Lab design has always been a big part of upgrading and modernizing laboratories and other types of research facilities. The main goal in designing a laboratory is to provide workers or users a place where they can perform their jobs or studies in a safe environment. But safety is not the only issue when getting a good design for laboratories. 

It must be emphasized that maximizing work space is also an important objective in laboratory design. Providing users with a smoother work flow will not only add to the safety features of a laboratory, it can also enhance the quality of the work done in the facility.

With all the safety requirements that a lab design needs to meet, it is obvious that such a project carefully evaluates health and safety regulations set by law. Hence, it is not unusual that the design of a laboratory can be greatly influenced by existing health, safety, and environment (HSE) standards. 

Moreover, protective measures must always be incorporated in a laboratory design. For example, one of the very important protective standards involves the types of materials used in constructing the laboratory.  According to current guidelines, only noncombustible materials must be used for laboratory buildings. If a laboratory needs to be equipped with gas lines and other flammable devices, which is often the case, automatic shutoff valves must be present in the gas supply lines and self-starting extinguishers must be in place throughout the facility. 

In any lab design, it is crucial that interaction between laboratory and non-laboratory work is minimized, if not totally eliminated.  Laboratories are a place where hazardous materials are kept. Therefore, anyone who goes inside the lab must be properly equipped to handle the risks of being exposed to harmful chemicals. 

In the same manner, non-laboratory workers must be protected from hazardous emissions from inside the lab. Because of this twofold danger, the design of a laboratory must ensure that non-laboratory functions are left outside the facility. A laboratory is best separated from the outside world via walls or other types of enclosures. 

In lab design, functionality and cost effectiveness must both be considered. But in the end, it all boils down to proper use of the laboratory. It does not matter how much effort has been made in sticking to laboratory design standards, faulty human handling will defeat cutting edge laboratory engineering. So for an effective laboratory design to work, workers and users must also be provided with sufficient training about things concerning the laboratory.

OnePointe Solutions is based in Austin, Texas, and is one of the premiere laboratory workbench providers in the country. OnePointe offers a consultative sales approach and realizes that the one-sized fits all approach does not suit all work spaces or all firms requirements. Please either call 866.612.7312 or 512.652.6292 or visit their website www.OnePointeSolutions.com and speak with a representative today.