Ducon Building Solutions

Build The Project. Protect the Operations

Home / Projects / Build the Project

 

LABORATORIES & CONTAINMENT · TECHNICAL CAPABILITY

Our experience delivering construction and refurbishment works in live hospital environments has taught us how to work safely and methodically around critical operations — an approach that translates directly to laboratory and research
environments.

DELIVERING TO
  1. AS 2243.1 · AS/NZS 2243.2 · AS/NZS 2243.3
  2. AS/NZS 2243.4 · AS/NZS 2243.6 · AS/NZS 2243.8
  3. AS 2243.9 — Safety in laboratories
  4. AS 2982 — Laboratory design and construction
  5. AS 1668.2:2024 · AS 2252.4 · ISO 14644-1/-3
  6. AS/NZS 3500.1 · AS 4775 · AS/NZS 60079.14 · AS 1940
  7. NCC 2025 (Victoria, from 1 May 2026)
  8. AusHFG Part D Rev 8.0 — IPC in construction
  9. OGTR Guidelines for Certification of Physical Containment Facilities — PC1–PC4
  10. Client design and construction standards
What hospitals have taught us about working in laboratories

Working within PC2 and PC3 environments requires careful management of containment, critical services and operational continuity challenges our teams are experienced in managing through live hospital projects.

We work with the laboratory designers, services engineers and consultant teams to turn specialist requirements into buildable, coordinated and tested outcomes, while protecting the operation around us.

PHYSICAL CONTAINMENT

▪    Containment interfaces  Walls, ceilings, doors and service penetrations are coordinated to maintain the intended containment boundary.

▪    Sealing the details  Lighting, power outlets, service penetrations and other interfaces are considered as part of the containment strategy.

▪    Hoardings  Hoardings, barriers and sealed interfaces are planned to maintain separation between construction and operational laboratory areas, supporting containment and environmental control throughout the works.

▪    Finishes  Floor and wall finishes are selected and installed to support the required cleanability, durability and containment requirements.

▪    Pressure & airflow  Pressure relationships and directional airflow are coordinated with the mechanical systems to support the required containment environment.

▪    Testing & verification  Containment is verified through the required testing and commissioning before handover.

SERVICES AND VERIFICATION

▪    Critical services  Mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and specialist services are coordinated to maintain the laboratory environment and support critical equipment and research activities.

▪    Specialist equipment  Fume cupboards, safety cabinets and other laboratory equipment are coordinated with building services, installation requirements, testing and commissioning.

▪    Shutdowns & changeovers  Existing services are investigated and shutdowns planned around research and facility requirements, with isolations, temporary services and staged changeovers coordinated before existing services are interrupted.

▪    Fit for purpose & maintainable  Laboratory services and equipment are coordinated with operational and maintenance requirements — ensuring the completed space is practical for Facilities to operate and maintain.

▪    PC Certification, Commissioning & Handover  Successful laboratory delivery extends beyond construction. We coordinate the works, specialist services, testing, commissioning and witness testing required to support facility certification, progressively compiling certification records, test results, asset information, as-builts and O&M documentation to meet the client’s handover requirements and provide Facilities with a complete and practical handover.

WORKING WHILE YOU STAY OPEN

▪    Temporary containment  Construction areas are separated from operational spaces before works commence, using appropriate hoardings, sealed barriers, controlled access and, where required, HEPA-filtered negative air to control dust and airborne contaminants.

▪    Sensitive equipment & vibration  Sensitive equipment and research activities are identified early, with construction methods, timing and vibration controls planned around their requirements.

▪    Critical services & equipment  Critical equipment, services and loads are identified before works commence, with shutdowns, temporary services and changeovers planned and tested before existing services are interrupted.

▪    Program & stakeholder coordination  Disruptive works, shutdowns, deliveries and access changes are planned into the program and communicated to affected Facilities and research stakeholders in advance.

▪    Maintaining operations  Works are staged to minimise disruption, maintain access and allow surrounding research and university operations to continue wherever possible.

WHERE WE FIT

Laboratory refurbishment and fit out · PC1, PC2 & PC3 upgrades · staged works and handovers · fume cupboard and safety cabinet replacement · mechanical, hydraulic and electrical upgrades · planned shutdowns and service changeovers · minor works and maintenance within operational laboratory environments · defect rectification and make-good

Bring buildability into the room early

The best project outcomes start with considered design and early coordination. We work with the project team early to review containment, services, staging, access, shutdowns, commissioning and maintenance requirements, helping ensure the design is practical, coordinated and ready for construction.

 

ducon building solutions

Don't Hesitate To Contact Us!

We specialise in Heritage Refurbishments and Building Conservation and have our own Painting Division – Ducon Coatings.