Lab Design

At Lab Design, we provide professional laboratory design services for research facilities, universities, schools, healthcare organisations, pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology businesses, manufacturing facilities, testing laboratories, and commercial organisations throughout the UK. Our services are designed to create safe, efficient, and practical laboratory environments that support scientific research, education, product testing, manufacturing, and healthcare operations.

Laboratories require significantly more planning than conventional commercial spaces due to their specialist workflows, equipment, ventilation requirements, utilities, storage, and safety considerations. A professionally designed laboratory should support efficient movement, minimise contamination risks where appropriate, accommodate specialist equipment, and provide suitable working environments for laboratory personnel.

From educational science laboratories to complex pharmaceutical research facilities, Lab Design provides a structured service covering feasibility assessments, laboratory planning, workflow analysis, space planning, laboratory layouts, furniture specification, mechanical and electrical coordination, ventilation planning, laboratory services, compliance considerations, and construction documentation.

Why Choose Lab Design?

Choosing Lab Design means working with specialists who understand that successful laboratory environments require careful planning around operational efficiency, workplace safety, specialist services, and regulatory requirements. Our design approach considers applicable duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 together with relevant legislation and industry guidance appropriate to laboratory environments.

Where hazardous substances are used, consideration should be given to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH). Laboratory layouts can be developed to support appropriate segregation of hazardous materials, safe handling procedures, suitable storage, and engineering controls designed to reduce exposure where applicable.

Where laboratory processes generate hazardous dusts, fumes, vapours, gases, or aerosols, suitable Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV), fume cupboards, extraction systems, or other engineering controls may be incorporated into the design. Relevant Health and Safety Executive guidance, including HSG258, can also be considered where appropriate.

Laboratory designs may also take account of the Building Regulations, including relevant requirements concerning fire safety, ventilation, accessibility, sanitation, and electrical installations. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, and Equality Act 2010 may also require consideration depending on the project.

Where dangerous substances are present, applicable duties under the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) may also influence the design of laboratory spaces, storage arrangements, ventilation systems, and electrical equipment.

Clients benefit from this compliance-focused approach through improved workflows, safer laboratory environments, coordinated building services, efficient use of available space, and practical designs that support future maintenance and operational flexibility.

How Much Does Lab Design Cost?

The cost of professional laboratory design ranges from £50 to £200+ per m².

The cost of laboratory design consultancy depends on the complexity and scope of the project.

Smaller laboratory refurbishment projects with relatively straightforward layouts may typically cost approximately £50 to £100 per m² for the design element. More complex laboratory facilities requiring specialist coordination, multiple services, technical calculations, and detailed construction documentation may range from approximately £100 to £200+ per m².

Alternatively, laboratory design consultants may provide fixed project fees depending on the building size, technical complexity, and level of design required.

The final cost depends on the laboratory type, building size, specialist equipment, mechanical and electrical requirements, ventilation systems, containment requirements, regulatory considerations, and the amount of technical documentation required.

These figures are indicative UK estimates rather than fixed quotations. Lab Design provides tailored pricing following an assessment of the proposed laboratory, building, and operational requirements.

What Lab Design Services Are Available?

Lab Design provides a comprehensive range of specialist laboratory planning and design services, including:

• Laboratory space planning – Developing practical layouts that maximise workflow and operational efficiency.
• Research laboratory design – Designing facilities that support scientific research and development.
• Educational laboratory design – Creating teaching laboratories for schools, colleges, and universities.
• Healthcare laboratory design – Planning laboratories supporting diagnostic and healthcare activities.
• Pharmaceutical laboratory design – Designing specialist facilities for pharmaceutical research and testing.
• Industrial laboratory design – Creating laboratories supporting manufacturing, product testing, and quality control.
• Laboratory refurbishment design – Developing layouts for upgrading existing laboratory facilities.
• Mechanical and electrical coordination – Planning laboratory utilities, power supplies, water services, drainage, gases, and specialist building services.
• Laboratory ventilation planning – Coordinating ventilation, LEV systems, and environmental controls.
• Laboratory furniture specification – Selecting suitable benches, storage systems, workstations, and specialist laboratory furniture.

What Types of Laboratories Can Be Designed?

Lab Design provides solutions for a wide variety of specialist laboratory environments, including:

• Research laboratories – Supporting scientific research, innovation, and product development.
• Teaching laboratories – Practical learning environments for schools, colleges, and universities.
• Healthcare laboratories – Supporting diagnostic, analytical, and healthcare services.
• Pharmaceutical laboratories – Facilities designed for pharmaceutical research, formulation, and testing.
• Biotechnology laboratories – Supporting biological research and biotechnology operations.
• Quality control laboratories – Laboratories used for manufacturing quality assurance and product testing.
• Environmental laboratories – Facilities supporting environmental monitoring and analytical testing.
• Industrial laboratories – Laboratories designed for engineering, manufacturing, materials testing, and process development.

The most appropriate laboratory design depends on the activities undertaken, specialist equipment, occupancy levels, ventilation requirements, storage needs, containment requirements, and applicable regulatory obligations.

What Is the Professional Lab Design Process?

The Lab Design process begins with an assessment of the client's operational requirements, laboratory activities, building constraints, staffing levels, specialist equipment, and future expansion plans. Understanding how the laboratory will function is fundamental to creating an efficient design.

Space planning is then carried out to establish practical workflows, equipment locations, storage areas, preparation spaces, circulation routes, and service zones. The objective is to create an efficient working environment while supporting safe movement and appropriate separation of laboratory activities where required.

Mechanical and electrical services are coordinated alongside the proposed laboratory layout. This may include electrical supplies, specialist sockets, lighting, water services, drainage, compressed air, gases, ventilation, extraction systems, data connections, and other building services necessary for laboratory operations.

Laboratory benches, storage systems, sinks, worktops, fume cupboards, safety equipment, and specialist workstations are incorporated into the design according to operational requirements.

Where LEV systems, clean areas, specialist ventilation, or environmental controls are required, these are integrated with the wider laboratory design to support safe and efficient operation.

Detailed drawings, specifications, schedules, and construction information are then prepared to support the fit-out and installation stages of the project.

What Regulations Apply to Lab Design?

Laboratory design may be influenced by several pieces of UK legislation depending on the activities carried out within the facility.

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 establishes general duties relating to workplace health and safety.

COSHH applies where hazardous substances may expose employees to risks requiring suitable control measures.

The Building Regulations apply to many aspects of laboratory construction and refurbishment, including fire safety, ventilation, sanitation, accessibility, structural requirements, and energy efficiency.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 may apply to fire safety arrangements within non-domestic buildings.

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 may apply where laboratory design forms part of construction or refurbishment projects.

Where dangerous substances are handled, DSEAR may require consideration during laboratory planning.

Additional sector-specific guidance and standards may also apply depending on whether the laboratory supports healthcare, pharmaceuticals, education, biotechnology, research, manufacturing, or industrial testing.

How Long Does Lab Design Take?

Professional laboratory design typically takes approximately 2 to 12 weeks, depending on the size and complexity of the project.

Smaller laboratory refurbishment designs may be completed within approximately 2 to 4 weeks.

Medium-sized laboratory projects involving multiple disciplines and specialist building services typically require approximately 4 to 8 weeks.

Large pharmaceutical, research, healthcare, or industrial laboratory developments involving complex services, specialist equipment, containment requirements, or extensive technical coordination may require 8 to 12 weeks or longer.

Project timescales may also be affected by surveys, client approvals, specialist equipment selection, planning requirements, procurement, and coordination with architects, engineers, and other consultants.

Lab Design provides project-specific programmes based on the building, operational requirements, and technical complexity of each project.

Why Hire Professional Lab Design Specialists?

Professional laboratory design requires specialist knowledge of laboratory workflows, ventilation systems, specialist utilities, laboratory furniture, equipment integration, health and safety requirements, and regulatory obligations.

A poorly planned laboratory can reduce productivity, restrict future expansion, increase maintenance costs, create inefficient workflows, and make future compliance more difficult.

Professional laboratory designers coordinate every aspect of the facility rather than treating individual elements separately. Equipment locations influence ventilation, utilities, drainage, electrical systems, storage, circulation routes, and future maintenance access.

Lab Design approaches every project as a complete operational environment, considering laboratory activities, personnel, specialist equipment, utilities, safety systems, storage, future flexibility, and long-term operational efficiency.

The objective is to create practical laboratory environments that support safe working practices, efficient scientific operations, regulatory responsibilities, and future organisational growth.

Get a Quote from Lab Design

If your organisation requires a new laboratory, refurbishment plans, or specialist laboratory planning services, Lab Design can provide a tailored solution for your project.

Lab Design provides research laboratory design, educational laboratory design, pharmaceutical laboratory planning, healthcare laboratory design, industrial laboratory layouts, laboratory refurbishment design, laboratory furniture specification, ventilation planning, mechanical and electrical coordination, and complete laboratory design services throughout the UK.

Contact Lab Design today to discuss your laboratory project, operational requirements, and facility objectives, and receive a tailored quotation for professional laboratory design services.