Laboratory buildings require significantly more cooling than a typical office building. This is due to the large amount of equipment scientists use daily to conduct research. Autoclaves to clean instruments, incubators to grow cells, ultra-low-temperature freezers to store samples, and high-powered lasers are just a few examples of equipment commonly found in laboratories. All of these items expel a large amount of BTUs (a unit of energy used to measure heat) and must be accounted for in the overall lab design.
With the majority of equipment running almost 24/7 and typically with no diversity, labs need a large, sophisticated cooling system to accommodate the constant heat load. The rooftop air-handling units, chilled water systems, and exhaust equipment required for adequate cooling come at a steep price, making right-sizing essential. This is why it’s critical to understand what equipment will be installed before these systems are designed—hence, the importance of an equipment list.
Key Items Included in an Equipment List
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Manufacturer/Model #
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Power Requirements
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Plug types
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Voltage/wattage/phase
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BTUs
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Size/Dimensions
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Utility Connections
The equipment list not only contributes extensively to the architectural space plan but also establishes overall heat load requirements. A recent example that highlights the importance of an accurate equipment list occurred with a new life science tenant in San Diego.
A key component of their research relies on a machine called a “mass spectrometer,” which generates a large amount of heat when operating. In this case, only one (1) mass spectrometer was included on the equipment list for a specific room. Based on this information, the building’s cooling system was designed accordingly.
After the tenant moved in, they began experiencing cooling issues in one of their instrument rooms. Temperatures rose high enough to negatively impact equipment performance and the reliability of research data. Upon investigation, it was discovered that three (3) mass spectrometers had been installed instead of the originally planned one (1). This unexpected load caused the room to overheat to critical levels.
Intersect facilitated research and troubleshooting alongside our commissioning partner and the facility team. Fortunately, the building had extra cooling capacity built into the design, intended for situations such as this. A simple adjustment to the building management controls now keeps the room at a safe, consistent operating temperature.
In hindsight, if the additional equipment had been included in the original equipment list, the lab would have been preconfigured with the appropriate cooling and setpoints from the beginning.
– By Charles Peterson
