Significant of Lab Equipment Size and Location on Lab Design

Mohd Naim Abdul Halim Akbariah Mohd Mahdzir

MOT Department, MJIIT, UTM Kuala Lumpur, 54100 Kuala Lumpur

(E-mail: [email protected], [email protected])

Abstract This paper discussed the significance of lab equipment size and location in
determining the laboratory design. The reviewed article Insight of Laboratory
Design have pointed out some view on lab design. In perspective of physical asset
management, the size and location of lab equipment needs to be considered as well in
determining how the lab design should look like. The criteria such as good airflows,
daylights and smooth walking traffic are important in lab work-flows. Based on few
literatures, several lessons recently discussed those factors has influenced on
laboratory design greatly, while there are few gaps found need to be clear-cut upon the
views on the article. As conclusion, the findings from some argument have elaborated
the important keys in considering the lab design.

Keywords PAM, lab design, lab equipment

1 Introduction
De Palma, Angelo. Insights on Laboratory Design. Lab Manager Vol 1: No 7 Dec (2012): 4-
19. The article, Insights on Laboratory Design was written by Angelo, De Palma (PhD) who is
freelance writer living in Newton, NJ. In his article, there were three scopes discussed regarding the
laboratory design. Starting up the design, he did mention a few elements which were related closely to
the topic with begun by securing the fund until laboratory planning. Whereas, Green lab design also
been discussed as one of the main element since the power source are the main components of a labs
operating expenses. The third scope however mentioned about the criteria of lab expansion in lab design
based on three case studies output which can be as a good guidelines and from the input of lab design
experts, there were some advices to be considered as lab manager in deciding a good lab design.
Without a doubt the author has good points in his article; however the significance of lab equipment size
and location in lab design need to be discussed further.

2 Insights on Laboratory Design

Seven elements to be considered on starting-up the lab design, the first thing in designing the
lab is project fund. It needs to be secured in order to maintain the enough momentum of the project
while the safety element is considered as the core element when designing the workflows and also with
no excuses do not exclude the human factors in design as for staff satisfactory. Meanwhile, it cannot be
a preconception in determining the lab design because the concept should be constructed by looking into
the clients science work description practiced. Understood that, it is necessary to looking into work-
flow as well to confirm the design needs as lab workers are lacking on skills to define their own space
and equipment size requirement. On top of that, flexibility in lab design has become trend and an
important element in research lab area because the lab cannot be designed without the element of
flexibility in order to fulfil the future needs of furniture, mechanical capabilities, systems, and cleaning
modules while in the same time achieves the term of sustainability which drive toward austerity. In
addition when it comes to lab design, the designer shouldnt propose the other design to be
implementing on another one because the lab design is dependable to theirs work-culture, listen to the
client and convert the idea into design. Same goes to when deciding whether the design is best for
renovation or build new, the idea was guided through good laboratory planning which involves three
steps (due diligence, analysis, proposal) that provide the road map approach which is more cost
effective.
Green lab nowadays is not the isolated issue in designing the lab, it is because the power and
natural source consumption took more three-quarter from the cake of lab operating budget currently.
One of the main reasons is the huge amount of air-changes per hour (ACH) which contribute to 24 hours
power consumption whether the laboratory is occupied or not, in line with requirement of fume hood
which are varies widely. One of the strategies is to occupy the Acuity to monitor air, providing relative
measurements and to collect data which can use to maintain safe and comfortable environments.
Whereas, the other strategy is using pyramid HVAC control hierarchy as shown by Figure 1 which
started from the bottom by installing high-efficiency lighting to lower the cooling load, using low-flow
fume hoods and lowering the air change rate. The next step is by using variable air volume (VAV)
systems that can lower exhaust and air change requirements. Another strategy is by installing low-
pressure drop HVAC systems at early design stage. The last control measure is to involve reducing or
eliminating reheats energy and/or adding some heat recovery. Besides that, other utilities such as water
and lighting also were in control measures in maximizing the green goal in lab design.

Figure 1 Air HVAC System

The scenario from three case studies on lab expansion given to the article supporting
information and the same time added some value for determining the lab design. What can we learnt
from first case-study, to do lab expansion it is necessary to hire an advisor early to identify any
municipal, state, and federal compliance involved where those procedures also takes time to deal with.
Meanwhile, from the second case-study its very useful for those has problem with budget and urgency.
Lab expansion can be done by someone who has experiences in constructing the lab before. By doing
that, the cost for lab expansion can be reduce to almost 60% without ignoring the quality with provision,
consult vendors and trades to help in deciding the specification and material. The third case study, the
findings more or less support the points discussed on Green lab design. The project model of smart
labs which integrated features which are real-time air quality sensing, reduced fan, filtration, duct, stack
discharge airspeeds, reduced internal heat load and reduced thermal inputs during setback periods can
reduce until 50% of energy consumption.
 At the bottom line of the article, the Q&A session held by the authors regarding the lab design
had points out a few advises that should be followed by lab manager. In early stage is recommended to
develop a good working team, get as much as information needed while communication is important so
much so the isolated issue also could be uncovered. In the same time, the involvement of representative
scientist is a good step for design artwork at drafting session. Last but not least, the relationship with
supplier also not less importance in order to make sure the project goes well in progress.[1]
It can be concluded that according to the author, to do a laboratory design there a few
disciplines or parameters that should be followed as procedures. Where, its involved about a few
elements at starting stage which are fund, safety, human factors, concept, work-flow, flexibility, culture
of the work, retrofit or build new and lab planning. In addition, without denial the concept of green lab
also needs to be considered as the element is global issue nowadays. Furthermore, make the previous
studies as the outlines and get some expert advices to guide on decision making.

3 Point of Review
The author has discussed the topic in proper manner, while the subsequent section paragraph
has been arranged nicely in order to address the concept and idea how the lab design should being
determined. Furthermore, the few case studies and Q&A session with experts has supported the
arguments at almost above sections and in the same time conclude the author claim statement. Although
the article has addressed all of the element to start the lab design, one of the element was lightly
discussed even though its consider as prime consideration which is safety. The author only mentioned
about emergency devices and how materials enter and leave the space. Where, the safety element in
terms of protecting human health and life in line with protecting a facility from unauthorized access is
also paramount in design.[2] Without any doubt sufficient circulation space is also a critical issue to
maintain a safe working environment when the arrangement of fixed and loose furnishings needs to
support the user freedom to go around the working area.[3]
However, the element such as design according to human factors for staff satisfactory has
clearly stated that the main design challenge is to create maximum comfort, and find elements that will
make the working area attractive which Symrise Studio and Fragrance Laboratory, New York design has
created today.[4] The article also linked-well the element of flexibility with sustainability which makes
the element at the top list of lab design trends. He says that flexibility should be built into casework
design and layouts, to assume of electrical and heat loads and to speculate for air exchanges. It means
that, flexibility which understands also as adaptability is the capability of the lab design to fulfil the
necessity of both current and unforeseen future needs such as retrofits and modification which can save
the cost effectively.[5]
Meanwhile, the emphasis on green lab issue given a significantly impact on lab design
nowadays which has been implemented by some of the lab such as Chemistry Biology building,
University of Wiscorsin-Stevens Point, Wisc where the building will assimilated green design by
installing large window to enhance the daylighting instead of using lamp and also using mechanical and
electrical systems which are highly efficient.[6] While, the PACCAR Environmental Technology
Building at Washington State University been constructed using renewable materials and technologies
including wood composites, recycled concrete and pervious pavement.[7]
The case study has revealed that it is important to familiar with local regulatory body in order
to make the task ease, because across the nation the municipal state has their own requirements
specifically on lab. It usually more stringent compare to another building because of the dangerous
contained of volatile chemical and fumes.[8] While to do the lab expansion as do it yourself instead of
experiences, sometimes it need to create a small group and maybe skunkworks model need to be used.
But to success, its need to understand the model, because sometimes it needs distance to make space to
explore, but also need to be close to the mothership in order to stay relevant.[9]
4 Significance of Lab Equipment
On the sight of Physical Asset Management (PAM), lab equipment sizes and location also
plays an important role to ensure the lab design still on the right track during the early stage. For
instance of previous outline for size and area of fume hood in the lab makes the hood subjected to wind
stream unsettling influence from close-by strolling activity, involving the premium area, blocking access
to sunlight and making risky "deadlock" condition. By moving the hood independently from lab area, it
will expanded wellbeing because of isolation of hazardous materials necessitating hoods, enhanced
adaptability and condenses ventilation work associating the hood to fumes frameworks.[10]
Special condition needs if design is for laboratory that working on biological research. In term
of equipment size, there must be a space between benches, cabinets and equipment for cleaning purpose
accessibility. Whereas, the location of certain equipment also needs to be specified because some of the
equipment for example electron microscopy or mass spectrometry required special utilities and
environment control. [11] So the lab design must not overlook this criterion before jump to real work
because usually this element is irreversible.
The other thing to be considered is the equivalent linear feet (ELF) of work surface inside the
laboratory. ELF is meant the required length of benchtop for equipment size to be placed and space for
preparation work. While for the equipment which does not fit to benchtop, the ELF is the length of the
floor required to place the equipment on. Usually, the ELF for fume hood also needs to be counted as it
was always the requirement in any of lab design for personnel involves with hazardous chemicals.[12]
So, it is significant to discuss the particular of equipment size and location on planning the
laboratory design. Yet it has certain influenced on lab workflows which cannot be denial where the
elements are applicable and undeniable at any of labs and research facilities. Due to the seriousness of
this parameter, most of research team now are towards resource sharing to reduce the quantity and cost
of lab equipment in the same time less space is needed which brings to low operational and maintenance
expenses.[13]

5 Conclusion
This article review has evaluated the article Insights on Laboratory Design by De Palma,
Angelo. Most of points addressed in the article had shown the strong arguments in discussing about the
element in determining the lab design. The output from the article has given a significant output to the
people inside this area. Despite that, some of the point has lightly stressed such as safety which
considered as a main element in designing the lab workflow. The section on Green Lab however has
been described precisely with support of input from case study and also Q&A session with the expert.
Nonetheless, the lab equipment size and location also has significant impact on deciding how the lab
should be designed. The future study is hoped to discuss more thorough about this element.

References
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