Lab Design –Technical Considerations

September 13, 2021 By Kewaunee International Group Comments are Off , , , ,

Lab Design – Technical Considerations

Most people fail in executing the ideal design for their laboratories because they lack the knowledge to do so. As a decision maker, there are few things that you’ll need to consider during the planning process. We’ve compiled a list of technical considerations you must think of while planning your next laboratory. 

If you need any help in the planning and strategizing process that will cause a timely and within budget laboratory, we’d be more than happy to help you. You can find a list of our services here.

Category Information
Environmental Health & Safety
  • Main concern – Prevention of pollution through hazardous waste, chemical vapours, liquid effluents
  • All of these must be accounted for and the necessary equipment & design must be implemented
  • Risk Mitigator: Fume hoods & Ventilation system
  • Codes & Regulations – Ventilation, Fire Safety, Emergency Power Supply, Building Design, Equipment Design, etc.
  • Organizations: National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), American National Standards Institute (ANSI), American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), and the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
Design 
  • Main considerations – Building & Site issues, Floor planning, Laboratory configuration, Building services & structure
  • It’s important for the user to be familiar with their requirements & handover the design to the experts
  • The approach must be specific to the kind of laboratory being designed – Chemical, Biological (Molecular Biology, Microbiology, etc.), Agricultural, Pharmaceutical, etc.
  • Design alternatives must be included based on potential costs, benefits, zoning requirements, flexibility, aesthetics & time to completion
  • Codes & Regulations – Ventilation, Fire Safety, Emergency Power Supply, & Building Design
  • Organizations: National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
Cost
  • Main considerations – Construction Costs, Renovation Costs & Project Costs
  • It’s important to budget 65% to 80% of total costs for construction
  • Cost of the project is directly dependent on the type of laboratory that is constructed (Microelectronics, Biological, Biochemical, Chemical, etc.)
  • Approaches – Top-down (Decision made by top-level executives); Bottom-up (Institution determines costs in the predesign phase)
  • Set out a budget for contingencies such as consultants, move-in activities, equipment calibration & installation, etc.

Source: LABORATORY DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, AND RENOVATION (National Research Council), 2000

Kewaunee, the global leader in total laboratory solutions, empowers organisations to achieve competitive advantage through safe, efficient, and contemporary laboratories. In existence since 1906, Kewaunee powers the laboratories for over 5,000 customers in more than 100 countries.

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