Laboratory setup 6 min read
A laboratory is set up in seven steps: needs and workflow analysis, site and infrastructure survey, layout design, technical designs, manufacturing and supply, services and installation, and finally testing, training and handover. The duration and cost depend on the size of the laboratory, the chemicals used, the ventilation required and the infrastructure of the existing building.
Setting up a laboratory is less like ordering furniture than running an engineering project. The instrument list determines the electrical and gas points, the number and size of the fume hoods determine the ventilation, and the chemicals determine the worktop. Decisions therefore have to be made in the right order. The seven steps below detail the four stages of our turnkey laboratory service: concept design, planning, implementation, and control and consultancy.
The Seven Steps at a Glance
| Step | Stage | What is done | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Needs and workflow analysis | Concept design | Analyses, chemicals, instruments, number of users and sample flow are defined | List of requirements |
| 2. Site and infrastructure survey | Concept design | Dimensions, ceiling and door heights, exhaust outlet, electrical, water and waste water points are checked | Survey notes |
| 3. Layout design | Planning | Benches, fume hoods and instruments are placed and presented in 3D | Approved layout |
| 4. Technical designs | Planning | Architectural, mechanical, electrical, gas and furniture designs are prepared | Construction designs and work programme |
| 5. Manufacturing and supply | Implementation | Furniture and fume hoods are manufactured, materials are supplied | Labelled parts |
| 6. Services and installation | Implementation | Infrastructure is completed, furniture and equipment are installed | Installed laboratory |
| 7. Testing, training and handover | Control and consultancy | Tests and calibration are carried out, users are trained | Acceptance and handover |
1. Needs and Workflow Analysis
This step does more than any other to decide the success of the project. It establishes which analyses will be run, which chemicals will be used, how many people will work there and how samples will enter and leave the laboratory. The target applications, the detection limits set by the regulations and the budget are assessed at this stage too.
Having the following at hand speeds up the process:
- Instrument list, with dimensions, weight and electrical, gas and water requirements
- List of the chemicals to be used
- Number of people and shift pattern
- Any regulatory or accreditation requirements
2. Site and Infrastructure Survey
A laboratory can go into a new building or an existing space, and in both cases the constraints must be identified early. The survey covers ceiling height, door width, columns, the route of the exhaust duct to the roof or facade, electrical capacity, water and waste water points, and where the gas cylinders will stand. A layout drawn without this information changes on site.
3. Layout Design
Benches, fume hoods, instruments and storage are arranged around the workflow. How well a fume hood protects its user also depends on its position, so doors, walkways and anything that disturbs the airflow are taken into account. Bench height follows the way people work: 75 cm for seated work and 90 cm for standing work. The positions of safety equipment such as emergency showers and eyewash stations are decided at this stage as well.
KRCLAB carries out laboratory design with AutoCAD-based planning software and presents plan, elevation and 3D drawings. Changes are easy to make at the planning stage, before manufacturing.
4. Technical Designs
Construction designs are prepared on the basis of the approved layout:
- Architectural design: site plan, layout and sections, floor plans, room schedule
- Mechanical design: heating and cooling, fume hood and extraction arm calculations, ventilation, gas, fire and plumbing
- Electrical design: lighting and emergency lighting, switchboards, UPS, earthing and low-current systems
- Furniture design: positions of benches, cabinets and equipment
The work programme is drawn up with the critical path method (CPM), which is when the duration of the project becomes clear. See our laboratory planning and consultancy page for the full scope.
5. Manufacturing and Supply
Materials are finalised according to the conditions of use. Worktops are selected for the chemicals and processes they will meet, and the wet chemistry, instrumental analysis and microbiology sections of one laboratory may need different surfaces. Fume hoods are designed and manufactured to TS EN 14175, and fire-resistant chemical storage cabinets are built to EN 14470-1. Every part is labelled with its room and its position in that room, which makes installation considerably easier. For budget items, see what sets the price of laboratory benches and fume hoods.
6. Services and Installation
The order matters: first the wall and ceiling services and ventilation ducts, then the flooring, then furniture and fume hoods, and finally the service connections. Installation is completed in line with the technical drawings, under the supervision of our specialists and with the support of our regional partners.
7. Testing, Training and Handover
After installation the laboratory is checked together with those responsible for it and its users; tests and calibration confirm that the required safety conditions are met. Fume hood airflow testing is an important part of this stage. If there is a cleanroom section, its class is verified to ISO 14644-1. With user training and acceptance, the laboratory is ready for use.
Common Mistakes
- Leaving ventilation until last: If the exhaust route and fan calculation come after the layout, the fume hoods may have to move.
- Producing the instrument list late: Electrical, gas and water points added afterwards mean reopening the services.
- Using the same worktop everywhere: A surface that does not resist the chemicals wears out quickly.
- Leaving out the users: A plan made without knowing the workflow of the people who will work there causes problems in daily use.
Examples from Our Projects
The TÜBİTAK SAGE Research Laboratory was completed from design through to turnkey delivery. The Semical Biosurgery Quality Control Laboratory was delivered with microbiology areas meeting cleanroom standards, main laboratories, fume hoods and chemical storage rooms. See our projects for more.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How long does it take to set up a laboratory?
- It depends on the size of the laboratory, the scope of construction and services, the choice of materials and the approval processes. A single figure would be misleading, so the work programme is drawn up at the start of the project with the critical path method.
- What determines the cost of setting up a laboratory?
- The main factors are the size of the space, the scope of construction and services, the ventilation required, the number of fume hoods, and the choice of benches and worktops. The exact cost is calculated item by item once the list of requirements and the layout are ready.
- Can a laboratory be set up in an existing building?
- Yes, but ceiling height, the route for the exhaust duct, electrical capacity, and water and waste water points must be checked first. Any alterations the survey shows to be necessary are added to the project.
- What does a turnkey laboratory mean?
- It means that design, services, furniture and equipment, installation, testing and user training are all carried out by one company, so the coordination between trades is in one pair of hands.
- Which standards apply when setting up a laboratory?
- It depends on the type of laboratory. The main ones are TS EN 14175 for fume hoods, EN 14470-1 for fire-resistant chemical storage cabinets, EN 14470-2 for gas cylinder cabinets and ISO 14644-1 for cleanrooms.
