Laboratory Design, Construction, and Renovation Participants, Process, and Product (2000) / Chapter Skim
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3 Technical Issues
3 Technical Issues
Pages 59-124
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From page 59... ...
Others, such as design alternatives or considerations affecting construction costs, need to be reviewed, discussed, and resolved jointly by members of the client group such as the client team and user representative and the design professional. The client team and the user representative should therefore be familiar with these issues so that they are able to make informed decisions.
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From page 60... ...
Codes and Regulations Construction or renovation of a laboratory building is regulated mainly by state and local laws that incorporate, by reference, generally accepted standard practices set out in uniform codes. Box 3.1 lists the kinds of codes that affect most laboratory construction projects.
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From page 61... ...
Agencies in some jurisdictions like to set up a single point of contact between the agency and representatives of the project team, usually the client and architect project managers, to facilitate and coordinate the exchange of important information and to establish a good working relationship. One benefit of this structure is that it minimizes the number of people who have to spend time learning the unique processes and procedures of the organizations involved, thus optimizing communication.
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From page 62... ...
Communities are rightfully concerned about what is occurring in their neighborhoods. A laboratory construction project team must become familiar with the requirements associated with relevant environmental regulations to ensure that the completed project achieves compliance.
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From page 63... ...
These quantities include emissions from all sources in a contiguous area and under control of a common authority, such as an institution's power plant and boilers and its laboratory facilities. For these reasons, the chemical vapor emissions from individual fume hoods at larger institutions may be required to meet emission standards that the EPA designates based on "maximum achievable control technologies," a sliding scale that changes as technology changes.
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From page 64... ...
Early communication with the POTW about the intentions of the institution to install such systems in a new laboratory facility will help maintain the good record of compliance that laboratories have in this area of environmental protection. Health Issues Under the Laboratory Standard promulgated in 1990 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
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From page 65... ...
Poor selection and installation of fume hoods will create a serious problem that either endangers the health of workers or drastically curtails the use of the laboratory for potentially hazardous experiments. The design group must accept responsibility for ensuring that the facility fume hoods and ventilation system are properly designed to provide a healthful and safe laboratory environment.
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From page 66... ...
The ventilation system in chemical laboratories must satisfy two principal health-related objectives: occupational health, which is achieved through the proper installation and operation of chemical laboratory hoods, and occupant comfort, which is achieved by heating and humidifying the general laboratory air in the winter and cooling it in the summer. A secondary function of the laboratory ventilation system is to prevent the migration of contaminants caused by incidental and accidental release of chemicals from the laboratory into other areas of the building.
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From page 67... ...
If there is a question, EH&S professionals should be consulted. Unique and Particularly Hazardous Operations It is important for the project team to identify operations or processes that involve highly hazardous chemicals or that may present unique hazards.
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From page 68... ...
For example, mutual scientific interests among combinatorial chemists, synthetic chemists, and molecular biologists have encouraged the placement of modern biology laboratories in close proximity to organic and inorganic synthesis laboratories to facilitate collaboration. Future chemistry laboratory buildings may likely have requirements for laboratory space appropriate for experiments involving human pathogens.
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From page 69... ...
In chemical laboratory buildings, the exit access comprises the hallways and corridors that lead directly from a laboratory module or work area to the entrance of a designated exit. This part of the means of egress must provide an unobstructed path of travel both to promote the fast and orderly exit of building occupants and to allow emergency responders to gain safe and efficient access to the emergency scene.
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From page 70... ...
Emergency Equipment Safety showers and eyewash fountains are essential emergency equipment in chemical laboratory buildings. Design requirements are specified in national consensus standards, such as ANSI Z358.1-1990, that by rule have been promulgated as OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Standards.
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From page 71... ...
Most laboratory designs that allow simple rearrangement of casework i.e., laboratory cabinetry can be easily adapted to provide reasonable accommodations for workers with disabilities. Many accommodations will also improve the safety of occupants without disabilities.
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From page 72... ...
However, laboratory users often lack experience in laboratory design and so may be unfamiliar with design issues, possible design alternatives, or methods of evaluating those alternatives. The design considerations described in this section are unique to laboratory buildings.
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From page 73... ...
Knowledge of these dependencies, often provided by the laboratory design professional to the client team, will help streamline the design process and maximize the potential for a cost-effective and optimum design solution. Some of the design considerations discussed in this chapter include specific alternative approaches.
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From page 74... ...
Geographic location may influence the acceptability of a particular design alternative; for example, the more stringent seismic requirements of building codes in southern California, as compared to New Jersey, will influence the overall height of the laboratory building in California both because of the increased structural costs associated with the applicable building codes and because of building height restrictions. Similarly, the authority of local governing authorities to interpret zoning regulations, building and fire codes, and other local regulations can influence the design of the laboratory facility.
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From page 75... ...
The recommended renovations may involve an existing laboratory building, or the conversion of a nonlaboratory building to laboratory use. The primary advantage of renovating an existing building is the potential savings that result from reuse of the existing structure, enclosure, partitions, and MEP systems and equipment.
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From page 76... ...
(See Box 3.7.) Construction of a laboratory building, as with any large building, places demands on the local infrastructure of roads and utilities.
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From page 77... ...
Zoning regulations and building codes governing the use, storage, and disposal of potentially hazardous materials, which are common in laboratory facilities, can influence the location of a new laboratory building or an addition to a laboratory building. Zoning regulations and building and fire codes can restrict the conversion of an existing nonlaboratory building and the renovation of an existing laboratory building.
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From page 78... ...
Therefore the scale of the surrounding campus and community should be considered when determining the building footprint. Building Air Intake and Exhaust The siting of a laboratory facility and the location of its air intake systems and exhaust stacks require careful consideration to minimize the possibility of contamination of the incoming air by neighboring buildings or activities, exhaust from vehicles on nearby streets, or exhaust from vehicles in the building loading area.
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From page 79... ...
The location of entries to a laboratory facility as well as public and private amenities can all affect the interactions between building users and outside parties. Access to the Building The site of a laboratory addition or a new laboratory building must allow unrestricted access by people and vehicles.
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From page 80... ...
Equally important, a laboratory building must be accessible on multiple sides by large fire protection vehicles and other emergency response equipment and vehicles. Total Environmental Design Approach Ultimately, the design and siting of a laboratory facility should incorporate a total environmental approach based on knowledge of all aspects of the building's function and environment.
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From page 81... ...
Planning a floor layout by the modular approach and standardizing the sizes and shapes of the individual laboratories will create a flexible floor plan that is space efficient and less costly to construct than one with fixed assorted-sized laboratories. Developing a generic laboratory design with features that accommodate the majority of the researchers' requirements can also result in a highly efficient research laboratory facility.
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From page 82... ...
Research laboratory buildings designed without adaptability in mind may require major renovation for a minor alteration to a laboratory as a result of inaccessibility to laboratory services or unavailability of appropriate space for expansion. During the planning of the laboratory floor, researchers commonly request offices located adjacent to the laboratories.
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From page 83... ...
Sometimes laboratory support zones flank a central circulation corridor with research laboratories located on the periphery. In these instances, offices are often clustered and located at the corners of the laboratory floor to ensure that each office has an exterior window.
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From page 84... ...
In larger laboratory buildings, service corridors and freight elevators are included in the design to facilitate the movement of supplies and equipment throughout the building without using the circulation corridors and elevators. Service corridors typically serve as pathways for deliveries and MEP systems and as limited storage areas for equipment.
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From page 85... ...
The peripheral or racetrack corridor configuration typically results in a building with a footprint exceeding 100 feet. Research laboratory buildings with footprints of this width, though not uncommon, often require careful consideration during the site selection process as discussed above.
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From page 86... ...
Access Points of access to research laboratories, teaching laboratories, and laboratory support areas have to accommodate people and also large, bulky, and potentially hazardous materials. Large items require wide corridors, wide doors, large elevators, and specially designed corners to permit a wide turning radius.
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From page 87... ...
Many laboratory buildings have storerooms, gas cylinder holding areas, waste collection facilities for both office and hazardous laboratory wastes, storage facilities for flammable materials, and refrigerated storage all located adjacent to or easily accessible to the loading dock. Once the materials are in the building, the network of corridors and elevators must support their safe transport throughout the building.
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From page 88... ...
The building design, especially the means of access and egress, should take personal security and the need to protect property from theft into consideration. Laboratory Configuration A laboratory with fume hoods, benches, and a sink may be the generic image of a laboratory, but the specific needs of different laboratory activities or scientific disciplines require highly specialized facilities (see, e.g., DiBerardinis et al., 1993, pp.
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From page 89... ...
The consumption of food and beverages should be strictly prohibited in laboratories where any hazardous materials are used and can be discouraged if the laboratory floor layout includes lounges designed for eating, drinking, and interaction (NRC, 1995, pp.
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From page 90... ...
Fume hoods with too high a face velocity are also less energy efficient, which contributes to higher operating costs. Fume Hood Utility Services.
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From page 91... ...
Some small, narrow, custom-designed fume hoods are used in academic teaching laboratories where laboratory space is at a premium. Fume hoods more than 6 feet long allow researchers to set up more than one experiment in the fume hood or use part of the fume hood for storage.
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From page 92... ...
is delivered at the end of the laboratory opposite the fume hoods. In some research disciplines and for some laboratory activities, such as solvent distillations, researchers prefer that the fume hood be isolated in a room separate from the primary laboratory.
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From page 93... ...
185~. Special Ventilation Devices The laboratory fume hood is the most commonly used device for removal of odors and vapors from a laboratory building, but other devices are also used.
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From page 94... ...
Energy-efficient lighting products should be considered, and local power companies may offer incentives for their use. The expertise of a lighting design specialist is required for most laboratory construction and renovation projects.
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From page 95... ...
are typically determined in the design phase. Building Services Laboratory buildings require robust HVAC systems to handle the additional demands placed on the equipment by laboratory fume hoods.
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From page 96... ...
Utility chases and interstitial spaces are used to distribute utility services throughout a building. Since laboratory buildings are much more utility intensive than are office buildings, routing the utilities throughout the building is more difficult.
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From page 97... ...
These fans can be smaller because, typically, only some of the fume hoods will require the maximum amount of air; others will demand lesser amounts. Each university or corporate laboratory must determine the appropriate relation for its installation.
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From page 98... ...
Traditionally, a single exhaust fan and stack served each fume hood in a building. In large laboratory buildings, it was not uncommon to have hundreds of exhaust stacks extending through the roof.
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From page 99... ...
The increased air mass is created by the number of fume hoods served as well as by the additional exhaust air.) The increased velocity and mass allow the exhaust to be dispersed more effectively and to be less affected by wind.
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From page 100... ...
Other requirements for uninterruptible power, emergency lighting, and backup power are pointed out below in "Special Electrical Power Requirements." Special Electrical Power Requirements. Laboratory buildings have special requirements for power to protect people, property, and the environment in addition to those, such as emergency lighting and ground-fault interrupter circuits, common in any public building and specified by code.
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From page 101... ...
Modern laboratory buildings are built with a structural grid that is often 22 to 24 feet wide by 25 to 30 feet long. A typical floor-to-floor
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From page 102... ...
Some commonly encountered heavy equipment is listed in Box 3.14. Laboratory buildings should be designed with floor loading of 100 to 150 pounds per square foot to meet both current and future needs.
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From page 103... ...
Construction costs typically range from 65 percent to 80 percent of the total project costs. Both construction and project costs for laboratory buildings are traditionally higher than those for other building types.
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From page 104... ...
; and the number of manufacturers and suppliers has dramatically decreased for many laboratory building specialties, such as casework, cold rooms, chemical fume hoods, and sterilization equipment, thus reducing cost competition. Budget Formulation After a need is established for an improved, enlarged, or new laboratory facility, a budget can be established in a top-down or bottom-up process.
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From page 105... ...
Moreover, construction costs are only part of total project costs (see "Project Cost Components" below in this chapter)
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From page 106... ...
Table 3.2, which shows the relative costs of different types of laboratory renovation in the New York City region in 1993, gives an example. Construction costs vary in different locations in the United States, ranging from highs in areas like New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco to lower costs in areas like Billings, Montana.
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From page 107... ...
Complexity factors range from site conditions to the number and quality of utilities installed in laboratory buildings. By definition, laboratory renovations are more complex than new construction projects, because existing conditions in laboratory buildings are varied and often hidden and may require unexpected adjustments or accommodation.
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From page 108... ...
often generate steam and chilled water that provide essential heating and cooling for laboratory buildings. CUPs can provide electrical power through cogeneration for large campuses.
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From page 109... ...
At present, little information is available about construction premiums and operating savings in the few largescale sustainable laboratory buildings that have been designed. It may take another decade to recognize the most cost-effective strategies for achieving sustainable laboratories.
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From page 110... ...
Energy-Efficient Design National guidelines and state building codes require energy-efficient design for general building lighting. However, there are no generally accepted national guidelines for heavy energy consumers such as research and development laboratory buildings.
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From page 111... ...
These decisions will be based on the information provided by the design group, by the client's consultants, and by the client's previous experience in managing laboratory buildings. Effective cost control is achieved by considering the project goals and performance requirements in all design decisions and by recognizing that many small, seemingly insignificant, decisions by the user, owner, or design team can add a larger amount to the project cost than one would initially expect and then acting accordingly.
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From page 112... ...
The cost estimates are evaluated and reconciled. The client group, the client team, and the representatives of the facilities and operations departments then refine the total project cost, the construction cost, and the other project cost components.
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From page 113... ...
The client continues to develop and refine the list of and cost for the nonconstruction components (itemized in "Project Cost Components" below in this chapter) that, along with the basic construction cost, constitute the project cost.
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From page 114... ...
Based on the factors given in Box 3.15, the client, with assistance from the design group, will set the construction contingency and other project-cost-related contingencies. When the price is determined, the schedule agreed to, and the client's construction contract signed, the bid and negotiation stage is complete.
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From page 115... ...
Change orders not initiated by the client should not exceed 5 percent of the construction cost for a typical laboratory project and should ideally fall below 3 percent. The best way to avoid those change orders not initiated by the client is to verify that the construction documents have been competed, are accurate, and are coordinated.
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From page 116... ...
Often windows and roofing are also removed and replaced. Because laboratories and laboratory buildings contain hazardous materials, preliminary investigations and an industrial hygiene survey should be undertaken well before completion of the design documents for the renovation.
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From page 117... ...
Laboratory buildings constructed in regions of documented seismic activity also often have special foundations, structural design, and construction costs associated with them. Laboratories with sensitive analytic equipment may also require special foundations, such as pilings or piers to bedrock, in order to isolate the building from local vibration.
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From page 118... ...
Mock-up Construction. A mock-up of a typical laboratory space and even of adjacent areas, such as service corridors or laboratory support cores, is an extremely useful preconstruction tool.
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From page 119... ...
Either the client or prime architect/engineering firm may enter into a contract with consultants. Consultants who often assist the prime design team for the laboratory building or renovation include a laboratory planner, laboratory safety professional, environmental engineer, code consultant, geotechnical engineer, vibration-control structural engineer, acoustical engineer, lighting engineer, construction cost estimator, information and audiovisual technology specialist, interior designer, and landscape architect.
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From page 120... ...
The laboratory planner consultant can perform this survey if in-house staff cannot. An industrial hygiene survey is recommended for a major renovation of laboratory buildings and when the presence of hazardous materials is suspected.
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From page 121... ...
Many systems and levels of technological sophistication are available according to the immediate and projected future needs of the building occupants and owners. In laboratory buildings, budgets for information technology normally range from 5 to 15 percent of the construction cost.
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From page 122... ...
Because laboratory buildings are complex, it is prudent to provide adequate contingencies. Program Contingency.
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From page 123... ...
Moving costs may include those for use of temporary facilities, building commissioning, installation and calibration of scientific equipment, and hazardous materials assessment, transportation, and disposal. Use of Temporary Facilities.
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From page 124... ...
Construction cost estimates should be obtained from at least two separate, experienced sources, and the estimates should be reconciled at the end of each phase. Develop a list of project cost items as early as possible.
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