Atlanta GA - March 10-11, 2009 Best Practices for Laboratory Design 2010

LabWize, Inc. is a supporter of Labs of the 21st Century and has also partnered with a number of other key industry resources such as The Scientific Equipment and Furniture Association (SEFA). This section is intended to provide timely information concerning not only LabWize’s own Meetings, but industry-wide events of interest to our members and other visitors to this website.

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• Advanced Ventilation Design for Pressurized Spaces Part 1 of 2 - Space Pressurization: Objectives and Design

  Covers goals and concepts behind pressurization. Emphasis on the importance of the room envelope. Explains the common control methods, and when to choose each one.

Jim Coogan, PE - Principal Application Engineer Siemens Building Technologies, Inc.


Mr. Coogan is a principal in product development and applications for Siemens Building Technologies. He has over 25 years experience designing microprocessor-based controls for mechanical systems, with 19 of those spent in the HVAC industry. Jim has served chairman of ASHRAE Technical Committee 1.4, Controls and is an active member of TC 9.8 Laboratory Systems. Publications include technical papers on room pressurization and laboratory commissioning. Jim has published papers on space pressurization and commissioning laboratories.



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• Smooth Commissioning, How To Get It Right From The Beginning to Reduce Costs and Issue Avoidance"

  This presentation offers steps for a successful commissioning process, highlighting the critical issues that are often overlooked in the design, construction and turnover of complicated building projects. Through case study examples, Kurt Last details the pitfalls of poor oversight and the benefits of integrating a comprehensive commissioning plan into the overall process. Kurt Last to discuss the commissioning process from the client's perspective.

F. Kurt Last - President, Specialty Operations Solutions, Inc.

Mr. Last has more than 20 years experience in programming, design, commissioning and operating laboratory, cGMP pharmaceutical manufacturing and research animal care facilities. Prior to founding Specialty Operations Solutions (SOS) in 1997, Mr. Last was Senior Director of Operations for a cGMP biologics manufacturing company, leading teams charged with Facilities (Research & cGMP Manufacturing) Operations; Calibration & Metrology; Research Animal Care and Security, Environmental Health & Safety. SOS provides programming, design, financing, sciences integration & quality assurance, veterinary & research animal care support, complete (FDA) regulatory services, commissioning & start up, and operations.



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• Chilled Beams in Laboratories: Lessons Learned

  Rumsey Engineers was the first engineering firm to use chilled beams in laboratories. In the last five years, Rumsey Engineers has used chilled beams in several lab projects and has gained valuable experience in the cost analysis, design, and installation of these systems. Chilled beam systems are not yet widely known or used in the U.S., although recently they have become more widely used in laboratories and office buildings. Chilled beam systems offer many key benefits for laboratories and other critical environments, including low operating costs, high level of occupancy thermal comfort, flexibility in the design of unit types, ability to deliver many services in a single unit, low operating noise, and adaptability to conditions where floor-to-slab height is minimal. Chilled beam systems can be installed for equal or less cost than inefficient VAV reheat systems typically installed in labs. The chilled beam units themselves are still relatively expensive, as most are manufactured in Europe, but the significant reduction in ducting, shafts, and air handler capacity offers attractive cost savings that more than offset the costs of the units.

  This presentation will discuss several issues that affect the use of chilled beams in laboratories:

• Costs and how to develop and present cost models
• Contractors' level of familiarity with the technology
• Constructability
• Coordination with other systems
• Design and system optimization
• Operations
• Sourcing

Peter Rumsey - Rumsey Engineers, Inc.

President of Rumsey Engineers in Oakland, California, Mr. Rumsey is widely recognized as global player in energy efficiency and a leader in sustainable building design. Rumsey Engineers have been responsible for many key innovations in energy efficient design and analysis. They were the first firm in the U.S. to be awarded four LEED Platinum ratings for thier projects. Other firsts include: the first LEED Platinum rating for a U.S. state office building; the first LEED Platinum building in Nevada; and the first LEED Gold rating for interiors. The firm's projects are widely recognized for outstanding design achievement and have received awards from many prominent industry organizations, including AIA Committee on the Environment; AIA Top Ten Green Projects; the Association of Energy Engineers, ASHRAE; Savings By Design; AIA San Francisco chapter; AIA California Chapter. Mr. Rumsey is an ASHRAE Fellow, a Senior Fellow of Rocky Mountain Institute, and a recipient of the 2005 AIA California Council Allied Professions Honor Award.



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• Advanced Ventilation Design for Pressurized Spaces Part 2 of 2 - Air Flow Control: Fundamentals and Design Procedures

  Briefly reviews pressurization. Breaks down the components of air flow control accuracy. Further analyzes the types of flow sensing errors and their effects. Builds on that background to establish a procedure to design and specify effective air flow control systems for pressurized spaces.

Jim Coogan, PE - Principal Application Engineer Siemens Building Technologies, Inc.


Mr. Coogan is a principal in product development and applications for Siemens Building Technologies. He has over 25 years experience designing microprocessor-based controls for mechanical systems, with 19 of those spent in the HVAC industry. Jim has served chairman of ASHRAE Technical Committee 1.4, Controls and is an active member of TC 9.8 Laboratory Systems. Publications include technical papers on room pressurization and laboratory commissioning. Jim has published papers on space pressurization and commissioning laboratories.

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