Laboratory and critical manufacturing environments present unique BAS challenges. For manufacturing environments, this means that process-related HVAC systems operate precisely and as designed to maintain 100% capacity availability at all times. For lab environments, it is imperative that the systems monitoring and controlling the fume hoods, exhaust, and overall lab airflow respond instantaneously and with high accuracy to ensure occupant and adjacent space safety due to the hazardous nature of the chemicals and materials used.

Benefits of a Custom BAS Design

With the flexibility to work with many product lines and the ability to customize programming within Automated Logic’s WebCTRL software, Radius Systems designs control systems to meet the needs of the vastly different clients and building types within the Life Sciences and critical manufacturing markets.

Radius Systems’ commitment to using the “best fit” hardware solution and industry standard open protocols, allows customers to save on maintenance costs over the long term as they are never forced to needlessly upgrade equipment no longer supported by the manufacturer or pay costly, mandatory annual service agreements. Radius custom procures, programs, and installs every building automation system to meet the specific needs of each facility.

A Case Study in Custom Automated Logic BAS Solutions in Life Science Incubator Spaces

In a large, newly-constructed Life Science incubator space in Philadelphia, Radius provided a full laboratory controls system through Automated Logic WebCTRL as part of a project converting existing office space to leasable laboratory space. Radius was responsible for selecting and implementing every component of the lab airflow control system from the hood sash position sensors up to the building’s lab exhaust fans. Lab control systems must respond instantaneously to changes in hood sash position, in order to maintain proper fume hood face velocity and airflow offsets for occupant safety. Radius custom-designed and programmed the lab solution to achieve the required response, while maintaining energy use at the lowest possible while maintaining safe conditions. During functional testing and commissioning, the Radius team tested all hardware and software to ensure full compliance.

Integrating to Third Party Laboratory Control Systems

Radius also has experience integrating to a variety of third party systems as part of the overall facility environmental control to include:

    • Lab Control Systems
    • Toxic Gas Detection Systems for Life Safety
    • Backup Power Systems
    • FTIR Systems
    • Fire Alarm and Life Safety Systems
    • Lighting Control System
    • Energy Recovery Units
    • Variable Speed Drives throughout the Facility (fans, pumps)
    • Central Chilled Water, Hot Water, Steam Plant
    • Electrical Switchgear Power and Monitoring Systems
    • Compressed Air Systems
    • Breathing Air Systems
    • Nitrogen and Oxygen Monitoring Systems
    • Lab Air Quality Monitoring Systems
    • Electronic Chart Recorders
    • Lab Waste Monitoring Systems

With the diverse landscape of life safety systems and necessary integration to a variety of different equipment, Radius procures the best and most appropriate product for each component of the laboratory control system.  This provides owners with the best cost and highest functionality long-term solution.  This enables the customer the flexibility to implement the best approach based on a variety of manufacturers, rather than being forced into utilizing a single product line for all components and thus leading to significantly higher long-term maintenance costs. This symbiotic functionality allows Radius Systems to implement complex sequences to fulfill the client’s essential and diverse requirements.

Automated Logic for Life Sciences

Automated Logic’s WebCTRL® for Life Sciences is an environmental control system that helps pharmaceutical, biotechnical, and biomedical firms ensure compliance with the United States Government Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) 21 CFR Part 11. WebCTRL for Life Sciences closely monitors and controls these critical parameters, helping maintain the quality and consistency of the products created within these facilities. These features support compliant site requirements to document and validate system performance, accuracy and reliability through electronic records and signatures.

In addition, WebCTRL for Life Sciences enables compliant sites to closely monitor and properly manage operator authentication, authorization, and activity within the system. As a software supplier to FDA-regulated companies, Automated Logic also meets Good Automated Manufacturing Practice (GAMP) and ISO supplier requirements. For more information on WebCTRL for Life Sciences, click here https://www.automatedlogic.com/en/news/news-articles/automated-logic-s-new-webctrl-for-life-sciences-system-meets-21-cfr-part-11-regulations.html

BAS Best Practices for Critical Environments

Life Science and critical manufacturing facility managers are consistently balancing the importance of maintaining the safety of the building occupants while effectively managing air flow within these critical spaces to maintain consistent and safe pressurization and air quality standards.

Here are examples of BAS best practices to consider:

    • Establish negative pressurization relative to other spaces in the building, along with emergency exhaust sequences – so that hazardous materials and potential spills are contained through the fume hoods and exhaust without causing threats to other building occupants.
    • Closely monitor and manage the supply and general exhaust to maintain accurate pressure, which avoids positive lab pressurization and maintains lab comfort conditions.
    • Ensure instantaneous sensing and feedback of sash movement relative to fume hood exhaust control to maintain proper face velocity and lab negative pressurization.
    • Utilize localized fume hood presence sensors and overall lab occupancy sensors to scale back fume hood face velocity and room comfort levels to minimize energy use.