Project Brief

Client

South East Water

Project Type

Turnkey Lab Construction

Time Scale

30 Weeks

Value

£3.5M+

Key Areas

Sample Preparation Area
Chemistry Lab
Micro Biology Lab
Cryptosporidium Lab Area
Microscopy Lab / Dark Room
Inorganic Lab
Organic Lab
Chromatography Area
Balance Area
Taste and Odour Lab

About Facility

65 members of scientific and support staff
24 hours a day, 365 days a year service
Over 700,000 test carried out each year
Up to 700 water samples tested each day

For more on information services that South East Water provide go to southeastwater.co.uk

South East Water Turnkey Laboratory Project

Our client had acquired a new commercial building on an industrial estate which was previously used as a print works by its former occupants. InterFocus was appointed to design and build a solution that provided new analytical laboratories and administration offices along with associated plant and services for the building in order for South East Water to get UKAS accreditation for their analytical services.

Testing carried out 24/7 365 days a year at Orion  provides support to South East Water in their goal to supply 2.1 million people with top quality drinking water via a network of pipes that are more than 14,500 km long. Hundreds of samples a day are taken from customers taps, reservoirs and boreholes for their scientists to check for any unseen contaminants that could effect the quality of their water supply. In addition to South East Water, the new Orion laboratory facility also supports a wide range of businesses which include other water companies, blue chip firms, environmental health organisations, private water providers and building maintenance companies by providing high quality analytical services to suit their individual requirements.

Main Scope of Works

  • Full Design and Build Contract
  • Erection of large mezzanine floor to the inside of the building to provide a plant room and future laboratory / office expansion
  • Erection of Partitioning throughout the building
  • Supply and Installation of Mechanical and Electrical services, which included HVAC, Heating and cooling to the laboratories and offices.
  • Building Management System, Specialist Gases supply, Fume extraction and ancillary services
  • Installation of backup power generator to allow the building to continue to operate during power outages
  • Data services , including racks and patch panels
  • A complete security and fire detection system including employee entry control tags
  • Installation of cold rooms and associated equipment
  • Installation of bespoke laboratory furniture and Office Furniture
  • Outside works involved installing security fencing system and electronic security entrance gates, CCTV, external site lighting, new car park area and storage waste area
  • New specialist gas storage areas to supply the laboratories