turned off.
- Turn off the air conditioners.
- Turn off the ham radio.
If you are the last person leaving the lab:
- Turn off any lights.
- Shut and lock windows.