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Fume Hood and Laboratory Energy Savings Through Measured
Diversity
Nicholas A. Caronna, P.E.,
LEED® AP, Affiliated Engineers, Inc.
Karl N. Brodksy, GlaxoSmithKline
Challenges and strategies in the planning, design,
and operations of a fume hood intensive laboratory have become increasing
apparent in the wake of current energy cost increases. While personnel
safety is always of paramount concern (fume hoods are indeed life
safety devices), making critical business decisions regarding capital
expenditure for the utility infrastructure to support these labs
is also an important decision. As such, a case study of a laboratory
suite recently renovated and commissioned was undertaken to determine
fume hood energy diversity through actual observations, personnel
behavior changes, and modeling.
Primarily, this presentation will investigate energy
consumption of air handling, exhaust, and control systems that support
these critical environments and show examples of how occupant behavior
altered during the study to reduce energy costs while providing
the necessary safety and functionality needed. The direct objective
was to develop a real-life basis for fume hood diversity design
standards for a world-wide pharmaceutical firm. Also, life cycle
cost analyses of alternatives for energy use reductions will be
reviewed. Prior to this study being undertaken, the typical approach
was to make assumptions of hood use diversity based on "feelings,"
which resulted in excess capacity and inefficient energy use.
Second, with emphasis being placed on the quality
of design documentation and a reduction in costly change orders
during construction, the use of data-centric 3D Modeling has become
increasingly popular. A 3D tour of the candidate lab suite expressing
the need for accessibility and flexibility throughout the lab will
be explored and presented on the benefits and cost savings of using
this technique.
This presentation will discuss the relationship between the owners
need for control of first cost, the facility managers need to control
safety and operating cost, and the designer's responsibility for
health safety and welfare. All of these decisions must be managed
to balance the needs against the return on investment. Attendees
will learn the pros/cons as well the reality of making educated
laboratory decisions.
Labs21 Connection:
The strategy employed by GlaxoSmithKline and Affiliated Engineers
was to renovate an inefficient (energy and workflow) pharmaceutical
development laboratory suite to optimize scientific discovery space
and energy utilization. This required focus on HVAC and electrical
power, but also on scientific and maintenance personnel behaviors.
This was a voluntary program, undertaken by the GlaxoSmithKline
project manager and the design engineer. There is, however, a corporate
initiative to reduce energy-related operating costs by GlaxoSmithKline.
Following the successful design and construction efforts, the suite
was commissioned to verify original objectives and operating parameters
were met. To further confirm original assumptions, this laboratory
suite was analyzed for actual hood use diversity, including observing
scientific personnel behavioral changes during the study. The outcome
was confirmation PLUS reduction of original assumptions and recommendations
for further reductions. Additionally, new design guidelines and
capital investment strategies for this worldwide pharmaceutical
manufacturer were developed.
Biographies:
Nicholas A. Caronna, P.E., LEED AP, is a Senior Project
Manager and licensed Mechanical Engineer in multiple states with
over 25 years experience in programming and designing laboratories
and challenging high-tech industrial and biopharm facilities for
private and public sector clients. He has been involved in the design
of over 1.3 million sq. ft. of lab space. He is a member of ISPE
and ASHRAE. As a Senior Project Manager with Affiliated Engineers,
Inc. (AEI), he is also the Research Technologies Team Leader in
the Chapel Hill office, responsible for the pharmaceutical, laboratory,
and high technology business sector. Nick is a frequent presenter
at Labs21, Tradeline, and ISPE, and has written several articles.
Karl N. Brodsky is a Project Manager
and Mechanical Engineer with over 30 years experience in designing
and managing construction of laboratories and challenging high-tech
industrial facilities. He is currently part of the Capital Projects
Engineering Group at GlaxoSmithKline, and is responsible for research
laboratory renovation projects for energy and scientific user improvements.
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