Chemistry Lab Space For Rent Near Me? Trust The Answer

Laboratories require a deep understanding of the specific needs, purposes, and risks associated with each of them. Some of these requirements are specific to an industry (e.g. pharmaceutical, chemical) or to an activity (e.g. small volume manufacture of highly potent products, work with biological agents).

Analysis and quality laboratories

In analysis and quality laboratories, products and materials are checked for conformity with specifications and the absence of impurities. These laboratories form an essential part within the production and supply chain.

biosafety laboratories

The purpose of biosafety laboratories and suites is to contain potentially harmful biological agents. Containment is achieved through a thoughtful combination of methods, facilities and equipment. Containment levels range from BSL1 to the highest level of BSL4.

Clean rooms

In clean rooms, the number of permissible dust particles per volume of air determines the classification of the clean room. All aspects of the flow of people and materials, the building services and the room furnishings should be coordinated. The design and engineering must follow either “ISO 14644-1” – “FED STD 209E” – “BS 5295” or “GMP EU” classification.

Clinical and medical laboratories

These laboratories are equipped for diagnostic testing of tissue, blood, and other patient samples. They can be divided into different processes such as pathology, serology, histology, virology, bacteriology and molecular biology using PCR technologies.

incubator laboratories

Laboratories that perform microbiology and cell or tissue culture work need incubators to protect these cultures from the environment. Parameters such as temperature, humidity, and O 2 and CO 2 levels must be controlled.

production labs

Pilot production or small series laboratories as a scale-up between R&D and commercial production or for production for clinical trials form a separate category. Such laboratories can be found in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and science and technology fields. It is not uncommon for special attention to be paid to the housing and the air quality.

Research and Development (R&D) Laboratories.

This category includes a wide range of laboratories with different risk qualifications and containment requirements, such as category.

In general, the cost of designing and building laboratories is typically subject to the same variables that come into play when building commercial office space. Key variables can be:

Square footage: The larger the space, the more economies of scale you see at the hard cost. Higher square footage also translates into lower costs per square foot for ancillary services such as supervisor/general contractor and sub-profit margins and associated general terms costs

The larger the space, the more economies of scale you see at the hard cost. Higher square footage also translates into lower costs per square foot for ancillary services such as site manager/general contractor and sub-profit margins, and associated costs for general terms Union or non-union: This can result in a variance of up to 20% on cost figures.

This can lead to a deviation of up to 20% in the cost figures. Existing building infrastructure: Depending on the extent of the existing building infrastructure, this can also affect the cost figures. The amount of demolition required, the nature and extent of the existing mechanical and electrical systems, and what new services need to be brought into the building to support the proposed use of the space all affect cost.

However, when it comes to lab construction, a few additional variables come into play. Customer processes vary greatly depending on what field they are in, from nanotechnology to infectious diseases, biopharma, cancer research, animal research and more. Each of them has very specific requirements for HVAC environmental control and conditions, process gases, waste handling, physical environment, lighting environment, electrical equipment loads, process water systems, chemical treatment and storage. Depending on how critical the labs are, they may also need power redundancy, HVAC, or other specialized systems.

As a result, what is available for the existing infrastructure becomes even more of a factor in laboratory planning and construction. Buildings that are well suited for an office tenant are not particularly well suited for a laboratory tenant. The floor-to-floor height should be at least 14 feet to accommodate the extensive mechanical, plumbing, and fire protection systems above the ceiling. Failure to do so can result in higher coordination costs, building structure changes and lower than desired ceiling heights. Other structural features that may be required include thicker/stronger floor panels to support additional gear and new structural reinforcements to accommodate larger/heavier mechanical gear.

Office building HVAC systems are typically the type that circulates air and has much looser temperature/humidity control. In contrast, laboratories generally require once-through air and air temperatures and humidities to be maintained within tight ranges. They may also have dedicated exhaust systems and filtration systems for hazardous materials or clean room applications. Because of these requirements, HVAC systems require additional systems for general cooling/heating, reheating, humidification, and/or dehumidification, depending on the location of the laboratory and the specifications established by the laboratory’s end users. Laboratory HVAC control systems are typically large and require commissioning by an engineer to ensure proper operation.

There are also a number of other building variables that come into play, including electrical installations and plumbing systems. The overall watt density in laboratory spaces can be many times that of standard office space, and dedicated HVAC and exhaust systems are particularly energy intensive, even with the latest heat recovery technologies. In addition, existing natural gas lines will likely need to be replaced to support additional gas loads from the HVAC systems, with particular attention to guaranteed gas pressure from utilities. Sometimes a balancing act between natural gas and electric heat needs to be explored to find the right balance between initial construction costs and long-term operational costs. Finally, existing water systems can also become stressed due to things like increased water usage to support new HVAC systems and other systems required for environmental, health and safety such as emergency showers/eyewash stations.

Consequently, due to all of these factors, you will see a wide variation in laboratory construction costs compared to office costs. We have seen in our region that lab construction costs can range from $350 to $1325 per square foot. Unfortunately, there is no magic formula, and each laboratory use and building must be evaluated individually. Understanding your customers’ processes and requirements is a crucial first step in lab pricing. Meeting with the lab’s end users, the lab’s health and safety team, the facility’s engineer, and any other key stakeholders early in the design and build process is a must to accurately identify potential key scope items. Involving a site manager early on is even more important when planning laboratory projects to establish accurate budget parameters.

Creating and managing a lab budget can be difficult for a new lab manager. Here are some tips to help you stretch your budget to the limit while keeping your lab productive.

Staying within your lab budget is fundamental to a successful career. While this can cause a lot of stress and anxiety at first, you will eventually learn the best practices as you gain experience. To get you started, here are 15 tips for planning and staying within your lab budget.

1. Negotiate your starter package.

If you are a graduate student who will be running your own lab, the first thing you need to do is negotiate your starter package. Hopefully you have an idea of ​​what your minimum requirements are so you’re ready to ask for what you need. They negotiate everything from office and lab space, moving costs and equipment for your lab to support staff and travel expenses. The amount of your startup package depends heavily on your field of study and whether you work for a public or private institution. Whatever you negotiate, make sure you get it in writing.

2. Review your laboratory’s planned experiments.

You need to know everything your lab intends to use for your research—including staff, equipment, and consumables—before creating a budget. Determine what experiments your lab will conduct and what you expect to need for them. Once you know what you need, you can look for ways to save.

3. Consult colleagues at your institution.

One of your most valuable resources is your colleagues. Ask them what things they forgot to ask or budget for when they started. You can also ask them about budgets to get an idea of ​​what expenses you might be forgetting. You can even consult with your colleagues about what devices are shared in your facility and if they would be willing to share devices they don’t use on a daily basis. Perhaps you have a common need for certain tools and can use each other’s tools. Don’t be afraid to ask for ideas.

4. Leverage core facilities.

Before purchasing larger devices, find out which core facilities are available at your university. If there are some devices that you don’t need regularly, using these shared tools is a great way to save thousands of dollars. Some universities even have contracts with external labs that allow you to use their equipment as well.

5. Hire qualified employees.

If you are responsible for hiring and the salary is non-negotiable, find the most qualified employees to maximize your budget in terms of value. A good supporting staff of postdocs, research assistants, students and a lab technician can make a big difference in the work of your lab and the scholarships your lab receives. Having a team you trust and can count on can make a world of difference.

6. Save on equipment.

When it comes to buying the gear you need for your research, you have many options. Make sure you shop around and get quotes from different companies. Another way to save money is to buy used instruments. Do your research and find out if your facility has a junk room with tools you no longer use. Some may require minor fixes, but can save your lab thousands of dollars if you only have to pay for one repair. Some colleagues may even have old equipment lying around that they no longer need or use that they would be happy to let you have.

7. Protect your gear.

There are a few options for protecting your gear. Many companies give you the option to sign up for a service contract when you buy something from them. Think about how often you will be using each instrument when deciding whether or not to take out the service contract – if you plan to use it every day it can be beneficial. You also have the option of using protective sleeves or shields. These can prevent damage to expensive items in your lab and are a good investment, especially if you have bought new equipment.

Another way to protect your gear is to keep instructions nearby or in a central location so your team is trained and there is less chance of damage from misuse. Make sure these instructions are easy to understand and follow.

8. Buy consumables in bulk.

According to a survey by Lab Manager Magazine, most labs spend over 60% of their budget on consumables. This includes pipette tips, gloves and reagents. It may also contain more expensive items such as antibodies or growth factors. Buying these items in bulk will give you a better deal. Even if a company doesn’t advertise bulk pricing, call and ask. Shop around for these items too; Although less expensive than gear, you will use these items on a daily basis, so a small saving can save a lot of money in the long run.

9. Request samples.

A simple way to save money in your lab is to request samples. This not only gives you a free product, but also ensures that you don’t waste money buying materials that your lab doesn’t really need. When ordering accessories, ask the sales rep for samples, and most places are happy to let you try their products, even products they don’t advertise with samples.

10. Budget for contractors.

When planning who you will be working with in your lab, consider whether you want to hire permanent employees or contractors. Depending on the duration of your need for a particular person’s skills, you may or may not need them on a regular basis. Hiring contractors to perform specific tasks when you reach a certain part of your research can save you money because you’re not paying for time you don’t actually need.

11. Use free software.

There are a variety of lab management software programs out there – some free and some paid. These programs allow you to manage your lab’s inventory and order requests from members of your lab. Another way to save on software is to use a free electronic lab notebook to help your team collaborate.

12. Track expenses.

Tracking your lab’s spend is essential to staying on budget. You should have a record of where every cent you spend goes so you know where to make cuts, if any. There are several ways to track your spending. Try using Excel or Google Sheets to organize the money you spend into categories – create a new sheet for each month. You can also download a free app like Mint that lets you track your spending through your phone and online banking. Try both methods and see which one works best for your lab.

13. Don’t forget the conference and publication costs.

When planning your budget, it’s easy to forget the expenses associated with attending conferences and publications. Depending on where you want to publish, the cost can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Additionally, attending conferences can take hundreds of dollars out of your budget when you factor in travel expenses. Forgetting to account for these costs could leave you empty-handed or force you to find other places to cut the budget — it’s a lot easier to factor these costs into your spending plan at the outset.

14. Conduct quarterly reviews.

Whenever you’re working on a budget, it’s important to take a look at where you stand from time to time. If you plan to use your seed capital only for the first year, you should have at least 75% of your money left over after 3 months. However, if you need it for two years, you want 75% of the money left after 6 months. It’s important to note that by this point you won’t have three quarters of your pack left, especially if you had to buy a lot of gear. Any one-time costs like these should be deducted from the startup fund amount before dividing the total and determining the maximum amount of money you should spend quarterly.

15. Start looking for scholarships early.

One of the best things you can do for your lab is start looking for grants right away. Eventually your seed funds will run out, so you need to have grant funds that you can rely on to keep your lab running. Start finding grants to apply for and submitting applications now.

Start with these 15 steps to staying within your lab budget so you can successfully manage your first lab. While there will be times when your budget doesn’t go as planned or you can’t buy everything you want, following these guidelines is a good place to start. If you come across areas where you need advice on the next step, remember that your peers are available and can share some insights from their experiences.

References:

North, RV (2013). Open Access: The True Cost of Scholarly Publishing. Nature, 495(7442), 426-429. doi:10.1038/495426a

Witonsky, Jonathan. (2011). Trends in Laboratory Expenditure. Lab Manager Magazine. http://www.labmanager.com/uncategorized/2011/11/laboratory-spending-trends#.V5fHkPkrLIU

Rebekah Talley

GoldBio staff author

Rebecca is a medical student at the University of Missouri.

Before that, she worked as a laboratory assistant during her studies

Biology from Truman State University. As an aspiring

reproductive endocrinologist with an interest in global

In terms of health, Rebecca has traveled across Central America

medical missionary journeys. With a passion for life sciences,

she enjoys writing for GoldBio.

Category code: 79109

List of biology laboratory equipment and instruments

Biology laboratories, or biological research and development laboratories, conduct analysis, experiments, and studies to better understand how biological processes work. Biological research and development scientists rely on a wide range of devices to translate a scientific discovery into an intervention that improves human health and well-being.

If you are building a wet lab focused on biotechnology or biopharmaceutical research, chances are you have a specific set of tools and lab equipment that you need to conduct research. These include microscopes, chromatography systems, flow cytometers, next-generation sequencers and more.

This article will focus on some of the specialized high tech biology laboratory instruments you will need; However, we also include a list of more general lab equipment you may need.

fluorescence microscope

A fluorescence microscope makes it possible to see fluorescent dyes or proteins at the cellular and subcellular level. They are not the optical compound microscopes you would typically see in a middle school or high school science class. However, similar to optical microscopes, they often rely on visible light as an illumination source or light source.

Furthermore, at a similar magnification, the resolution that a fluorescence microscope can achieve is greatly increased due to the use of fluorophores chemically bound to the molecules in the sample. The microscope’s light source can excite the entire sample or individual particles within the sample to determine their fluorescence behavior.

However, the light source used in a fluorescence microscope must emit the specific wavelengths of light that excite the fluorophores present in the sample. For this reason, white light sources are often used in fluorescence microscopes, since white light contains all wavelengths of light in the visible spectrum. From there, scientists can select a wavelength within this range using specific excitation filters.

Popular brands/manufacturers of fluorescence microscopes

ThermoFisher Scientific

Olympus

zeiss

bio wheel

Leica

Analytical laboratory balance

An analytical laboratory balance weighs samples and substances between 0.01 and 500 milligrams. The measuring cups are generally enclosed in a glass case to prevent dust from settling in the cup which can interfere with testing.

Never place chemicals directly on the weighing pan unless they are at room temperature and non-reactive. Instead, place the sample in a container before measuring. Containers, glasses and metal parts can be placed on the pan. Measure it by first weighing the container to adjust for its weight. Reset the weights to zero.

Popular brands/manufacturers of analytical laboratory balances

Mettler-Toledo

Cole Parmer

ThermoFisher Scientific

Adam Equipment USA

Sartorius, Ohaus

centrifuge

A centrifuge spins an object to separate particles from a solution based on density using the principle of sedimentation.

Place the sample in a centrifuge tube, set the parameters and run the machine. Centrifuges can be used in many laboratory settings, but are often used to separate whole blood components.

Popular brands/manufacturers of centrifuges

Cole Parmer

Eppendorf

Labnet

ThermoFisher Scientific

LK Industries

Beckmann-Coulter

microplate reader

Microplate readers are used to analyze specific phenomena in microtiter plates. This allows microbiologists to test multiple samples at the same time. These readers use absorbance, fluorescence, and/or luminescence-based techniques to view samples.

Load the sample into the plate, place it in the microplate reader and set the appropriate test conditions. The results are analyzed by computer.

Popular microplate reader brands/manufacturers

ThermoFisher Scientific

Tecan

PerkinElmer

Molecular Devices

flow cytometer

A flow cytometer detects and measures the cellular biology of a group of particles or cell populations and is used to analyze cell surface expressions and intracellular molecules. A computer then processes the collected data.

The sample to be analyzed must be suspended in a liquid. The liquid is injected into the flow cytometer, where it is focused to move cell by cell through a laser beam. After processing the sample, use the computer to analyze the results. These machines are commonly used in cell imaging, cell signaling, immunophenotyping, and more.

Popular brands/manufacturers of flow cytometers

Beckman Coulter

ThermoFisher Scientific

Sony biotechnology

BD Life Sciences

Miltenyi Biotec

bio wheel

Next Generation Sequencer (NGS)

NGS sequences DNA and RNA. With rapid technological advances in this field, an entire human genome can be sequenced within a single day. They play an important role in the study of molecular biology.

An NGS can be used to sequence an entire genome or to examine specific parts of it and isolate specific genes. It is used to study genetic diseases, population variation, protein interactions with nucleic acids, and more.

Popular NGS brands/manufacturers

Enlightenment

ThermoFisher Scientific

Pacific Life Sciences

qiagen

Fluid

PCR system

PCR, short for polymerase chain reaction, is commonly used in biology and microbiology labs to amplify DNA sequences. The technique is performed using a PCR machine, also known as a thermal cycler or a PCR system. Using a three-step process, PCR can create millions of copies of a given piece of DNA.

It is considered a high-throughput technique and is used for many life science applications such as molecular biology, microbiology, genetics, pharmaceutical research, diagnostics, clinical laboratories, forensics and many more.

The polymerase chain reaction process involves three steps using five essential reagents. The steps include denaturation, annealing and extension or elongation. In addition, five essential reagents are required for PCR to work. This includes a DNA template, DNA polymerase, primers, dNTPs (deoxynucleotide triphosphate) and a PCR buffer

After the initial denaturation is performed, the three main steps are repeated until millions of copies of a target DNA sequence exist.

Popular brands/manufacturers

ThermoFisher Scientific

Cole Parmer

Eppendorf

Roche

QIAGEN

gel electrophoresis system

Gel electrophoresis is a preparative technique used to separate and extract fragments of DNA, RNA and proteins based on their size and charge for analysis.

It is widely used in PCR, Southern blotting, genome mapping, DNA sequencing, DNA fingerprinting, and plant breeding.

Its versatility means that gel electrophoresis can be found in a variety of laboratories; It is a necessary step in many studies and experiments in the fields of medicine, forensics, and conservation biology, to name a few.

Molecular samples are loaded into a box or chamber filled with a gel-like substance such as agarose, a polysaccharide. The gel electrophoresis machine is equipped with a negative electrode or anode on one side and a positive electrode or cathode on the other side, creating an electric current that flows through the gel from end to end.

The electric current separates the fragments based on their size or charge, and the device will be horizontal or vertical depending on your exact needs.

Popular brands/manufacturers

Bio-Rad Laboratories

Analytics Jena

ThermoFisher Scientific

PerkinElmer

agilent

Ultra deep freezer

An ultra-low freezer (ULT) stores biological material such as bacteria, viruses and cells. It works like a conventional refrigerator, but operates at a much lower temperature – from -45 to -150 degrees Celsius, depending on the intended use.

Use the ULT freezer to store biological material until ready for testing. Depending on the type – standing, chest, table or under-table – and the maximum temperature, only certain samples may be stored.

Popular Ultra Low Freezer brands/manufacturers

ThermoFisher Scientific

Panasonic Healthcare (PHCbi)

VWR

Eppendorf

CO2 incubator

A CO2 incubator is a sealed, climate-controlled box used in life science laboratories to grow cell cultures by controlling the levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the chamber. You get the same conditions as the natural environment of the sample for testing and research purposes. For example, if you were examining a human cell, the incubator would replicate the conditions inside a human body.

Prepare the sample in a petri dish and place it in the incubator to allow a culture to grow. These cultured cells are often used in medical applications or to produce biopharmaceuticals.

Popular brands/manufacturers of CO2 incubators

PHCbi

ThermoFisher Scientific

Binder Inc.

NuAire

memmert

Tritec

Eppendorf

General equipment you will need

Along with all of the specialized — and even customizable — equipment you’ll need, there’s a long list of general lab equipment you’ll need as well. This equipment includes many small and large items that every laboratory needs, but especially biology-specific laboratories. The list contains a mix of gear and accessories.

gear

hoods

biosafety cabinets

Laboratory shakers and vortexers

autoclave

laboratory water baths

laboratory ovens

monoplane

Sealer for microplates

Accessories & Glassware

Erlenmeyer flask

measuring cylinder

test tubes

petri dishes

tubular frame

A cup

lab coat

Tongs

Bunsen burner

hot plates

pipettes (or pipettes)

filter paper

stirrer

funnel

wash bottles

microscopic slides

and coverslips

While you may not need every single item on this list, it’s important to consider whether or not you need any of these devices or supplies. You’ll be surprised how easy it is to forget the little things when setting up a brand new lab.

How much does it cost to open a biology lab?

Opening a biology lab can cost anywhere from $50,000 to a few million dollars depending on the type of lab, its location, and the specific instrumentation you need. Luckily, there are ways to raise money and keep costs down.

The majority of your costs are in the lab space and the equipment itself. Much of this depends on what field you are in and whether you are buying new or used equipment, or are willing to lease equipment. You must also take into account the salary of the staff, as well as any utilities that are not included in the rent of the facility.

Biology Equipment Purchase Considerations

Buy brand new equipment

Buying new equipment from the manufacturer requires a hefty upfront payment, but ensures you have the highest quality equipment on the market. While new equipment is less likely to fail, future maintenance and repair costs or service contracts will add to this expense.

Buy used biology laboratory equipment

Compared to buying new, you can save a lot of money with used equipment. But you still have to worry about repair and maintenance. If a machine you just bought breaks down shortly thereafter, you have even more money to spend. For the lab on a budget, this can be a big risk.

Leasing of biology laboratory equipment

Laboratory equipment leasing is an alternative that avoids having to shell out a large upfront sum for all the equipment you need to get your lab started. Because maintenance and repairs are included in your lease cost, it can be far more economical to use this approach. By leasing your equipment, you spread your payments over time and free up your budget for other ongoing operational needs. You have the choice of leasing new equipment or factory refurbished equipment, the latter of which can help you save even more.

Laboratory buildings provide tests

Science facilities are different from other academic buildings. Knowing how they differ can help facility leaders make the grade

By Daniel Cesarz educational institutions

Thinking about building a new campus lab or science building? Note the following: Today’s laboratory and science buildings are evolving. As the research model has shifted to a more team-based approach with increased interaction, students and faculty expect these types of institutions to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration.

After all, the aim of a university is to attract the brightest minds possible. Recruiting and retaining high caliber research professors, as well as securing government and private research grants, can often depend on the quality and design innovation of the research facilities the university has to offer. The design of research facilities therefore requires careful consideration more than ever. From the beginning of the project there can be any number of complex problems that need to be solved. Identifying these issues and recognizing the risks each pose is a key to successful project management.

Also crucial is understanding the differences between a research institution and the more conventional academic institution. Some of these distinctions include:

Schedule. Depending on the program size and the complexity of the facility, the construction time for research or laboratory buildings can take an average of six months longer than the completion of a typical academic building. Plan ahead and incorporate this additional time frame into the development plan and the initial planning model of the project. Whenever possible, consult industry experts (architects and construction managers) for the best information available on specific project requirements. Don’t rely on rules of thumb when it comes to specific project data.

ground elevations. Floor heights are higher for a research facility than for a typical academic building due to the need for more air supply and exhaust ducting and plumbing. If a project needs to be directly connected to another building on campus, there will most likely be challenges in maintaining existing floor heights. Be prepared for ramps or short flights of stairs to accommodate these issues. Another option is to reduce the connection to just one floor.

environmental requirements. A research facility must meet stringent environmental regulations for incoming air filtration, exhaust air treatment, solvent and chemical element storage, laboratory effluent treatment, and hazardous waste system treatment. It is important to allow some flexibility by making room for a future acid neutralization system should wastewater disposal requirements or facility usage change. Adding it at a later date when it wasn’t planned can be expensive and time consuming if the initial design doesn’t accommodate it.

equipment room. A research facility typically requires a deep basement—20 feet or more below ground—to house mechanical and electrical equipment, including large air handling units, chillers, boilers, electrical switchgear, and backup generators. A typical academic building may or may not have a basement depending on the construction schedule. Soil types and water table depth may affect location, program limitations, or overall schedule duration.

water supply. A research facility typically requires non-traditional plumbing, such as domestic hot/cold water. An alternative to a costly centralized treatment and distribution piping system for purified water is a point-of-use water purification unit. These units purify process water to a level suitable for most laboratory applications and procedures. The quality of domestic water varies across the country, so water provided by the local municipality should be tested to determine the level of filtration required to meet specific project requirements.

floor structure. Laboratory buildings require a rigid floor construction to minimize vibration problems for sensitive instruments and experiments. A typical academic building has a more relaxed vibration requirement, resulting in fewer structural frames and thinner floor panels. A structural analysis should be performed comparing the advantages and disadvantages of steel versus cast-in-place concrete. Usually the steel frame is less expensive, but cast-in-place concrete can have some vibration and schedule advantages.

air circulation. An academic building uses systems that circulate the supply air back to the air handling unit, where it is re-tempered and returned to the classrooms. The supply air of a research facility cannot be circulated due to possible contamination. Consequently, there is a large volume of air that needs to be heated and cooled and then released to the environment. This offers the possibility of recovering energy by extracting it from the exhaust air flow and then reusing the energy to temper the incoming fresh air. The initial cost of the project is higher, but later operational costs are lower.

system redundancy. A research building must be equipped with fully redundant systems so that if one power source fails, it automatically switches to the other and the facility is not powered. Similarly, large emergency generators provide backup electrical power for critical loads such as boilers, chillers, air handling units, extractor hoods, vivarium systems, building automation, emergency lighting, etc. Due to the ratio of normal to emergency power and the size of these systems, these systems should be in close proximity to each other be set up. The added expense of running large copper power feeds from the roof to the basement can be avoided by addressing this issue as early as possible in the design process.

Costs. There’s no way around it. A research building will most likely cost quite a bit more than a typical academic building. Construction costs can range from $350 to $500 per gross square foot for a research building, as opposed to $150 to $250 for a typical academic building, depending on the program. It’s a good idea to budget for construction costs early on. Gather as much data as possible on existing projects that are similar to the proposed project. Develop a budget based on as much historical cost data as possible and consider a healthy ownership rate of at least 15 percent.

Research facilities are large consumers of electricity, steam and chilled water, so an assessment of these requirements in comparison to the ability of the current central plant and utility infrastructure to meet them is an important early step in evaluating the overall project scope. For example, if a project relies on legacy underground infrastructure systems, survey information early in the process can help identify bottlenecks and other areas of potential failure. These can then be budgeted and included in the overall scope.

anticipate challenges

With many college campuses located in urban settings, another area to keep a close eye on is community relations. Create a communication plan for sharing appropriate project information. One way to do this is to develop a project website or hold milestone “town meetings” to present updated design information, construction schedules, and so on. The community is a stakeholder in the project and should be involved in the process as much as possible.

Another way to prevent potential problems is to hold a risk management session with all project team members to identify major threats to the project.

For example, a recent laboratory project raised concerns about residents’ perceptions of the building’s acceptable exhaust emissions. The project team needed a plan for communicating information to the community to keep the issue from becoming a contentious issue. The solution was a town hall meeting to address the issue. All the necessary advisors and experts were present to present the facts and to talk to the residents.

Another potential issue that risk management meetings can identify and address early is a potential labor shortage. For example, if the project team determines that the availability of local professionals may be at risk due to an expected increase in construction volume over the same period as the project, the design team can advance the design completion and resize bid packages to procure the work ahead of competing projects .

Before making the final choice of design bureau, request a full set of design/development and construction documentation for a similar laboratory project that the company has completed. This will give you a good sense of what to expect from the design company in terms of document quality and level of detail. It also provides the ability to review and resolve specific issues with each company.

When going through the site manager selection process, ask for a copy of a schematic design and design/development estimate from a recent similar project. Look for things that could be an issue, like format or level of detail, and during the interviews find out how each company would address the concerns.

Finally, don’t underestimate the importance of a cohesive team. A formal team building meeting, held as soon as possible after the design and construction management contractors have been selected, is an excellent way to get the project started. Good team relationships and chemistry are the fundamental elements to success, especially in complicated projects like laboratory setups.

SMOOTHING THE PROCESS

Contain costs through effective construction management Cost management is one of the most critical components of any project. Hiring a reputable independent cost consultant to provide detailed cost estimates for each of the key design milestones can add great value. These estimates should be prepared in conjunction with the site manager so that there is consensus within the team on the estimated value of the project. Once the estimated costs have been determined, it’s a good idea to conduct two formal value management sessions – in the schematic phase and then again in the design/development phase – to review each of the key design elements in detail and explore possible alternatives. The aim of these sessions is to ensure that the full scope of the project, including the intended design and the quality of systems and materials, has been identified and reflected in the estimates. One way to reduce the number of change orders during construction is to establish a user group review, approval, and release process early in the design process. While it doesn’t eliminate last-minute requests from facility users, it can significantly reduce them and give the group a greater sense of ownership of cost and schedule control. It’s a good idea to set up three different emergency accounts. One can be used by the facilities team to accommodate growth in the scope of the project or unknown site conditions or other contingencies. The second and third contingency accounts would be for the designer and the build manager to account for market conditions, escalation and commercial company acquisitions, among other things. Monitor each account separately and work with the team to ensure each allocation of these funds is approved. – Daniel Caesarz

Daniel Cesarz is Senior Preconstruction Manager at Gilbane Building Company. He has been in the construction industry for more than 33 years, specializing in scientific and laboratory projects.

A big idea packed into many small but crucial details

Many labs start out as entrepreneurial ventures to develop new technologies. A start-up lab thus has entrepreneurial requirements that must be met so that it can successfully develop into a full-fledged company.

Below are some of the business needs of a startup lab.

Starting the lab

Creation of the business plan

The launch of your lab begins with a business plan, which includes, in order, an executive summary, a company description, a market analysis, an organization and management section, a service or product line section, and a funding request section.

The executive summary is the most important section of a business plan as it lays out your experience and background and the decisions that led you to start your business. The executive summary also explains why your business idea will be successful. If you are seeking financing, the summary is also your first opportunity to attract the interest of a potential investor.

The summary should highlight the strengths of your overall business plan and show that you have conducted a thorough market analysis. It should provide information about a need or gap in your target market and how your particular technology solutions can fill it. The summary is designed to convince the reader that you can be successful in your target market. Although the executive summary appears first in the business plan, it is the last section of the business plan that you write.

The Business Description section provides a high-level overview of the different elements of your business. This is similar to an extended elevator pitch and can help readers and potential investors quickly understand your company’s goal and its unique offering. The Business Description section describes the nature of your business and explains the competitive advantages that you believe will make your business successful.

The Market Analysis section should highlight your industry and market knowledge along with your research findings and conclusion. It should include a description of your industry, including its current size and historical growth rate, as well as other trends and characteristics, such as: B. Life cycle stage and projected growth rate. It should also include information about the target market, its differentiators, the size of the primary target market and your likely share of it, a competitive analysis, and any regulatory or governmental provisions affecting your business.

The Organization and Management section should include the legal and organizational structure of your company, the management profile, and the qualifications of your board of directors. The Service or Product Line section contains a description of your product or service, details about the life cycle of your product, the status of your intellectual property protection, and current or future R&D activities.

The Marketing and Sales Management section encompasses your overall marketing and sales strategy – namely your strategies for market penetration, growth, distribution channels and communication.

The Request for Funding section of the business plan should include your current funding needs and any future funding requirements over the next five years, supported by historical and projected financial information. The application section should also include an analysis of how the proposed funds will be used.

Building the business structure

Whether your startup lab’s business structure is a sole proprietorship, limited liability company (LLC), corporation (C or S), or partnership, there are long- and short-term legal and tax implications that are required be considered. It is advisable to seek legal and tax advice before adopting the final corporate structure.

Funding for the lab

Many entrepreneurs “seed” the start-up lab from their personal resources or the resources of friends and family. This seed funding pays for the lab rent, lab set-up, staff and consultant salaries, administrative costs, and other expenses such as insurance, legal, and accounting fees.

Choice of laboratory space

There are many options available to set the physical location of the startup lab. This includes renting laboratory space at a commercial site or in an incubator. Traditionally, it is more costly for the start-up lab to rent commercial space with existing lab facilities than to set up a lab in an incubator.

Many states provide dedicated incubator facilities with wet labs to support the commercialization of critical technologies and create jobs to strengthen local economies. In the state of New Jersey, the Commercialization Center for Innovative Technologies (CCIT) incubation facilities provide life science and pharma-biotech start-ups with plug-in wet and dry laboratory modules with hoods and sinks; office space, including offices and suites; conference rooms; and shared bathrooms and dining areas.

There are certain requirements that the start-up laboratory must meet in order to be able to use the CCIT incubation facilities. The start-up laboratory must submit an application to the CCIT Advisory Board, which examines the business plan and the available funding sources for a period of one year. It should be emphasized that a feature of the CCIT is that laboratory founders can stay for a maximum of five years; then they graduate and move into a commercial lab. Certain incubators do not have a runtime limit.

After securing laboratory space, whether in an incubator or commercial facility, the next step is to secure office and laboratory equipment, whether new or used. New office and laboratory equipment is available on the open market, and used office and laboratory equipment can be purchased at large pharmaceutical auctions or through online surplus asset sales channels such as GoIndustry DoveBid, which cater to the biotech, life sciences and pharmaceutical industries.

It’s also worth noting that labs can take advantage of startup discounts offered by certain vendors such as Fisher Scientific, Staples, and UPS. In the state of New Jersey, such discounts are available through membership of the Biotechnology Council of New Jersey (BioNJ).

Hire staff

A business owner should be aware of employment and labor laws when hiring employees and consultants to ensure compliance. These employment and labor laws may include offering employee benefits, writing effective job descriptions, or providing communication tools such as employee handbooks.

Employees and consultants are generally available through the usual channels or through talent acquisition resources. BioNJ offers talent acquisition resources such as networking on LinkedIn and talent networking events.

operation of the laboratory

Once your lab is set up, the next step is to operate and manage the lab to ensure continued growth and success. Start-up laboratories in the operational and management phase have certain entrepreneurial requirements.

management support

Management support is a broad concept and includes the provision of a team of consultants or service providers available to manage business, financial, accounting, legal, insurance and human resources functions. In the early stages, labs may hire outside contractors or consultants to perform these functions, and as they grow, they may hire dedicated staff. Laboratories located in incubator facilities may have access to shared business management services to support their day-to-day activities.

Another form of management support is the networking of a local entrepreneur with colleagues in the other start-up labs who have rented space in the incubator.

In many federal states, start-up labs are provided by state organizations with experts in business development, product development, customer validation, marketing, corporate structure, strategy and financing. It is worth noting that the CCIT is offering a new program aimed at life science executives who are in transition to act as advisors to incubator tenants.

When a start-up lab qualifies as a minority-owned business, the Small Business Administration (SBA) offers a business development program to help qualified minority-owned businesses develop and grow their businesses through one-on-one consulting, training workshops, and growth Management and technical guidance. The program also provides access to federal contracting opportunities, enabling these companies to become solid competitors in the federal market.

financing

As the lab grows and expands, the entrepreneur must continue to find funding. Incubator facilities run their own programs and offer local entrepreneurs the opportunity to showcase their technology funding sources. Funding sources include one or more angel investors or a venture capital fund. An example of a venture capital fund is Apple Tree Partners, which invests in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical technologies, and healthcare services.

Government grants provide funding under certain conditions. The SBA offers research grants to small businesses engaged in research and development through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. SBIR and STTR programs encourage small companies to undertake R&D projects that meet federal R&D goals and have high potential for commercialization.

The SBA also offers small business credit options that meet certain criteria. SBA loan options include guaranteed loan programs, surety bonds and equity financings.

Guaranteed loan programs and debt financing are not implemented directly by the SBA but by its partners (lenders, community development organizations and microcredit institutions). The SBA guarantees repayment of the loans, thereby eliminating some of the risk for lenders. SBA-backed loans are not available to small businesses when the borrower has access to other financing on reasonable terms.

Guarantees target small business contractors who cannot obtain guarantees through regular commercial channels. SBA enters into an agreement with a bond guaranteeing that SBA will pay a percentage of the loss if the contractor breaches the terms of the contract. The SBA’s sponsorship provides sponsors with an incentive to provide sponsorship to eligible contractors, thereby strengthening a contractor’s ability to obtain sponsorship and greater access to small business contracting opportunities.

Equity financing is available through the SBA’s Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) program. The SBA does not invest directly in small companies, but relies on the expertise of qualified private investment funds. The SBA licenses these funds as SBICs, supplementing the capital companies raise from private investors with access to low-cost, government-guaranteed debt.

Grow up

If the entrepreneurial requirements are met, a start-up lab can become a full-fledged company. “A startup lab can remain [fully] virtual, [partially] virtual, or establish itself as a fully diversified company,” said James Sharpe, biotechnology entrepreneur and CEO of several biotech startups. “It all depends on what business model a startup lab chooses.”

Virtual companies may have few key employees and use contract services to carry out their duties, while partially virtual companies may have a core management and research team and may outsource their more complex functions such as clinical trials and manufacturing.

“The start-up labs that choose to become fully diversified companies need to build extensive expertise across many disciplines to be successful, and this requires a significant amount of time and resources, things that start up world are generally scarce. ‘ says Sharpe. “Therefore, in the last decade, the virtual and semi-virtual models have gained popularity, which offer an alternative for the efficient use of resources while at the same time achieving important milestones.”

What lab types do we have?

overview

Research laboratories are workplaces for conducting scientific research. This WBDG building type page summarizes the key architectural, technical, operational, safety and sustainability considerations for the design of research laboratories.

The authors recognize that in the 21st century, clients are pushing project design teams to create research labs that respond to current and future needs, that encourage interaction between scientists from different disciplines, that help recruit and retain qualified scientists, and that Facilitate partnerships and development. For this reason, a separate WBDG resource page on trends in laboratory design has been developed to further explain this emerging model of laboratory design.

building attributes

A. Architectural considerations

Over the past 30 years, architects, engineers, facility managers and researchers have refined the design of typical wet and dry laboratories to a very high level. The best solutions for designing a typical laboratory are described below.

Laboratory planning module

The laboratory module is the key unit in every laboratory facility. When properly designed, a laboratory module fully coordinates all architectural and technical systems. A well-designed modular plan provides the following benefits:

Flexibility – The laboratory module is designed, as Jonas Salk explained, to “encourage change” within the building. Research is constantly changing, and buildings must allow for appropriate changes. Many private research companies make physical changes to an average of 25% of their labs each year. Most academic institutions change the layout of 5-10% of their labs annually. See also WBDG productive – design for the changing workplace.

Expansion – The use of laboratory planning modules allows the building to easily accommodate required expansions or contractions without affecting the functionality of the facility.

A typical laboratory module is about 10 feet 6 inches wide but varies in depth from 20 to 30 feet. The depth is based on the size required for the lab and the cost effectiveness of the structural system. The 10ft 6in dimension is based on two rows of enclosures and equipment (each row 2ft 6in deep) on each wall, a 5ft aisle and 6in for the wall thickness separating one lab from another. The 5 foot aisle width should be considered a minimum due to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.

Two-way lab module – Another level of flexibility can be achieved by designing a lab module that works in both directions. This allows casework to be organized in both directions. This concept is more flexible than the basic laboratory module concept, but may require more space. Using a bidirectional grid is beneficial to account for different run lengths for case work. Casework may need to be moved to create a different job type or size.

Three-Dimensional Laboratory Module – The three-dimensional laboratory module planning concept combines the basic laboratory module or a bi-directional laboratory module with any laboratory corridor layout for each floor of a building. This means that a three-dimensional laboratory module can have a one-corridor layout on one floor, a two-corridor layout on another, and so on. To create a three-dimensional laboratory module:

A basic or bidirectional internship must be defined.

All vertical risers must be fully matched. (Vertical risers include fire escapes, elevators, restrooms, and utility shafts.)

The mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems must be coordinated in the ceiling to function with the multi-corridor arrangements.

laboratory planning concepts

The relationship between laboratories, offices and corridor will significantly influence the image and operation of the building. See also WBDG Functional – Account for Functional Needs.

Do end users want a view of the outside from their labs, or will the labs be internal, using the wall space for casework and equipment?

Some researchers do not want or cannot have natural light in their research rooms. Specialized instruments and devices, such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) machines, electron microscopes, and lasers, cannot function properly in natural light. Natural daylight is not desirable in vivarium facilities or in some support rooms, so these are located inside the building.

Zoning the building between laboratory and non-laboratory spaces reduces costs. Laboratories require 100% outside air, while non-laboratory spaces can be designed like an office building with recirculating air.

Neighborhoods with corridors can be organized with a single corridor, two corridors (racetrack), or a three corridor scheme. There are a number of variations to organize each type.

The following are three ways to organize a single corridor scheme:

One-floor laboratory design with laboratories and offices next to each other.

Single corridor laboratory design with offices grouped at the end and in the middle.

One corridor lab design with office clusters directly accessing the main labs.

Open labs vs. closed labs. More and more research institutions are creating “open” laboratories to support team-based work. The open lab concept differs significantly from the ‘closed’ lab of the past, which was based on housing the individual investigator. In open labs, researchers not only share the space itself, but also equipment, lab bench space, and support staff. The open lab format facilitates communication between scientists and makes the lab more adaptable to future needs. A variety of labs—from wet biology and chemistry labs to engineering labs to dry computing facilities—are now being designed as open labs.

flexibility

In today’s lab, the ability to expand, reconfigure, and reuse has become a major concern. To achieve this, the following should be considered:

Flexible laboratory facilities

Equipment Zones – These should be created in the initial design to accommodate equipment, fixed or moveable housing at a later date.

Generic Labs

Mobile Casework – This can consist of mobile tables and mobile base cabinets. It allows researchers to configure and equip the laboratory according to their needs instead of adapting to predetermined fixed cases.

Mobile housing Mobile base cabinet

Photo Credit: Kewaunee Scientific Corp.

Flexible Partitions – These can be removed and relocated to a different location, allowing lab space to be configured in a variety of sizes.

Overhead Service Brackets – These are suspended from the ceiling. They may have utilities such as plumbing, power, data, lighting fixtures, and snorkel exhaust. They offer maximum flexibility as the services are raised off the ground, allowing free floor space to be configured as required.

Flexible engineering systems

The lab was designed with overhead connections and disconnections to allow for flexibility and quick device connection.

Laboratories should have easy connections/disconnects on walls and ceilings to allow quick and inexpensive connection of equipment. See also WBDG Productive – Integrating Technological Tools.

Engineering systems should be designed to allow fume hoods to be added or removed.

Space should be provided in the utility corridors, ceilings, and vertical ducts for future HVAC, plumbing, and electrical needs.

Sales concepts for building systems

space

A control room is a separate floor located above each laboratory floor. All services and utilities are here, falling down to service the lab below. This system has a high initial cost, but allows the building to accommodate changes very easily without disrupting the labs.

Conventional design vs. interstitial design

Photo credit: Zimmer, Gunsul, Frasca Partnership

service corridor

Laboratory rooms are adjacent to a centrally located corridor where all utilities are located. Maintenance personnel have constant access to main ducts, isolation valves and control cabinets without having to enter the laboratory. This service corridor can be doubled as an equipment/utility corridor to accommodate general laboratory equipment such as autoclaves, freezer rooms, etc.

B. Technical Considerations

Technical systems usually account for more than 50% of the construction costs of a laboratory building. The close coordination of these thus ensures flexible and successfully working laboratory equipment. The following engineering topics are covered here: Structural Systems, Mechanical Systems, Electrical Systems, and Piping Systems. See also WBDG Functional – Ensure proper product/system integration.

structural systems

After the basic laboratory module has been determined, the structure grid should be evaluated. In most cases, the structure grid corresponds to 2 basic laboratory modules. If the typical module is 10 ft. 6 in. x 30 ft., the structural grid would be 21 ft. x 30 ft. A good rule of thumb is to add the two dimensions of the structural grid; if the sum equals a number in the low 50’s, then the structural lattice would be efficient and inexpensive.

Typical laboratory structure grid.

Key design issues to consider when evaluating a structural system include:

frame depth and effect on height from floor to floor;

Ability to coordinate framing with lab modules;

Ability to create penetrations for laboratory services both in the initial design and over the life of the building;

Potential for vertical or horizontal expansion;

vibration criteria; and

Costs.

mechanical systems

The location of the main vertical supply/exhaust ducts as well as the horizontal ducts is very critical in the design of a flexible laboratory. Key points to consider include: efficiency and flexibility, modular design, initial cost, long-term operational cost, building height and mass, and design image.

The various design options for the mechanics are shown below:

Ducts in the middle of the building Ducts at the end of the building End exhaust and middle intake

Several inner waves waves on the outside

See also WBDG High Performance HVAC.

electrical systems

Three types of current are commonly used for most laboratory projects:

The following should be noted:

load estimation

site distribution

power quality

Management of electrical cable trays/switchboards

Lighting design User expectations Illumination levels Uniformity Light distribution-indirect, direct, combination of fixture array and orientation-lighting parallel to housing and lighting perpendicular to housing

telephone and data systems

piping systems

When designing laboratory piping systems, there are several important design goals to strive for:

Offer a flexible design that allows for easy renovation and modification.

Providing appropriate sanitation systems for each lab based on lab programming.

Deploy systems that minimize energy consumption.

Provide equipment arrangements that minimize downtime in the event of a breakdown.

Place shutoff valves where they are accessible and easy to understand.

Achieve all of the above objectives within the construction budget.

C. Operation and Maintenance

savings measures

The following cost saving points can be considered without compromising on quality and flexibility:

Separate laboratory and non-laboratory zones.

Try designing with off-the-shelf parts rather than custom components. See also WBDG Functional – Ensure proper product/system integration.

Identify at least three manufacturers for each specified material or piece of equipment to ensure competitive bidding for the work.

Place fume hoods on upper floors to minimize ductwork and the cost of moving air through the building.

Evaluate whether the process piping should be managed centrally or locally. In many cases, it is more cost-effective to locate cylinder gases at the source in the laboratory rather than centrally.

Create equipment zones to minimize the amount of casework involved in initial construction.

Provide space for equipment (e.g. ice maker) that can also be shared with other labs in the lab’s entrance alcove. Shared facilities can be more efficient and less expensive.

Consider defining instrument rooms as corridors to save space and encourage researchers to share equipment.

Design easy-to-maintain, energy-efficient building systems. Expose mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems for easy maintenance access from the lab.

Place all mechanical devices centrally, either on a lower level of the building or on the penthouse level.

Stack vertical elements on top of each other without having to move from floor to floor. Such elements include columns, stairs, mechanical cabinets and toilets.

D. Laboratory and Personnel Safety

The protection of human health and life is of paramount importance and safety must always come first when designing laboratory buildings. Security – protecting a facility from unauthorized access – is also critical. Today’s research facility designers must work within the tight regulatory environment to create safe and productive laboratory spaces. The WBDG resource page on Safety and Security in Laboratories addresses all of these related concerns, including:

Laboratory Classifications: Depending on the amount and type of chemicals in the laboratory;

Safety devices: fume hoods and biosafety cabinets;

levels of biosecurity containment as a design principle;

radiation protection;

Employee safety: showers, eye washes, other protective measures; and

emergency power.

See also WBDG Secure/Safe Branch, Threat/Vulnerability Assessments and Risk Analysis, Balancing Security/Safety and Sustainability Objectives, Air Decontamination and Electrical Safety.

E. Sustainability Considerations

A typical laboratory uses far more energy and water per square foot than a typical office building due to intense ventilation requirements and other health and safety concerns. Therefore, designers should strive to create sustainable, high-performing and energy-efficient laboratories that:

minimizing the overall environmental impact;

Protect the safety of the occupants; and

Optimize the efficiency of the entire building on a lifecycle basis.

For more specific guidance see WBDG Sustainable Laboratory Design; EPA and DOE’s Laboratories for the 21st Century (Labs21), a voluntary program to improve the environmental performance of US laboratories; WBDG Sustainable Industry and Balanced Safety/Safety and Sustainability Goals.

F. Three laboratory areas

There are three research laboratory sectors. They are academic labs, government labs, and private sector labs.

Academic laboratories are primarily educational institutions, but also include some research laboratories engaged in public interest or profit-making research.

Government laboratories include those operated by federal agencies and those operated by state governments that conduct research in the public interest.

The design of private sector labs operated by corporations is usually driven by the need to improve the profit potential of the research operation.

G. Sample Design and Construction Criteria

For GSA, the unit cost for this building type is based on the build quality and design features in the table below. This information is based on GSA’s benchmark interpretation and may differ for other owners.

Emerging Issues

LEED® Application Guide for Laboratory Facilities (LEED-AGL) – Because research facilities present a unique challenge to energy efficiency and sustainable design, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) formed the LEED AGL committee to develop guidance to help project teams apply LEED credits in the design and construction of laboratory facilities. Also see the WBDG resource page Using LEED on Laboratory Projects.

Relevant codes and standards

The following agencies and organizations have developed codes and standards that affect research laboratory design. Note that the codes and standards are minimum requirements. Architects, engineers and consultants should consider exceeding applicable requirements whenever possible.

Additional Resources

publications

Other

Laboratory buildings provide tests

Science facilities are different from other academic buildings. Knowing how they differ can help facility leaders make the grade

By Daniel Cesarz educational institutions

Thinking about building a new campus lab or science building? Note the following: Today’s laboratory and science buildings are evolving. As the research model has shifted to a more team-based approach with increased interaction, students and faculty expect these types of institutions to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration.

After all, the aim of a university is to attract the brightest minds possible. Recruiting and retaining high caliber research professors, as well as securing government and private research grants, can often depend on the quality and design innovation of the research facilities the university has to offer. The design of research facilities therefore requires careful consideration more than ever. From the beginning of the project there can be any number of complex problems that need to be solved. Identifying these issues and recognizing the risks each pose is a key to successful project management.

Also crucial is understanding the differences between a research institution and the more conventional academic institution. Some of these distinctions include:

Schedule. Depending on the program size and the complexity of the facility, the construction time for research or laboratory buildings can take an average of six months longer than the completion of a typical academic building. Plan ahead and incorporate this additional time frame into the development plan and the initial planning model of the project. Whenever possible, consult industry experts (architects and construction managers) for the best information available on specific project requirements. Don’t rely on rules of thumb when it comes to specific project data.

ground elevations. Floor heights are higher for a research facility than for a typical academic building due to the need for more air supply and exhaust ducting and plumbing. If a project needs to be directly connected to another building on campus, there will most likely be challenges in maintaining existing floor heights. Be prepared for ramps or short flights of stairs to accommodate these issues. Another option is to reduce the connection to just one floor.

environmental requirements. A research facility must meet stringent environmental regulations for incoming air filtration, exhaust air treatment, solvent and chemical element storage, laboratory effluent treatment, and hazardous waste system treatment. It is important to allow some flexibility by making room for a future acid neutralization system should wastewater disposal requirements or facility usage change. Adding it at a later date when it wasn’t planned can be expensive and time consuming if the initial design doesn’t accommodate it.

equipment room. A research facility typically requires a deep basement—20 feet or more below ground—to house mechanical and electrical equipment, including large air handling units, chillers, boilers, electrical switchgear, and backup generators. A typical academic building may or may not have a basement depending on the construction schedule. Soil types and water table depth may affect location, program limitations, or overall schedule duration.

water supply. A research facility typically requires non-traditional plumbing, such as domestic hot/cold water. An alternative to a costly centralized treatment and distribution piping system for purified water is a point-of-use water purification unit. These units purify process water to a level suitable for most laboratory applications and procedures. The quality of domestic water varies across the country, so water provided by the local municipality should be tested to determine the level of filtration required to meet specific project requirements.

floor structure. Laboratory buildings require a rigid floor construction to minimize vibration problems for sensitive instruments and experiments. A typical academic building has a more relaxed vibration requirement, resulting in fewer structural frames and thinner floor panels. A structural analysis should be performed comparing the advantages and disadvantages of steel versus cast-in-place concrete. Usually the steel frame is less expensive, but cast-in-place concrete can have some vibration and schedule advantages.

air circulation. An academic building uses systems that circulate the supply air back to the air handling unit, where it is re-tempered and returned to the classrooms. The supply air of a research facility cannot be circulated due to possible contamination. Consequently, there is a large volume of air that needs to be heated and cooled and then released to the environment. This offers the possibility of recovering energy by extracting it from the exhaust air flow and then reusing the energy to temper the incoming fresh air. The initial cost of the project is higher, but later operational costs are lower.

system redundancy. A research building must be equipped with fully redundant systems so that if one power source fails, it automatically switches to the other and the facility is not powered. Similarly, large emergency generators provide backup electrical power for critical loads such as boilers, chillers, air handling units, extractor hoods, vivarium systems, building automation, emergency lighting, etc. Due to the ratio of normal to emergency power and the size of these systems, these systems should be in close proximity to each other be set up. The added expense of running large copper power feeds from the roof to the basement can be avoided by addressing this issue as early as possible in the design process.

Costs. There’s no way around it. A research building will most likely cost quite a bit more than a typical academic building. Construction costs can range from $350 to $500 per gross square foot for a research building, as opposed to $150 to $250 for a typical academic building, depending on the program. It’s a good idea to budget for construction costs early on. Gather as much data as possible on existing projects that are similar to the proposed project. Develop a budget based on as much historical cost data as possible and consider a healthy ownership rate of at least 15 percent.

Research facilities are large consumers of electricity, steam and chilled water, so an assessment of these requirements in comparison to the ability of the current central plant and utility infrastructure to meet them is an important early step in evaluating the overall project scope. For example, if a project relies on legacy underground infrastructure systems, survey information early in the process can help identify bottlenecks and other areas of potential failure. These can then be budgeted and included in the overall scope.

anticipate challenges

With many college campuses located in urban settings, another area to keep a close eye on is community relations. Create a communication plan for sharing appropriate project information. One way to do this is to develop a project website or hold milestone “town meetings” to present updated design information, construction schedules, and so on. The community is a stakeholder in the project and should be involved in the process as much as possible.

Another way to prevent potential problems is to hold a risk management session with all project team members to identify major threats to the project.

For example, a recent laboratory project raised concerns about residents’ perceptions of the building’s acceptable exhaust emissions. The project team needed a plan for communicating information to the community to keep the issue from becoming a contentious issue. The solution was a town hall meeting to address the issue. All the necessary advisors and experts were present to present the facts and to talk to the residents.

Another potential issue that risk management meetings can identify and address early is a potential labor shortage. For example, if the project team determines that the availability of local professionals may be at risk due to an expected increase in construction volume over the same period as the project, the design team can advance the design completion and resize bid packages to procure the work ahead of competing projects .

Before making the final choice of design bureau, request a full set of design/development and construction documentation for a similar laboratory project that the company has completed. This will give you a good sense of what to expect from the design company in terms of document quality and level of detail. It also provides the ability to review and resolve specific issues with each company.

When going through the site manager selection process, ask for a copy of a schematic design and design/development estimate from a recent similar project. Look for things that could be an issue, like format or level of detail, and during the interviews find out how each company would address the concerns.

Finally, don’t underestimate the importance of a cohesive team. A formal team building meeting, held as soon as possible after the design and construction management contractors have been selected, is an excellent way to get the project started. Good team relationships and chemistry are the fundamental elements to success, especially in complicated projects like laboratory setups.

SMOOTHING THE PROCESS

Contain costs through effective construction management Cost management is one of the most critical components of any project. Hiring a reputable independent cost consultant to provide detailed cost estimates for each of the key design milestones can add great value. These estimates should be prepared in conjunction with the site manager so that there is consensus within the team on the estimated value of the project. Once the estimated costs have been determined, it’s a good idea to conduct two formal value management sessions – in the schematic phase and then again in the design/development phase – to review each of the key design elements in detail and explore possible alternatives. The aim of these sessions is to ensure that the full scope of the project, including the intended design and the quality of systems and materials, has been identified and reflected in the estimates. One way to reduce the number of change orders during construction is to establish a user group review, approval, and release process early in the design process. While it doesn’t eliminate last-minute requests from facility users, it can significantly reduce them and give the group a greater sense of ownership of cost and schedule control. It’s a good idea to set up three different emergency accounts. One can be used by the facilities team to accommodate growth in the scope of the project or unknown site conditions or other contingencies. The second and third contingency accounts would be for the designer and the build manager to account for market conditions, escalation and commercial company acquisitions, among other things. Monitor each account separately and work with the team to ensure each allocation of these funds is approved. – Daniel Caesarz

Daniel Cesarz is Senior Preconstruction Manager at Gilbane Building Company. He has been in the construction industry for more than 33 years, specializing in scientific and laboratory projects.

Technical report Bierschbach, MC ; Hafner, ; Schneider, KJ ; …

241} Am sealed springs; and an institutional user lab. In addition to the laboratories, three reference locations were also examined, which require a certain dismantling effort. These sites are: (1) a site with a contaminated discharge line and holding tank; (2) a site with contaminated soil surface; and (3) a tailings dump containing uranium and thorium tailings. The decommissioning of these reference plants and sites can be done using techniques and equipment commonly used in industry. Essentially, this study uses the same technology that was assumed in the original study. For the laboratory-type reference facilities, the study approach is to first assess the decommissioning of individual components (e.g., fume hoods, glove boxes, and building surfaces) that are common to many laboratory facilities. The information gained from analyzing the individual components of each facility is then used to determine the cost, manpower requirements, and dose information for decommissioning the entire facility. DECON, the objective of the 1988 material facility rulemaking, is the decommissioning alternative evaluated for the reference laboratories as it results in the facility being released for restricted or unrestricted use as soon as possible. For a facility, DECON requires that contaminated components be either: (1) decontaminated to restricted or unrestricted clearance levels, or (2) bagged and shipped to an authorized disposal facility. This study considers unrestricted release only. The new decommissioning criteria of July 1997 are too recent for this study to include a cost analysis of the restricted release option now permitted under these new criteria. The cost of decommissioning plant components is generally estimated to range from $140 to $27,000, depending on the type of component, the type and amount of radioactive contamination, the remediation options chosen, and the amount of radioactive waste generated from decommissioning work. The estimated cost of decommissioning the example labs ranges from $130,000 to $205,000, assuming volume reduction for aggressive low-level radioactive waste (LLW). If only a minimal reduction in LLW volume is made, the cost of decommissioning these labs ranges from $150,000 to $270,000. Based on estimated plant component decommissioning costs, the cost of decommissioning typical non-fuel cycle laboratory facilities is estimated to range from approximately $25,000 for decommissioning a small room with one or two fume hoods to more than $1 million for decommissioning an industrial facility with multiple laboratories in which radiochemicals and sealed radiation sources are prepared. For the reference sites in this study, the basic closure alternatives are: (1) site stabilization followed by long-term care, and (2) removal of the waste or contaminated soil to an authorized landfill. Estimated costs for the decommissioning of three reference sites range from approximately $130,000 to remove a contaminated spillway and containment tank to more than $23 million to remove a tailings pile containing radioactive tailings from ore processing operations that contain tin slag is processed to extract rare metals. Total occupational radiation doses generally range from 0.00007 person-rem to 13 person-rem for the shutdown of the laboratory facilities of this study. The findings of this study are: (1) decommissioning costs have continued to increase since the publication of the original study, primarily due to the rapidly increasing cost of radioactive waste disposal at the available LLW burial sites; (2) these rapidly escalating LLW disposal costs provide a significant incentive for NRC licensees to effectively manage the generation, treatment and disposal of LLW from decommissioning activities; and (3) decommissioning costs have increased on the order of 34% to 66% since the Final Decommissioning Code was enacted in 1988, due in large part to the 3.5-fold increase in burial costs.

Cost information is developed for the conceptual decommissioning of non-fuel cycle nuclear facilities, which represent a significant decommissioning task in terms of decontamination and disposal activities. This study is a re-evaluation of the original study (NUREG/CR-1754 and NUREG/CR-1754, Appendix 1). The reference facilities examined in this study are the same as in the original study and include: a laboratory for the production of {sup 3}H-labelled compounds; a laboratory for the production of {sup 14}C-labeled compounds; a laboratory for the production of {sup 123}I-labelled compounds; a laboratory for the production of {sup 137}Cs sealed sources; a laboratory for the production of {sup more »

List of biology laboratory equipment and instruments

Biology laboratories, or biological research and development laboratories, conduct analysis, experiments, and studies to better understand how biological processes work. Biological research and development scientists rely on a wide range of devices to translate a scientific discovery into an intervention that improves human health and well-being.

If you are building a wet lab focused on biotechnology or biopharmaceutical research, chances are you have a specific set of tools and lab equipment that you need to conduct research. These include microscopes, chromatography systems, flow cytometers, next-generation sequencers and more.

This article will focus on some of the specialized high tech biology laboratory instruments you will need; However, we also include a list of more general lab equipment you may need.

fluorescence microscope

A fluorescence microscope makes it possible to see fluorescent dyes or proteins at the cellular and subcellular level. They are not the optical compound microscopes you would typically see in a middle school or high school science class. However, similar to optical microscopes, they often rely on visible light as an illumination source or light source.

Furthermore, at a similar magnification, the resolution that a fluorescence microscope can achieve is greatly increased due to the use of fluorophores chemically bound to the molecules in the sample. The microscope’s light source can excite the entire sample or individual particles within the sample to determine their fluorescence behavior.

However, the light source used in a fluorescence microscope must emit the specific wavelengths of light that excite the fluorophores present in the sample. For this reason, white light sources are often used in fluorescence microscopes, since white light contains all wavelengths of light in the visible spectrum. From there, scientists can select a wavelength within this range using specific excitation filters.

Popular brands/manufacturers of fluorescence microscopes

ThermoFisher Scientific

Olympus

zeiss

bio wheel

Leica

Analytical laboratory balance

An analytical laboratory balance weighs samples and substances between 0.01 and 500 milligrams. The measuring cups are generally enclosed in a glass case to prevent dust from settling in the cup which can interfere with testing.

Never place chemicals directly on the weighing pan unless they are at room temperature and non-reactive. Instead, place the sample in a container before measuring. Containers, glasses and metal parts can be placed on the pan. Measure it by first weighing the container to adjust for its weight. Reset the weights to zero.

Popular brands/manufacturers of analytical laboratory balances

Mettler-Toledo

Cole Parmer

ThermoFisher Scientific

Adam Equipment USA

Sartorius, Ohaus

centrifuge

A centrifuge spins an object to separate particles from a solution based on density using the principle of sedimentation.

Place the sample in a centrifuge tube, set the parameters and run the machine. Centrifuges can be used in many laboratory settings, but are often used to separate whole blood components.

Popular brands/manufacturers of centrifuges

Cole Parmer

Eppendorf

Labnet

ThermoFisher Scientific

LK Industries

Beckmann-Coulter

microplate reader

Microplate readers are used to analyze specific phenomena in microtiter plates. This allows microbiologists to test multiple samples at the same time. These readers use absorbance, fluorescence, and/or luminescence-based techniques to view samples.

Load the sample into the plate, place it in the microplate reader and set the appropriate test conditions. The results are analyzed by computer.

Popular microplate reader brands/manufacturers

ThermoFisher Scientific

Tecan

PerkinElmer

Molecular Devices

flow cytometer

A flow cytometer detects and measures the cellular biology of a group of particles or cell populations and is used to analyze cell surface expressions and intracellular molecules. A computer then processes the collected data.

The sample to be analyzed must be suspended in a liquid. The liquid is injected into the flow cytometer, where it is focused to move cell by cell through a laser beam. After processing the sample, use the computer to analyze the results. These machines are commonly used in cell imaging, cell signaling, immunophenotyping, and more.

Popular brands/manufacturers of flow cytometers

Beckman Coulter

ThermoFisher Scientific

Sony biotechnology

BD Life Sciences

Miltenyi Biotec

bio wheel

Next Generation Sequencer (NGS)

NGS sequences DNA and RNA. With rapid technological advances in this field, an entire human genome can be sequenced within a single day. They play an important role in the study of molecular biology.

An NGS can be used to sequence an entire genome or to examine specific parts of it and isolate specific genes. It is used to study genetic diseases, population variation, protein interactions with nucleic acids, and more.

Popular NGS brands/manufacturers

Enlightenment

ThermoFisher Scientific

Pacific Life Sciences

qiagen

Fluid

PCR system

PCR, short for polymerase chain reaction, is commonly used in biology and microbiology labs to amplify DNA sequences. The technique is performed using a PCR machine, also known as a thermal cycler or a PCR system. Using a three-step process, PCR can create millions of copies of a given piece of DNA.

It is considered a high-throughput technique and is used for many life science applications such as molecular biology, microbiology, genetics, pharmaceutical research, diagnostics, clinical laboratories, forensics and many more.

The polymerase chain reaction process involves three steps using five essential reagents. The steps include denaturation, annealing and extension or elongation. In addition, five essential reagents are required for PCR to work. This includes a DNA template, DNA polymerase, primers, dNTPs (deoxynucleotide triphosphate) and a PCR buffer

After the initial denaturation is performed, the three main steps are repeated until millions of copies of a target DNA sequence exist.

Popular brands/manufacturers

ThermoFisher Scientific

Cole Parmer

Eppendorf

Roche

QIAGEN

gel electrophoresis system

Gel electrophoresis is a preparative technique used to separate and extract fragments of DNA, RNA and proteins based on their size and charge for analysis.

It is widely used in PCR, Southern blotting, genome mapping, DNA sequencing, DNA fingerprinting, and plant breeding.

Its versatility means that gel electrophoresis can be found in a variety of laboratories; It is a necessary step in many studies and experiments in the fields of medicine, forensics, and conservation biology, to name a few.

Molecular samples are loaded into a box or chamber filled with a gel-like substance such as agarose, a polysaccharide. The gel electrophoresis machine is equipped with a negative electrode or anode on one side and a positive electrode or cathode on the other side, creating an electric current that flows through the gel from end to end.

The electric current separates the fragments based on their size or charge, and the device will be horizontal or vertical depending on your exact needs.

Popular brands/manufacturers

Bio-Rad Laboratories

Analytics Jena

ThermoFisher Scientific

PerkinElmer

agilent

Ultra deep freezer

An ultra-low freezer (ULT) stores biological material such as bacteria, viruses and cells. It works like a conventional refrigerator, but operates at a much lower temperature – from -45 to -150 degrees Celsius, depending on the intended use.

Use the ULT freezer to store biological material until ready for testing. Depending on the type – standing, chest, table or under-table – and the maximum temperature, only certain samples may be stored.

Popular Ultra Low Freezer brands/manufacturers

ThermoFisher Scientific

Panasonic Healthcare (PHCbi)

VWR

Eppendorf

CO2 incubator

A CO2 incubator is a sealed, climate-controlled box used in life science laboratories to grow cell cultures by controlling the levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the chamber. You get the same conditions as the natural environment of the sample for testing and research purposes. For example, if you were examining a human cell, the incubator would replicate the conditions inside a human body.

Prepare the sample in a petri dish and place it in the incubator to allow a culture to grow. These cultured cells are often used in medical applications or to produce biopharmaceuticals.

Popular brands/manufacturers of CO2 incubators

PHCbi

ThermoFisher Scientific

Binder Inc.

NuAire

memmert

Tritec

Eppendorf

General equipment you will need

Along with all of the specialized — and even customizable — equipment you’ll need, there’s a long list of general lab equipment you’ll need as well. This equipment includes many small and large items that every laboratory needs, but especially biology-specific laboratories. The list contains a mix of gear and accessories.

gear

hoods

biosafety cabinets

Laboratory shakers and vortexers

autoclave

laboratory water baths

laboratory ovens

monoplane

Sealer for microplates

Accessories & Glassware

Erlenmeyer flask

measuring cylinder

test tubes

petri dishes

tubular frame

A cup

lab coat

Tongs

Bunsen burner

hot plates

pipettes (or pipettes)

filter paper

stirrer

funnel

wash bottles

microscopic slides

and coverslips

While you may not need every single item on this list, it’s important to consider whether or not you need any of these devices or supplies. You’ll be surprised how easy it is to forget the little things when setting up a brand new lab.

How much does it cost to open a biology lab?

Opening a biology lab can cost anywhere from $50,000 to a few million dollars depending on the type of lab, its location, and the specific instrumentation you need. Luckily, there are ways to raise money and keep costs down.

The majority of your costs are in the lab space and the equipment itself. Much of this depends on what field you are in and whether you are buying new or used equipment, or are willing to lease equipment. You must also take into account the salary of the staff, as well as any utilities that are not included in the rent of the facility.

Biology Equipment Purchase Considerations

Buy brand new equipment

Buying new equipment from the manufacturer requires a hefty upfront payment, but ensures you have the highest quality equipment on the market. While new equipment is less likely to fail, future maintenance and repair costs or service contracts will add to this expense.

Buy used biology laboratory equipment

Compared to buying new, you can save a lot of money with used equipment. But you still have to worry about repair and maintenance. If a machine you just bought breaks down shortly thereafter, you have even more money to spend. For the lab on a budget, this can be a big risk.

Leasing of biology laboratory equipment

Laboratory equipment leasing is an alternative that avoids having to shell out a large upfront sum for all the equipment you need to get your lab started. Because maintenance and repairs are included in your lease cost, it can be far more economical to use this approach. By leasing your equipment, you spread your payments over time and free up your budget for other ongoing operational needs. You have the choice of leasing new equipment or factory refurbished equipment, the latter of which can help you save even more.

The Research Infrastructure Division at Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University’s flagship research center, employs a dedicated facility services organization with significant in-house expertise and granular benchmarking tools that track utility and facility costs across multiple laboratory space categories, from LEED-certified Green Building -Functions for general wet labs to secure ABSL-3 labs with a selected agent program. In a government-sponsored research environment where operating costs can be as high as $170 per net SF, optimizing building efficiency is critical. The direct result of these visionary initiatives is a multitasking, responsive facilities team that has reduced annual energy spend by $1.3 million.

“The facility has to function properly,” says Michael McLeod, director of research infrastructure at Arizona State University (ASU). “Safety is our top priority and research second. Energy is a critical component to achieving ASU’s goal of a carbon-neutral campus by 2025. We found that as these buildings matured, we were able to improve our processes and systems with fewer staff while maintaining a very high level of service.”

Optimized and flexible organization

The 350,000 gsf Biodesign Institute, which is Arizona’s largest life sciences investment to date, is expected to grow to 800,000 gsf upon completion. The first two components of the master plan, Buildings A and B, opened in December 2004 and January 2006 and are LEED Gold and LEED Platinum certified respectively. Total construction cost was $150 million.

The institute currently comprises 14 centers, each headed by a center manager who is outstanding in his field. The scientific focus is on improving health, sustainability and defense, particularly in application-oriented research modeled on nature. (The most visible example is the serum developed through the production of therapeutics in tobacco plants, which has been successfully used to treat some Ebola patients in the United States.)

The need for a flexible, responsive facility organization to support biodesign residents was recognized early on.

“Our scientists, many of whom are world-renowned, including a 2001 Nobel Prize winner in medicine, are a focused, dedicated group, and our goal is to make their lives as easy as possible,” says McLeod.

One of the ways to achieve this was for the research infrastructure group to set up their own work order system and employ a small in-house crew of technicians. While the university’s central facilities group, FacMan, still handles the “heavy duty” — long-planned projects like a major engine swap — more immediate tasks like office moves, installation of lab equipment, and utility connections are handled in-house.

Leveraging email communication extensively, this direct approach streamlines the request process for users and provides rigorous tracking mechanisms, instant follow-up, and fast response time.

“This is where we broke out of the box,” says McLeod. “Our organization is very customer-oriented. Gone are the costs, hassles, and inconveniences of a campus-wide system. We are somewhat decentralized but not fully decoupled.”

“In my experience, biodesign facilities respond quickly and efficiently, allowing researchers to focus on their science,” says Nobel laureate Dr. Lee Hartwell, Virginia G. Piper Chair in Personalized Medicine and Principal Investigator of the Institute.

multitasking

The use of staff in the research infrastructure group represents a clear departure from the traditional university facility organization. In addition to the self-performed dispatch, reception and delivery functions, the institute has its own craftsmen (electricians, plumbers and mechanics) on staff, a function carried out by the McLeod emphasizes that it is welcomed by many of the plant managers who visit the facility each year.

“We mainly take care of what’s in and around the lab, and then of course we respond to emergencies when needed,” he says. “It worked wonders. When you have a massive, monolithic central group with hundreds of techs, it’s easy for small things to slip through the cracks. In contrast, our small team is designed to be very fast and efficient. Researchers love it.”

Multitasking and cross-training are common themes in research infrastructure. The electrician doubles as a project manager and handles permit applications, while the HVAC technician is also responsible for energy management. When the health and safety service was reduced to half-time due to improved operations, the employee was trained in space planning and now has a dual role.

“The downside is that if you lose a person who was trained for two places, you lose both roles,” says McLeod. “But for staff, they find this approach more rewarding, and it helps inspire and motivate our employees to learn more and hone their craft. The turnover was almost zero.”

Integration of scientists into the operating group

Extending the concept of cross-functional use, the institute also leveraged the expertise of a research scientist who was hired to oversee the laboratory safety program and recertifications, which are estimated to have a budget of approximately $20,000 per year. The same scientist recently took on the responsibilities of biocontainment facility manager, utilizing her expertise and understanding of demanding ABSL-3 environments in a blended position.

“Not everyone can go into a lab to change a lightbulb,” says McLeod. “We need someone who knows the systems and can bridge the gap between institutions and research. It’s not about cost savings, it’s about quality and customer service.”

While some personnel hurdles had to be overcome in the reporting relationships, the scientist was eventually able to become a functioning part of the research infrastructure group.

“At ASU, biodesign is expected to do things differently. Part of our value is the ability to take risks.”

McLeod reckons that now that this precedent has been proven successful, similar arrangements can be made for other combined positions that benefit from a combined knowledge of research and plant operations, such as: B. the management of a core laboratory facility.

There is also more overlap between research infrastructure technicians and animal care groups, an area characterized by frequent interaction, collaboration and learning. These activities occur without the financial stipend of a formal position.

benchmarking numbers

As a mixed-use facility, the institute’s 112,414 nsf laboratory space includes a variety of laboratory types:

Vivarium: 20,270 nsf, 18 percent of the total

Biological research: 87,636 nsf, 78 percent

ABSL-1: 4,525 nsf, 4 percent

ABSL-2: 10,272 nsf, 9 percent

ABSL-3 (selected active): 1,755 nsf, 1.6 percent

BSL-1: 20,241 nsf, 18 percent

BSL-2: 49,139 nsf, 44 percent

BSL-3 (selected agent): 1,704 nsf, 1.5 percent

McLeod emphasizes that the calculations are based on net, not gross, square meters, a standard that generates more comparable measurements. Debt service, construction and commissioning costs are not included.

Five main cost categories and their components are used to create operating cost benchmarks per nsf, as illustrated by these figures for the general wet lab:

EHS (labor, expenses): $4.08/nsf, 5.8 percent of the total

Security (from a contract provider): $2.84/nsf, 4 percent

IT (work, expenses, connectivity, cameras/equipment, computers, intrusion system): $11.60/nsf, 16.4 percent

Facilities (labor, expenses, operations and maintenance, property management, contractors, service contracts, premises): $30.36/nsf, 43.1 percent

Utilities (electricity, chilled water, steam, backup generators, water): $21.64/nsf, 30.7 percent

(Animal care, spread across 1,700 sf in ABSL-3 labs, average $36.78/nsf.)

While EHS and security costs are constant across all lab types, higher IT, facility and operational costs drive up operational costs significantly for the more specialized areas:

General wet lab cost: $70.52/nsf.

Total cost of BSL-3 lab without agent program selected: $88.48/nsf.

Total cost of BSL-3 lab with agent program selected: $128.70/nsf.

ABSL-3 total lab cost without Select Agent program: $128.92/nsf.

ABSL-3 lab total cost with Select Agent program: $169.14/nsf.

For example, the benchmark operating cost for the general lab is $21.64, but with an 83 percent increase in energy consumption, the benchmark for the BSL-3 lab increases to $39.60/nsf. The ABSL-3 uses 100 percent more energy at a benchmark of $43.28/nsf.

In addition, the Select Agent program drives up costs in the facility and IT categories. Setup costs are $30.36 for the general, BSL-3, and ABSL-3 labs compared to $57.78/nsf in select agent areas. The IT cost is $11.60/nsf and $24.40/nsf respectively.

“War on CFMs”

The Institute is firmly committed to reducing energy consumption, a real challenge given the stringent ventilation requirements of biocontainment laboratories.

“We’re moving a lot more air in these facilities,” notes McLeod. “We expect each CFM to cost us around $5. So we are waging a war on CFMs in the building.”

A robust – and almost unprecedented – scheme for measuring and monitoring mechanical and electronic devices not only generates accurate measurements, but also provides feedback so that malfunctions can be quickly identified and corrected.

“Pervasive monitoring allows our continuous improvement strategy to gain momentum,” he continues. “As an entrepreneur, Biodesign has been able to secure the funding to put gauges wherever we can and record data in any way we can. For example, we measure power consumption all the way down to the distribution panel. We have portable meters to temporarily measure a room or a device, even down to the component level, such as: B. an air conditioner or an exhaust pump.

“With that and good spreadsheets, we can calculate the cost of a single room. Almost no one else can really tell you the energy cost of a 12′ x 20′ BSL-3 lab.”

The detailed analysis made possible by the resulting “Meter, Monitor, and Manage” program found that HVAC accounts for 74 percent of total utility costs, which quickly identified them as a top goal for energy conservation. Aside from encouraging researchers to close vent blades when not in use, the conservation measures include a “very complex” HVAC control system that integrates Aircuity® air sampling and centralized sensors with Phoenix Controls® valves to control the Varying air volumes for just-in-time customer use (down to a low of four air changes per hour) while maintaining very tight negative static control. The data is fed into a Johnson Controls Metasys® system to fine-tune all components.

McLeod notes that managing the complexity of the overall system is often beyond the capabilities of a typical facility staff, but thanks to Biodesign’s local expertise, the system has been tuned and adjusted over time to save $1.3 million per year in energy costs to save

By Nicole Zaro Stahl

This report is based on a presentation McLeod gave at Tradeline’s 2014 International Conference on Biocontainment Facilities.