This has complex implications for mechanical and electrical services.
It’s important to ask for all processes being undertaken as to the EHS requirements, as often it affects the laboratory design layout or services design.. For example, consider processes which require either containment or clean room status.In both instances, this means that process, along with perhaps all the other processes within its functional group, will need to be separated physically from the other functional groups and an air pressure differential adhered to.
This directly drives the lab layout, plus the services requirements and the finishes specifications..Hazard studies, conducted with both the users and the laboratory designers present, should identify the major EHS issues with the aim to design out all the risks.Some processes may use hazardous material or be explosive, so a Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR) assessment must be undertaken by the client with the lab designer involved, as it will affect the plant selection and design.. We must be aware of design elements which are assumed to be inherently safe.
A fume cupboard, for example, is only safe if it passes its face velocity tests, and that depends on the air velocity within the room.We ensure that these additional tests are specified to ensure compliance and avoid high velocity air supply grilles near fume cupboards, and we always design labs containing fume cupboards to BS 14175..
Architectural requirements for lab design.
The laboratory design architect’s role does not end with laying out the laboratory equipment.The Net Zero America Report produced by Princeton University suggests that the low renewables scenario would require the US grid to double or triple in size, which, as a strategy, seems both unrealistic and very high-risk.
However, if we instead repurpose all of the existing thermal sites, repowering the US coal-fired power plants with new nuclear, advanced heat solutions, we could reduce the amount of new transmission bills by an incredible forty percent.. Gogan says this represents a radical de-risking of our net zero transition, and presents a huge opportunity for decarbonisation.The repowering coal strategy will co-locate an advanced heat source next to an existing coal-fired power plant, decommissioning the coal boiler, while the rest of the plant, including the steam turbine, power island and existing transmission, remain in operation.. To support the repowering coal initiative, Bryden Wood is developing a standardised, scalable building system, configuring the design in such a way as to be able to meet any kind of site or plant requirements, while also accommodating a range of different heat sources.
This is being achieved using a highly automated design, and a design for manufacture and assembly (DfMA) approach.We’ll create algorithmic design tools to assess coal plant viability for boiler replacement, generate initial concepts using a design configurator in just days, and produce detailed design outputs for manufacturing.