Design Report for a Specialized Lab in Health and Safety BTEC

This report presents the design of a specialized laboratory for Health and Safety BTEC, including a floor plan, price list, and a comparison with a college teaching lab. It also discusses how the lab meets guidelines for efficiency, effectiveness, safety, and security.

HEALTH AND SAFETY BTEC
DESIGN REPORT
DATED: 16TH OCTOBER 2018
1. (a) Floor plan of a lab specializing in the area of (your)expertise
Figure 1: The layout design of the proposed laboratory
In the design plan above for the proposed laboratory, the storage location is
included in order to provide buffer storage and temporary holding of instruments
and equipments that would otherwise be a security and safety risk to the overall
laboratory. For example, in the store room, there are 2 fire extinguishers,
Trolley Lab Door (steel)
Stool/seat
Experiment bench
Storage room
Face recognition device positionExperiment bench
Hazardous materials room
Window (steel framed)

microscopes, delicate glassware, and records and also the control system of the lab is
located here. Besides, trigger for the smoke sensor and alarm is located here. There
are three windows that boost the natural ventilation hence lowering the dependency
on artificial cooling means.
(b) Price List and Total Cost
ITEMS
UNIT PRICE
(Euros) QTY
COST
(Euros)
Steel pedestal drawers $97.00 5 485
Electronics: laptop $129.00 3 387
Facial recognition access $249.00 4 996
Visitors book $65.90 2 131.8
Push button digital locks $42.75 4 171
ABC powdered extinguishers $12.96 4 51.84
First aid kit $21.70 4 86.8
Work benches $746.00 6 4476
Steel doors $746.00 4 2984
Steel window frames $678.00 6 4068
Trolley $93.50 2 187
Fume cupboard $999.90 2 1999.8
Glassware $59.45 200 11890
Dispoal pipettes $9.50 150 1425
Economy borosillicate $11.99 120 1438.8
Latex gloves $3.96 500 1980
Non-woven coats $24.99 10 249.9
Boot covers $4.00 10 40
Safety goggles $3.29 10 32.9
Microscope $206.99 4 827.96
Balance $153.99 4 615.96
Shelving $309.00 10 3090
Cupbaords and lockers $311.00 10 3110
Dustless chalkboard $7.50 400 3000

TOTAL
43724.7
6
2. Compare your lab design with a college teaching lab
(a) Similarities:
Our designed lab is compared with the 1992 built Reed college Chemistry lab:
Firstly, there is common safety features such as fire exits, alarms and smoke sensors.
Besides, hazardous material storage location is integrated in both labs. For
ventilation requirements, there are several doors and windows. Similar waste
disposal techniques are integrated such as soluble wastes are managed using water.
There is incorporation of safety pictograms in the laboratory walls. Besides, for
grouped affinity elements they are closely linked unlike in traditional design of chain-
link elements. Lastly, there is similar furniture incorporation such as stools,
workbenches, chairs. Besides, in both cases, capacity is matched. (Note that there are a
total of 7 similarities, check the bold fonts)
(b) Differences:
In my case, the design presents incorporation of technology in lab safety systems. There
is inbuilt functional flexibility of the lab such that lab can be converted into a group
study room very easily. There is also more space economy and utilization, this
consequently attains order in arrangements of interior facilities and equipment.
Admittedly, this ensures quicker access to critical points and maximum utilization of
resources within the lab. Additionally, advanced security systems and safety are
integrated. For example, there is facial recognition access control; the doors are installed

with push button mechanical digital locks. For safety systems, there are ABC powdered
fire extinguisher and first aid kits installed at strategic points. The lab is also easily
accessible given that it is to be seated on the ground floor unlike Reeds’ lab which is
seated on a high level storey building. Lastly, the layout is very flexible such that the
function of the la can easily be converted into a group study room. (Note that there are a
total of 5 differences as required)
(c) Why your design better (defended as well; check the bold fonts)
Therefore, the following ensures the design is better:
(1) Better space utilization since space economy is nowadays a critical factor of design.
Space is created in a creative manner in the above design. Notably, if all
elements were to be considered in this case without considering their relative
locations within the laboratory then we would likely be having a scenario where
there is haphazard positioning of elements. However, with the illustrated technique
it is more orderly as every element has its space created in a unique fashion. For
instance, there are temporary storage units under the work benches to minimize
unnecessary movements during lab operation to the store room.
(2) More advanced safety and security systems installed. This is also essential given
the increasing threats to national and global security situation. It is critical to
monitor in a real time fashion the activities of the lab occupants so that
necessary proactive action can be taken in a case for emergency such as terrorist

attacks or sudden explosions. The lab room is integrated with top notch video
and imaging scanners at strategic points.
(3) More appropriate hazards and flammable material handling; there is a separate room
for controlled conditions). The main objective for separating extremely dangerous
experiments and chemicals from low risk ones was such that there could be
confidence among the users of the lab on the practical realities. A chance of
hazardous material exposure such as radiations is minimized amongst users. The
flammable materials are best handled when placed in separate locations.
(4) Flexible layout design since it can easily be changed into a work group study with
minimal effort (there are mobile work benches which again double up as storage
facilities for lab equipments and glass ware. Functional flexibility is among the
design factors being considered today. Versatility of facilities is a key feature and
in this case various strategies were placed to achieve it. It allows a facility to be
used and reused hence reducing the facility costs that would have been
channeled into construction of a study room.
(d) Why there are similarities and differences
Both laboratories are used for chemical and biological experiments hence there are
common standards applied. Secondly, they are closely similar in terms of the intended
purpose hence there are some similarities in design. However, they have also
differences since the former was built in 1992 while the latter is to be built hence
there are differences in construction technology and design. Some of the security
features at the time of construction of the Reeds lab have become obsolete and
effectively been replaced by more advanced security systems. For example, the face

recognition device will be installed in the new laboratory ( a feature that is not
available in the old laboratory). Besides, the new lab is designed for functional
flexibility such that it can serve both as a group study room and a laboratory since it
will have moveable work and experiment benches. The aspect of versatility also
comes along. Modern laboratories are supposed to serve a range of users hence the
new design strives to meet the needs of the other users as well. (This is sufficient
justification as to why the proposed design is better)
3. How lab meets the guidelines of efficiency, effectiveness, safety and
security
(a) Safety and security: This is a key design and operation feature in the lab. The lab
itself is a risk to the users and this risk must be restricted to minimum levels. Potential
safety risks include: fire and smoke, flooding, electrical faults, inhalation of
hazardous substances such as fumes. All these are effectively minimized through a
systematic strategy and control and this is achieved as follows: There are several
exhaust ducts and collectors at the roofing section such that proper ventilation and
air conditioning is to be attained. Therefore incidences of suffocation are zero. The
roofing section location ensures unrestrained space for operation is available. There
are fire and smoke sensors and extinguishers for effective fire control in case of
outbreak. The fire extinguishers are located near exit doors for accessibility and

retrieval. There is adequate supply of water by having taps at every work and
experiment bench. Natural lighting is provided by integrating several windows. The
amount of lighting is achieved through control by a semi-translucent cover.
Importance to the scientist
Safety and security are two critical factors in the wellness of users. In case there is a
security lapse in the design then all other parameters of the lab are affected. For
instance, the scientist will have no confidence with the facility hence the quality of
experiments will adversely be affected. Besides, safety ensures that more focus is
given to the work at hand by the scientists hence productivity increases.
(b) Efficiency
Efficiency is achieved by strategic location of essential elements such as work
station, equipment and overall space utilization. The work benches are arranged in an
orderly fashion. Besides, they are movable hence extra space can be created in case
number of users is lowered or the lab is to be used as a group study room. The
firefighting equipment is placed next to exits to allow for faster retrieval and access
with minimal efforts. Efficiency in this case is measured in terms of speed of
operation of the lab activities both in normal and emergency situation. The trolleys
are included to facilitate delivery of the equipments such as delivery of glassware at
every bench. Besides, under the work benches, there are inbuilt drawers and shelves
to allow for efficient retrieval of the equipments. The individual space requirements
are adequately provided such that one can easily operate between the work benches
and the experiment benches. Efficiency is an essential design and operation
performance in the lab as it ensures that activities are done expeditiously and that

there are no backlog being experienced. The speed of operation of each unique
activity is often standardized prior to lab operation commencements; this is done in a
dedicated study called: Work study which establishes the optimized speed of
operation of each task in the lab. For example, in moving the trolleys from the
teachers table to the last bench on the opposite end, how long will it take? This will
allow the work study team to derive the speed at which the activity is done by
measuring the distances and time taken. Hence efficiency in this case is a measure of
how fast or slow an operation can be and this is addressed in the lab design and
layout(How this is achieved is embedded here).
Importance to scientist
Efficiency allows scientist to carry on with experiments with zero disruptions in
between. For example, since unnecessary movements are minimized, the energy
being expended will only be accounted for the productive and efficient work done. It
also minimizes the incidences of MSDs (Muscular-skeletal diseases) which are
caused by poorly designed work stations such that one has to overstretch in doing
certain tasks such as lifting and moving heavy loads around.
(c) Effectiveness
Effectiveness is achieved by ensuring design facilitates availability of the facility.
Hence effectiveness is defined as the product of availability and quality of
performance. Availability is ensured by having the lab always ready to receive and
serve users. This is achieved as follows: after lab sessions are done, group study
sessions may follow hence the lab is effectively turned into a group study room in

minutes by moving the benches and ensuring all equipments are stored in their proper
operation. Meanwhile, quality of performance means that the entire equipment and
facilities are safely handled during operation and that there is always successful
completion of the planned tasks in the lab. So, why is effectiveness a critical
operation and design parameter? Effectiveness ensures that the planned activities are
successfully completed in the lab and that the lab is always ready to host other type of
users with minimal disruption in between. Effectiveness also ensures that the quality
of performance is beyond reproach and this is done through monitoring and
evaluation and checking against the stipulated standards of performance, safety and
quality (How this is achieved is embedded here).
Importance to scientists
Since the layout is effectively designed, the scientist can easily do maximum work
within the allotted time without getting seriously fatigued. The individual stations are
clearly mapped out with all routes clearly marked therefore time wasting is
minimized.
(d) How to make sure it is safe
The doors are burglar proof. This is done to minimize unauthorized access. The
smoke sensors are installed for proactive fire alerts. The fume chamber is used to
ensure experiments that produce a lot of fumes are controlled. There are several exits
points to ensure quicker and more effective evacuation in case of emergency. The
facial recognition only allows authorized users to access the lab hence minimizing
risks associated with nonusers and strangers. The design also meets both United
Kingdom and European standards of safety on such buildings. There is also adequate

walkway space to minimize obstruction especially when trolleys are being moved
around. The fire extinguishers are strategically positioned for more effective fire
fighting. Every user must be equipped with firefighting and emergency response
skills.
(e) How it is organized to attain the efficiency standards
As mentioned earlier, the lab layout has been designed for flexibility in terms of use
and speed. The workbenches are movable to allow space for other activities within
the lab. The storage of equipments and glassware are done under the work benches to
optimize space and allow for faster retrieval hence expediting the experimental
sessions. The fire fighting equipments are fixed at strategic points next to the exits for
faster retrieval and action in case of emergency. The walkways are designed with
optimized size for efficient movement of materials and equipment to various work
stations. The size of the work benches can also be reduced by halving since they are
lockable. There is adequate natural lighting allowed during the day to facilitate work
as working in dim light minimizes the efficiency and quality of work output.
(f) How effectiveness is attained in the design and the possibility to work
on it evaluated
The lab is designed for functional flexibilities. This is supported by an effective
layout presented. It is possible to interchange lab use with little disruptions. Since
there is localized storage, the user movement is minimized hence more focus is
directed at the work at hand. Material handling is made more effective by having
trolley supplying the needed materials without user personally getting them. The

number of exits in the lab has also been increased to four with spacious windows and
one main emergency door. This is done in order to facilitate effective evacuation
during emergency scenario. Lastly, the face recognition is used to monitor real time
activities of the user to effectively boost security effectiveness and ensure wellbeing
of users. There is an emergency alarm that is triggered by the sensing of smoke from
any corner within the lab; users are also trained effectively on how to exit the lab with
minimal injuries in case of fire outbreak or explosion. Therefore, from the above
features, it is confirmed that the design is most effective and can effectively be used
for work by the designated users.