Laboratory design plan: “One principle, four principles, eight systems””

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1 One principle to adhere to is: the principle of practicality. Practicality is the foundation for ensuring the proper and effective conduct of quality inspection work; without it, the laboratory loses its purpose. 2. Four concepts: 1. The functional concept involves classifying testing equipment according to the different testing tasks, creating several areas in which various tests can be carried out simultaneously. Each area is assigned a specific function, so that it can perform its designated task independently to the greatest extent possible. 2. The safety concept should determine the risk level of each area based on the different inspection items, and arrange them in order from low to high. Storage areas for strong acids, strong bases, toxic substances, flammable materials, and high-pressure devices should be located in high-hazard zones, away from office areas ； Other hazardous substances and equipment are placed in the medium-hazard zone ； And the area with the lowest level of danger is the safest zone, that is, the one closest to the office area. The laboratory must implement an access control system for areas of different hazard levels, and define the responsibilities of personnel entering each area. 3. The cost-efficiency concept laboratory should take full account of the frequency of use of equipment and facilities, avoid waste of space, and reduce protection costs. 4. The laboratory concept for scalability should take full account of functional scalability, adopting a forward-looking approach in its design. The laboratory should plan for future development in advance, leaving room for expansion; it is possible to reduce or increase the laboratory’s functions based on the existing functions of its various areas. It features scalability, which facilitates laboratories in adding new testing procedures and enhancing their testing capabilities ； On the other hand, it can effectively reduce the cost associated with the expansion of laboratory facilities. 3 Major Systems 1. Water Supply and Drainage System: The design of the water supply and drainage system must take into account the actual conditions of the laboratory; the layout of the pipes for water supply and drainage within the laboratory should be planned carefully, with efforts made to avoid having pipes pass through walls in rooms where such services are not needed. The laboratory should determine the location of water intake points based on the functions of various areas, and appropriate space should be reserved for the water supply and drainage pipelines during the interior renovation of the laboratory. The water intake points for domestic use and for testing must be separated to ensure the relative independence of the pipelines for these two types of water, preventing mixing between them; in particular, this is necessary to prevent domestic water from being contaminated by chemical reagents. To prevent the direct discharge of water used for testing, wastewater containing toxic substances, strong acids, strong bases, or flammable and explosive materials must be subjected to harmless treatment measures or equipped with appropriate treatment devices. Ensure that wastewater is discharged in compliance with standards and environmental regulations. 2. Low-voltage systems: Low-voltage power is one of the most commonly used forms of energy in laboratories, and it is present in most areas of a laboratory. The low-voltage systems include: lighting, power distribution for various detection areas, and communication systems. 3. High-pressure gas supply system: The high-pressure gas supply system in a laboratory refers primarily to the devices that use high-pressure gas cylinders to supply gas in the laboratory. High-pressure gas cylinders should be stored in a classified manner, kept upright and fixed, in a dry, well-ventilated, and cool place, away from corrosive substances, as well as open flames and other heat sources; direct sunlight should be avoided, and the temperature in the storage area should not exceed 30°C. High-pressure gas cylinders must not be stored in basements or semi-basements to prevent moisture and rust. The warehouse should be equipped with fire-fighting equipment of appropriate types and in sufficient quantities. The power switches for the lighting and ventilation equipment in the warehouse should be located outside the warehouse. 4. The temperature control system laboratory should pay attention to the impact of temperature and humidity on testing activities; it is necessary to install heating and cooling air conditioning systems in key areas to regulate the temperature in the testing rooms, thereby achieving the environmental conditions required by the testing procedures. Attention should be paid to improving the temperature and humidity control in drug warehouses, sample stores, and high-pressure gas cylinders, to ensure the safety of drugs, samples, and high-pressure gas cylinders. 5. Ventilation system: A laboratory that meets regulatory standards not only needs strict and effective control over temperature and humidity but also requires a ventilation system to ensure an adequate amount of airflow for handling and removing pollutants such as dust and unpleasant odors generated in the laboratory. The key areas where ventilation equipment should be installed are the drug storage area, sample storage area, and testing area. 6. High-voltage power supply systems: Although there are not many devices in grain laboratories that require high-voltage electricity, such as high-temperature ovens and certain models of distilled water generators, safety cannot be ignored. The construction of high-voltage power supply systems must take full account of compatibility with the environment. The power supply for high-voltage electricity should be located away from water supply and drainage networks as well as high-pressure gas supply devices, and safety protection devices should be installed in the monitoring area. 7. The fire protection system specified in the regulations is an important measure to ensure the safety of the laboratory; it must include comprehensive safety precautions that cover every functional area within the laboratory. The focus is on thermal engineering, high pressure, and power supply areas. If possible, the laboratory should purchase fire alarm devices. It is essential to ensure that emergency evacuation routes remain unobstructed. 8. Environmental protection system: The environmental protection system mainly refers to the monitoring of hazards in the treatment of wastewater, exhaust gas, and solid waste, as well as noise, as well as the storage of chemicals and reagents. Laboratories should be equipped with appropriate facilities to treat wastewater in a harmless manner, filter and discharge smoke and dust, manage and recycle hazardous solid waste, and dispose of such waste properly under strict control to meet environmental protection requirements.