Diagnostic laboratories provide the high-tech environments needed for researchers to discover groundbreaking medical treatments, make agricultural advances, and create practical solutions to the world's most pressing problems. To succeed, laboratories require careful preparation, cooperation with all stakeholders, as well as teamwork. The slightest error can hurt lab operations and safety, so having these spaces right for the scientists who work in them is crucial. There are a few things you will want to consider when you sit down to design a functional diagnostic pathlab buildout.
Involving different teams will potentially include many people who will have many viewpoints, which may present various challenges. However, bringing together such diverse perspectives, promoting constant participation and daily feedback will offer an indispensable foundation. With the designer as the facilitator, you also want to include the required stakeholders, like project owners, lab users, lab managers, faculty and staff, and the facilities and maintenance, workers. Be sure that you invite everyone to the meeting so they can provide their contributions and ideas about the overall functionality and workflow.
Planning for proper and sufficient storage in a laboratory environment that contains heavy chemistry and chemical experiments goes a long way to prevent safety hazards and code problems. Designers can define the types of chemicals and gases that need storage and assess the required storage by consulting with Environmental, Health, and Safety early in the design process. They simultaneously collaborate with lab users and managers. This initiative reduces the possibility of inappropriate, hazardous storage on bench tops or inside fume hoods and promotes a clean, efficient lab setting.
As a pathology lab planner, examine the equipment list you receive from the client and provide professional guidance. In the lab, the layout ensures that the fundamental planning aspects are taken care of for the below.
It is advisable to use a combined technique for obtaining information from the client, reviewing equipment in the field to ensure correct data collection. Return the detailed list to the client for confirmation.
Failure to effectively scale the lab to meet user requirements can lead to insufficient bench and equipment storage space, inflexibility or restricted growth, and limited pathology lab functionality. This problem often manifests itself in lab spillover into undesirable spaces such as corridors and common areas, resulting in safety hazards.
Start working early in the design process with the managers and pathology lab users using plans, diagrams, and workflows. The design team can accurately scale the lab by deciding the number of users, identifying any existing lab equipment, and using floor-mounted equipment to establish clearances and sufficient bench size, lab metrics, and modules to maximize shared space.
These are a few of the considerations you want to take into account when you are designing a functional pathlab buildout. If you are looking for quality lab consultants to help you with your lab design process, contact Hankins Consulting today.
