This article, presents a pretty good argument in favor of not allowing gas in a BSC. Many companies utilize gas in the BSC (Biological Safety Cabinet) to sterilize their loops. As consultants we need to bring these potential issues up to our clients when discussing how they will be using the BSC.
• The flame creates turbulence in the laminar flow of air minimizing product protection.
• Heat could melt HEPA filter bonding agents which destroys the filters effectiveness and loss of containment.
• If flame goes out gas will be distributed into the space possibly reaching explosive limits. ( use of an class II -A2 70% recirculation) Read the rest of this entry »
I just came upon a blog on Benchfly.com that asked the question How Scientist Really get Trained? They asked the readers to select from a list of resources including classes, journals, bosses, and lab mates/colleagues. With 72% of the popular vote it was lab mates/ colleagues followed by: the internet 44%, PI/Boss 41%, journals 38%, product manuals 20%, classes 15%, textbooks 12%, conferences 10% and finally seminars with a popular vote of 5%. The results of this poll are parallel to what I have observed in my own profession as an Architect.
Growing up in a house with a research chemist and designing laboratories for the last 15 years I have observed firsthand that we share many similarities in what we do and our process. I guess that my initial predisposition to the above hypothesis starts with a belief that architecture is the marriage between artistry and science. Architects are trained to manipulate and coordinate materials and technology to creatively design space that is informed by people. Scientists are trained to symmetrically study and acquire knowledge which leads to solving a problem.
Today I was reading the EHS today (Environmental, Health and Safety) for December and read that the American Institute of Hygiene Associations, AIHA, Unveils Top EHS Public Policy Issues for 2011-2012 based upon a member survey.
The top issues for 2011 and 2012:
Updating Permissible Exposure Limits (PELS):
Injury and Illness Prevention Program (I2P2)
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)/Globally Harmonized System (GHS)
More and more my conversations with clients are round the idea of optimizing the work space to increase efficiency and productivity for scientists while maintaining a safe environment. Why you might ask? In these economic times companies want to expand in place and make minor changes in space and process that could have benefits of increased employee satisfaction and quality, while using less resources, time, and effort.
How do we do this? We implement Lean Lab Principles. Lean lab principles are derived from lean manufacturing and the 5S workplace organization methodology. These Lean principles can aid a laboratory in increasing speed, efficiency, quality and safety. The physical layout will affect how people work.
Going through this collaborative process you can improve the performance of your lab by improving flow and eliminating waste.
1. Sort – to get rid of unnecessary equipment or store it.
2. Straighten (or “Set in Order”) – Organize work areas for maximum efficiency by organizing tools & equipment to promote optimum work flows through minimizing movement. 3. Shine – Everything is cleaned and functioning properly. 4. Standardize – Develop a routine for sorting, setting and shining.� 5. Sustain–create a culture that follows the steps on a daily basis.
Did you know that ventilation in a lab environment can consume up to 44% of the total energy output?
So how do you effectively and efficiently reduce the large amounts of energy that is used for ventilation while at the same time maximize safety in the lab? In balancing these two factors more exhaust air is not always the answer – after all, more air out requires more air in. As a result, excessive ventilation can actually diminish safety conditions in the labs. Currently Labs 21 is supporting optimization rather than maximization.
Just as a reference point, a typical lab building consumes 3 to 5 times more energy than a typical office building. Per Labs 21 If you break down consumption annually it would look like the chart below.
You might as well leave your windows open all year round!
This week I met with the health and safety officer of a major pharmaceutical company and we discussed the items that keep him up at night. The conversation had the typical issues regarding clean and dirty space in the lab, chemical storage and proper chemical usage, egress, ventilation requirements, but the one that caught me off guard was the use of lab personal protective equipment (PPE) and our short conversation regarding the LAB COAT.
One solution to getting the opporator further away from the potent compound, providing a safer work environment, is to use isolator technology. These are leak tight, negative pressure barrier isolator that allows for the handling of hazardous pharmaceutical compounds. This containment chamber creates a unidirectional HEPA-filtered airflow of better than ISO Class 5 (Class 100) air cleanliness conditions within the negative pressure chamber to prevent migration of hazardous contaminants to the outside and to minimize cross contamination across the direct compounding area.
This technology holds the promise of freeing the building envelope and its occupants from the many protocols that are found in a regulated manufacturing environment. Fundamentally changing design, energy consumption and gowning protocols in a cGMP spaces.
The NIH last week has released a YouTube video on how the NIH reviews the over 80,000 grant application each year. “The video provides an inside look at the dynamic way reviewers evaluate NIH grant applications,” said CSR Director Dr. Toni Scarpa. “You’ll see the rigor and integrity of their efforts, which have enabled NIH to identify ground-breaking research year after year.”
We are seeing an interest in developing 30,000 sf to 45,000 sf one story incubator buildings in a science campus. These buildings are designed to encourage science and technology entrepreneurship. The incubator provides the resources required for developing the research initiatives of young start-up companies.
This 1 story, developer “Flex” type building is designed to be used as office/flex warehouse if a laboratory market cannot initially support full facility occupancy. These “flex” type buildings are economical and the large interior spans of the structural system provide an easily configurable interior space. 1 story facility eliminates the cost of heavy structural framing of multi-story buildings to provide for a vibration free facility required to support a lab use as many scientific instruments are vibration sensitive.
Incubator Building Program:
Programmatic Spaces:
Modular Laboratory bays (11’x30’)
Shared laboratory support spaces and specialty function spaces.
Office areas
Collaboration space
Building support areas: Mechanical & Electrical services, receiving/dock area,
exterior equipment support zone for generators, cylinder storage, etc.
