Moving a lab isn’t like your typical office relocation. Instead, it’s a complex process that requires meticulous planning, specialized knowledge, and expert execution. Whether you’re expanding your research facilities or consolidating operations, relocating a laboratory can be a challenge.
Before making any decisions regarding a lab relocation service, it’s important to understand how the company you choose can impact your move and that there are a lot of steps involved in the relocation process.
What to Know About Laboratory Relocation
Lab relocation is not a DIY job, and is more complicated than moving a medical office. It’s not just about boxing up beakers and test tubes. You’re dealing with sensitive equipment, hazardous materials, and sometimes even live specimens.
One wrong move and you could be facing damaged equipment, contamination risks, or worse. That’s why many labs turn to professional lab moving services. These experts know the ins and outs of moving everything from delicate analytical instruments to bulky centrifuges.
Assessment and Planning
Before you even think about packing up your first petri dish, you need a solid plan. A good lab relocation service will start with a thorough assessment of your current setup. They’ll look at every aspect of your lab, from the big stuff like fume hoods to the tiny details like sample storage.
Chemical Management
When it comes to chemicals, you can’t just toss them in a box and hope for the best. Different chemicals need different handling. Some might need special packaging to prevent reactions during transport and others might require temperature control. Your laboratory movers will help you categorize your chemicals and plan for their safe transport.
Radiological Equipment and Materials
If you have radioactive materials, they are going to need special care. You’ll need to follow strict regulations for transporting these. A good lab relocation service will be well-versed in these rules and help you navigate the paperwork and safety protocols.
Biological Materials
Biological materials like living organisms, cell cultures, or tissue samples need special care. You might need things like dry ice or liquid nitrogen to keep them viable during the move. Your relocation team should have experience in handling these sensitive materials.
Laboratory Equipment
Lab equipment isn’t cheap, and it’s often calibrated to perfection. The last thing you want is for your precision instruments to get knocked out of whack during the move. A lab relocation service will know how to properly pack and transport your equipment to keep it in the best shape.
Review Your Laboratory Closeout Procedure Checklist
Before you start packing, you need to close out your current lab properly. This means following a detailed checklist to ensure you’re not leaving anything behind or creating any hazards. Your relocation service can help you create and follow this checklist.
Take Inventory
Taking a thorough inventory is extremely important when moving your lab. You need to know exactly what you’re moving. This isn’t just about keeping track of your stuff, but it’s also about identifying what needs special handling or what might need to be replaced at the new location.
Label Materials
Labels are very important in a lab move. Everything needs to be clearly marked — not just with what it is, but also with any special handling instructions. Your relocation team will help ensure everything is labeled correctly and comprehensively.
Establish Communication
Communication is key in any move, but it’s especially crucial when relocating a lab. You need to keep everyone in the loop — from your research team to the building managers at both your old and new locations. A good relocation service will help coordinate this communication to ensure everyone’s on the same page.
Obtain Permits For Necessary Items
Some of your lab materials might need special permits for transport. This could include certain chemicals, biological samples, or radioactive materials. Your relocation service should be familiar with these requirements and can help you obtain the necessary permits.
Establish Legal Documentation For Live Animals
If your lab works with live animals, you’ll need to sort out the paperwork for their transport. This isn’t just about getting the animal from point A to point B. There are strict regulations about transporting research animals, but your relocation team can help navigate this process.
Choosing a New Facility For Your Lab
Like picking out a new space when relocating a pharmaceutical plant, there’s a lot more to it than just the square footage of the new building.
You need to consider things like power supply, ventilation, and safety features, as well as if the new space can accommodate your fume hoods or if there is enough electrical capacity for all of your equipment. A lab relocation service can help assess potential new spaces to ensure they meet your needs.
Partnering With Experienced Relocation Specialists
This is where a company like ARC Relocation comes in. ARC truly stands out in the crowded relocation market because they have experience in the medical lab industry, and can successfully help you relocate.
At ARC, our relocation specialists can provide valuable guidance and support throughout the entire process, including project management, equipment preparation, storage, logistics, and installation services.
We understand the challenges of moving a lab and can handle everything from delicate equipment to hazardous materials, ensuring your lab move goes as smoothly as possible.
Transitioning and Training Personnel
Moving your lab also means moving your team. You’ll need to think about how to transition your personnel to the new location, which might involve reviewing relocation packages and training on new equipment or procedures. Your relocation service can help coordinate this transition, ensuring your team is ready to hit the ground running in the new space.
Post Relocation Support
Even though your relocation is complete, the process isn’t quite over yet. This is where our post relocation support comes in. To start, you’ll need to get everything up and running — and that doesn’t mean just plugging everything in.
Many pieces of lab equipment require careful calibration after a move. ARC can help with this to ensure your sensitive instruments are working as precisely as they were before the move. Then, there’s waste disposal.
You might have packing materials or even some lab items that need to be disposed of properly, and a good lab relocation service can help you with this, ensuring you’re complying with all regulations.
Don’t forget about your team either — they might need some time to adjust to the new space. ARC can help with this, making sure everyone knows where everything is and that they understand how to use any new systems or equipment.
We even have resources to help your employees find housing in their new location. Look into our ARC Realtor Rebate for more information below to help them save thousands on the purchase of a new home.
Lab Relocation Service: Recap of Key Relocation Preparation
Let’s recap the key steps in preparing for a lab relocation:
- Assess your current lab and plan the move
- Manage chemicals, radiological materials, and biological samples
- Properly pack and transport lab equipment
- Follow a closeout checklist for your old lab
- Take a thorough inventory and label everything
- Establish clear communication channels
- Obtain necessary permits and documentation
- Choose a suitable new facility
- Partner with experienced relocation specialists
- Plan for personnel transition and training
- Post relocation support
Lab Relocation Service: FAQs
How long does a typical laboratory relocation take?
The duration can vary widely depending on the size and complexity of your lab. A small lab might be moved in a few days, while a large research facility could take weeks or even months. ARC Relocation can provide a more accurate timeline based on your specific needs.
Can I move hazardous materials myself?
It is not recommended to move hazardous materials yourself. Transporting hazardous materials requires specialized knowledge and often special permits. It’s best to leave this to the professionals to ensure safety and compliance with regulations.
How do I ensure my sensitive equipment isn’t damaged during the move?
This is where professional laboratory relocation services really shine. They have specialized packing materials and techniques to protect delicate equipment. Lab equipment moving services also know how to properly disconnect, transport, and reconnect complex instruments to minimize the risk of damage.
What should I do about ongoing experiments during the relocation?
This is a crucial consideration. Ideally, you should plan your move to coincide with natural breaks in your research cycle. If that’s not possible, work with your relocation team to develop strategies for maintaining experiment integrity. This might involve temporary setups, phased moving, or even partnering with other labs to continue time-sensitive work.
How can I minimize downtime during the relocation process?
Minimizing downtime is all about careful planning. Start by creating a detailed inventory and prioritizing which equipment needs to be set up first at the new location.
Consider a phased move where you set up critical systems at the new site while still operating from the old one. Your relocation service can help develop a strategy that keeps your research flowing as smoothly as possible during the transition.
Final Thoughts
Relocating a lab is a complicated process, but with the right planning and support, it doesn’t have to be a headache. By partnering with experienced lab moving companies like ARC Relocation, you can ensure your move goes smoothly, your equipment and materials are handled safely, and your research can continue without missing a beat in your new location.
Remember, the key to a successful lab move is in the details — from proper labeling to careful equipment handling. With the right lab relocation service, you can turn what could be a daunting task into an exciting new chapter for your research.