Just like every other laboratory, cleanrooms are affected by the rapid pace of change in the lab environment—from the actual design to the innovations in equipment to new standards and regulations. And just like other labs, the sharp focus on costs and efficiency are a key part of every discussion today, whether it entails new construction or renovations and upgrades. In this issue, readers will gain important perspectives on cleanrooms that will hopefully help them tackle the challenges of their own workplace and the future.
A great topic to focus on to gain a foothold on the future is BIM—Building Information Modeling—which is all about integrating information in a digital model to save time and cost. As Architect Neil Pulman explains in his article beginning on page 6, the BIM concept needs to be fully embraced to benefit the industry, especially pharmaceutical builds. “One of the key benefits of incorporating BIM into a pharmaceutical build is the ability to detect clashes and extract data from the model…a 3-D CAD model allows users to de-risk construction, minimizing problems on-site,” he tells us. De-risk is, indeed, a very useful concept when considering the investments in cleanrooms.
Once a lab is in action, the use of computerized systems is inevitable and has grown more complicated over time as the increase in data gathered has blossomed. In our Technology article, our industry expert details important new standards and regulations that are improving industry practices for proper data management. Data integrity is critical to the success of any pharmaceutical and biotechnical process. Since most industry professionals come to their jobs with little or no IT experience, even though data has become¾and continues to be¾central to the quality and successful outcomes of their work, it is important to learn about and understand the methods of gathering and storing data. Read the useful article beginning on page 20 to learn more about the concerns surrounding data integrity and ways to ensure it.
One of our regular speakers at the Laboratory Design Conference, Kevin Brettmann of JE Dunn Construction, offers an informative article (beginning on page 14) on capturing the real-world experience of the lab before it is actually built. Cutting-edge software lends a hand in the building process making it a collaborative venture that saves time, money and mistakes. It’s a very future oriented approach that utilizes the newest tools available to create the best process for all involved. As Kevin notes, “…to successfully put the construction work in place, everyone must be on the same page about the details and extreme care that goes into building this space. That means everyone from carpenters to electricians, and everyone in between must be working off the same set of coordinated construction documents and building information modeling.” A special custom-designed dashboard allows for a single, unified design model—with the result being increased efficiency, lower cost, higher quality, and more project control for consistency.
With the pace of cleanroom design, renovations and builds accelerating on all levels, it is good to know that industry professionals are tackling the hardest jobs—keeping advancements in technology, design and construction top of mind as they work on every new project and learn how to apply what they have learned to the next project. Sharing real-world experiences, new information on standards, plus important trending topics is what Controlled Environments is here for as well. Please visit us online for daily news and trends—and happy reading!
