CHAPTER 8: DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS, TECHNICAL REPORT, AND
8.2 Design recommendations for conducive environments
8.2.4 Services
Service design recommendations
Research facilities, specifically laboratories, put a high demand on services required for the building to operate. This reason causes the distribution of services to be problematic. In Design for Research, Principles for a Laboratory Architecture (1986), Lore states that there are four core strategies for service distribution (Loring, 1986:69-70). These are:
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• Interstitial floors
This model inserts a new service floor between laboratory floors (Bellingan, 2008). By housing utility services and equipment, this method allows for flexibility and ease of maintenance.
However, it increases cost, construction time and adds 20 percent to the buildings’ volume (Loring, 1986:9, 69). This method proves unfeasible for this research as it requires the building to infringe upon the natural skyline and is cost and resource extensive.
• Continuous end-wall service corridors
This method proposes service spaces across each laboratory. Continuous end -wall service corridors prove to be highly flexible and easy to maintain but often poses as a physical and daylighting obstruction. This is not a viable option, as natural light is critical for designing the proposed ecological centre.
• Vertical distribution
This method of servicing has a lower cost and minimal floor height. However, it is inflexible and costly to modify and maintain. In order to create flexible research environments, this method will not be utilized.
• Horizontal distribution
Horizontal distribution works by grouping major services into an overhead carrier fixed to the structure above. By casing utility services between floors that are in use, there is better flexibility, ease of maintenance, and modification. This method proves the most useful strategy for service distribution.
However, keeping these service distribution techniques in mind, it can be further noted that a laboratory generally can be serviced by a regular 220 V system along with distribution boards places every 55 m² (Loring 1986). This should be kept separate from the entirety of the building (Bellingan, 2008). Therefore, design consideration needs to be given to spaces for backup generators as well as an uninterrupted power supply location. Due to large amounts of energy needed, a backup energy source will be prioritized to conserve natural resources and certify the systems within the facility are maintained (Bellingan, 2008).
Gas supply
The laboratories will require the usage of gas to carry out research. In environmental facilities, the amounts of gas are not heavily utilized. Concurrently, a central gas storage facility where
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gas may be transported from should be considered. This space is to be sun protected, situated located off ground level, and away from combustible sources.
Water supply
The facility's water supply should minimize the usage of municipal water sources. Additional sources of water are to collected via rainwater harvesting and river water recirculation for environmental purposes. All taps are to be fitted with flow control, which assists in water conservation (Bellingan, 2008). Water will be recycled through various systems to address water scarcity and pollution. The water treatment methods will be discussed further in this chapter.
Solar energy, ventilation, daylighting
To generate a structure that is low energy, the use of alternate energy is fundamental. Secondary sources of energy will be harnessed through solar energy. This is possible through photovoltaic (PV) panels. The use of PV systems allows for energy to be collected in an environmentally friendly manner. The system consists of PV panels, batteries, power converters, and a generator where converted energy may be stored (Singh et al., 2011). This strategy, along with LED lightings, adequate daylighting, light dimmers, and motion sensors, will ensure that the structure consumes as little energy as possible.
In the case of research spaces, lighting should run perpendicular to workbenches to avoid shadows being cast. It is of best interest that lights be motion censored to save energy and cost.
Natural lighting is considered central to the design of the facility. According to Bellingan, natural daylighting is proven to provide the most comfortable and productive environments.
Concurrently, it is advised that direct sunlight be avoided at workstations. This reinforces the concept of open-plan spaces that facilitate place-making.
Natural lighting further strengthens a passive and sustainable approach as well as creating visual dialects between the user and the natural environment. Natural ventilation will omit reliability on Airconditioning systems and thereby reduce cost-efficiency.
According to Africa Environmental Management Consultants (ACER), the area of iSimangaliso is a migratory pattern of various fish and crustaceans (ACER 2001:8). Bellingan highlights that artificial night lights from the built form in a natural area could negatively affect the migrating species (Bellingan, 2008). In order to combat this, it can be suggested that outdoor lights be shaded or situated away from the water’s edge (Bellingan, 2008).
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Waste generated by laboratories and services will be adequately dealt with to ensure environmental sustainability. Waste will be categorized into solids, liquids, and gases. All laboratories' wastewater lines should be separated from the main domestic sewage to avoid contamination. Sampling points are required at convenient locations situated outside and away from the building.
• Solid waste management
There is often a significant amount of solid waste generated from environmental facilities. In Laboratory Design Guide (2000), it is stated that the most efficient way of solid waste management is to dispose of it in containers within the facilities and then have it collected by the local waste management (Griffin 2000:67). Plant waste can be used to generate compost, which can be used on site.
• Liquid waste management
There are several ways to discard liquid waste from laboratories. The most common method being waste being channeled into a dilution pit containing limestones to raise pH levels and then drained into the municipal water supply (Loring 1986:85). However, more sustainable ways include draining the water into a holding tank, where it is then collected by local waste management. (Griffin 2000:47,67)
• Gas waste management
Considering the minimal amount of gaseous waste produced by environmental centres, harmful gases may be appropriately dealt with by means of fume hoods or fume cupboards in laboratories (Bellingan, 2008)
Fire and safety
In order to effectively plan for safety, access points are to be kept to a minimum to ensure no uninformed visitors wander into hazardous areas. Signage should be mandatory within research areas to avoid injury.
For fire safety, it is best to ensure all areas be equipped with a sprinkler system, fire hoses, reels, and fire extinguishers (Loring 1986:91). Fire equipment is not to be more than 30 meters apart from each other. All rooms are to be equipped for emergencies with a clear safety path highlighted.
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• Local, sustainable & materials
As discussed in Chapters 3 and 4, the building's materials, equipment, and services should be locally soured whenever conceivable. Local materials include reed, stone locks, clay bricks, thatched roofs, and bamboo. These raw materials will be utilized on the exterior of the building as well as spaces that do not require specifications, such as laboratories. Labs will differ from these material choices to meet design requirements.
• Laboratory finishes
The laboratory finishes will differ from the rest of the facility according to the design requirements. The laboratory spaces should be finished with floor surfaces that are layered with a prefinished material that can be joint-welded to the floor. Griffin (2000) states that floor finishes be extended 150mm up walls to avoid contamination of other surfaces (Griffin 2000:34). Sustainable materials such as vinyl and linoleum are to be considered for flooring.
These materials are manufactured with a wooden swatch and will be utilized to match the rest of the building’s natural aesthetics.
Similarly, wall finishes should also be non-porous for ease of maintenance and hygiene. Porous wall surfaces will require treatment or a coat of acrylic paint (Bellingan, 2008). Wood finished walls are not appropriate in the laboratory environment. Wooden textures allow for the absorption of hazardous materials and are stated to be impossible to decontaminate (Laboratory Standard & Design Guidelines – Stanford Environmental Health & Safety, 2020).
According to research conducted by Stanford University (2018), Some non-suitable materials for furniture are laminate, wood, and fiberglass. (Laboratory Standard & Design Guidelines – Stanford Environmental Health & Safety, 2018) Furniture materials should be smooth and non- porous to resist the absorption of chemicals. Advisable materials for workbenches and furniture are moulded epoxy resin, stainless steel, and epoxy coated metal (Pillay, 2019).