PROJECT · CAMBRIDGE
Alder Biomedical Centre
Healthcare & Laboratory | Laboratory fit-out
- Application
- Biomedical laboratory
- Location
- Cambridge
- Project Type
- Laboratory fit-out
- Controlled Zones
- 24
- Systems
- AHUs, Airflow control, Controls
CASE STUDY
Holding Pressure and Conditions Across 24 Laboratory Zones.
The Requirement
The fit-out created laboratory, tissue culture, equipment and write-up spaces within a new building shell. Each of the 24 zones needed its own temperature set point, and many needed a defined pressure relationship with neighbouring spaces to control the direction of air movement.
Equipment rooms housing freezers and incubators added concentrated heat gains, and the laboratories operate continuously, so the system had to tolerate maintenance and the failure of individual components without losing control of the zones.
The Approach
Hollis & Pike supported the design team with full fresh-air handling units for the laboratory areas, selected with run-around coil heat recovery so supply and extract airstreams remain completely separate. Duty and standby fans maintain airflow during maintenance.
Supply and extract airflow terminals in each zone track one another to hold the pressure regime as fume cupboards and doors change the balance. Room sensors for temperature, humidity and differential pressure report to the BMS, which raises an alarm when a zone moves outside its limits.
Scope
- AHU and heat recovery selection
- Supply air filtration
- Airflow terminal selection
- Pressure regime coordination
- Sensors and BMS integration
- Commissioning support
The Outcome
Each zone was commissioned against its design temperature, humidity and pressure criteria, with pressure relationships checked as doors were opened and fume cupboards operated. The laboratory team can see conditions in every zone through the BMS, and planned maintenance on a fan can proceed without losing control of the laboratories.