Laboratory Management
Lab is a facility/place/room or building that provides control comditions in which scientific research, experiments and measurement may be perfomed.
It can also be defined ad a place where scientist use special equipment and scientific apparatus for examination, characterization and measurements of materials or substances (biological, chemical and physical substances).
Types of Laboratories
There are three (3) major types namely;
1. Teaching laboratory
2. Research Laboratory
3. Routine diagnosis laboratory or analytical laboratory.
1. Teaching laboratory: this is a place where scientific experiments are carried out for teaching purposes. Teaching lab is futher subdivided into;
(a). School teaching laboratory: these are laboratories in primary and secondary schools where basic scientific experiments are carried out.
(b). University teaching laboratories: this are Laboratories in higher institutions (universities, college of technologies) where practicals and projects/research work are done.
2. Research Laboratory: this are Laboratories where new products are developed, scientific theories are developed and tested and solutions obtained for industrial problems.
3. Routine diagnosis laboratory or analytical laboratory: these are found in industries e.g. pharmaceutical, food and beverages, bait, textiles, hospitals e.t.c.
This Laboratories carry out product analysis to ensure they conform to the set standard and satisfy them fit for sale and consumption by the company.
Factors considered when designing a lab
1. Nature of work to be done in the laboratory: the type of work to be carried out determines the size of the lab and the type of facilities and fittings to be installed.
Requirments of a research laboratory varies from those of the analytical and secondary laboratories, also a chemistry laboratory requires different set up facilities from that of a physics lab.
2. Bench space: this also depends on weather the laboratory is a school research or analytical laboratory. Secondary school pupils requires a smaller bench per person, while a university student requires much bench space for his experimental work. The analytical laboratory requires few benches but more bench space per woker to carry their analytical work with confort and convenience.
3. Need for adjoining facilities: if an adjoining facilities like store, laboratory offices, balance room, equipment room and special passage waste like corridors are required, the architect designing the lab will make provision for this in the space available.
4. Need for special area: if the lab is to handle hazardous materials like radioactive materials (work) special room may be required also for biological laboratory that may require, that experimental animals be housed under a controlled condition, a special room will also be necessary therefore, the architect need to know all this so that he can provide space for them in the design.
5. Fitting and mechanical services: the type of lightning and ventilation required should be indicated so that provisions can be made for them in the plan. The type of mechanical services like sinc, drainage system, water system (hot or cold), gas vacuum air e.t.c will also be indicated so that provisions will be made for them.
6. Funding: your financial allocation will also determine the lab.
7. Total available space: what you want to construct has to do with the space you have.
8. Type of equipment you are bringing in.
Thanks for reading....
Assignment after class.....
Draw a typical layout of a lamed laboratory.
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