Top 10 Questions Asked When Purchasing Or Leasing Modular Science Laboratories
Building a temporary or modular science laboratory can be a daunting decision and as you delve into the project, more and more questions arise. Together, the team at Modulab Systems and Ausco Modular have highlighted some reoccurring questions from principals, school boards, and educators that seek to provide insight, provide clarity, and assist with feasibility.
1. Will a modular laboratory facilitate the national curriculum for chemistry, biology & physics?
This question is directly related to the layout and configuration of laboratory furniture in your science space. Our science specialists have come up with a very simple and universal design with chemistry, biology, and physics in mind. The design consists of Modulab perimeter ‘E-pods’ for group practicals and mobile or fixed demonstration/teacher modules creating an open and flexible academic space in the centre. The recommended layout is simple and traditional but very practical for a 1 to 5-year lease arrangement.
2. Can furniture & equipment be transferred to another building at a later date?
The short answer is, Yes. Modular furniture and storage systems are prefabricated in a 3rd party facility making it not only heavy-duty and durable but also suitable for modular and in situ buildings. Laboratory furniture in a modular building are often value-engineered to assist with reduction in cost, this may be achieved by leaving some lower priority elements such as premium benchtops, under bench storage, premium sinks etc. Furniture is designed to last in excess of 30 years, so additional features or more premium appliances can be specified for future improvements to the modular laboratory.
3. Will a modular meet our budgetary constraints?
The Ausco entry-level modular science laboratory is designed with budgetary constraints in mind and depending on your budget, both Ausco and Modulab have a number of styles that can be selected based on your core purpose. If budget is of most importance to your school, ask for our entry-level science modular templates. Standardisation and basic inclusions is a simple way to assist with alignment to not only budgetary constraints but also conformance to Australian standards.
4. Should we buy outright or rent our modular science laboratory?
There are a lot of factors that can assist with the decision to lease or purchase a modular science laboratory with the biggest single factor being time frame. Time frame will have a direct impact on ROI (Return on Investment) and the team at Ausco will be more than happy to calculate the best option for your school, this can also be dependent on location and a few other factors.
5. How soon can we have a full science laboratory & preparation room up & running?
Time frame in most cases is often of great importance when purchasing or leasing a modular science laboratory. In the capital and provincial cities around Australia, there is a good chance the team the Ausco and Modulab could deliver your full laboratory in 12 to 14 weeks. In more remote and regional areas there are a few dependencies that may directly impact the time frame. The beauty of modular labs is that modules are prefabricated in-house for speed, precision, and quality and then delivered prefabricated to minimise site time.
6. Will a modular lab be fully compliant?
There are a lot of standards that need to be considered when building a laboratory in Australia. Modulab Systems ensure that all details within the science laboratory and preparation room are fully compliant to current Australian standards. Some aspects include furniture layout, service distances, fume control positioning, safety shower location and proximity, dangerous goods storage and ventilation, acid neutralising capacity and locations, Wels ratings, emergency keyed mushroom and much more…
7. Is there sufficient storage in a modular laboratory?
Typical preparation and storage rooms have one module giving about 12m x 3m of space. This space can be tight at times especially if you are transferring equipment and consumables from an existing laboratory. An extra module can be added with little trouble giving plenty of room for all preparation space and storage requirements but also can directly impact costings. It’s a great idea to encourage your science staff to conduct a 5S meeting to eliminate unused equipment in view of a lean transition. Lockable storage space under student practical areas is also a great way to reduce the preparation area. Speak with our team for more ideas on optimising your storage space.
8. Do we go for built-in or recirculating fume control?
Almost all experiments and demonstrations can be performed in a Recirculating Fume Cabinet. The benefits of a Recirculating Fume Cabinet over a Built-in Fume Cabinet include:
- Benefits of a Recirculating Fume Cabinet:
- Portability – Recirculating Fume Cabinets come on a trolley that can be transferred from room to room.
- Visibility – students can stand around the back and sides of a Recirculating Fume Cabinet due to its four transparent sides while the educator performs a demonstration.
- Cost – Typical cost of a Recirculating Fume Cabinet can vary from 5k to 6k whilst a Built-in Fume Cabinet starts from 15k.
- Benefits of a Built-in Fume Cabinet:
- Services – Built-in Fume Cabinets can include multiple of gasses, power, data and water within the cabinet allowing for greater use of applications.
- Fume Extraction – Built-in Fume Cabinets allow for complete extraction of bad fumes and smells while Recirculating Fume Cabinets purify air through a replaceable carbon and pre-filter.
9. What do you need from me to provide a detailed estimation?
Key information required for a full costing on a modular science laboratory would ideally include the following items.
- Location – where are you looking to place your modular science laboratory?
- Site survey – have you had a site survey done to assist with the placement costs?
- A number of science laboratories – how many labs and preparation rooms do you need to facilitate your requirements?
- Year levels and subjects – what year levels do you wish to facilitate and what subjects will you be teaching in the space?
- Time – what is the period of time that you require the modular lab for? This can assist with the decision on whether to rent or purchase option.
- Concerns or constraints – what else is important to you within this process?
10. Can we rent or purchase our new modular laboratory as a complete package?
The team at Modulab Systems work closely with Ausco Modular to deliver a complete package built for your requirements. This way, you have a laboratory specialist working with a modular specialist to ensure delivery of quality, compliance, and agility. Call the team today to discuss your challenges and ask about project’s we may have completed in your area recently. You can view our recent projects here >>>.