Balancing Staff Safety, Health and Comfort with Energy Efficiency in a Diagnostic Lab Environment: Pacific Diagnostic Labs (PDL), Goleta, CA

Learning Objective 1: How does a clinical and anatomic pathologydiagnostic lab differ from a research lab? What are the staff safety /environmental issues for these lab types?Learning Objective 2: Which energy management tools were used tomitigate energy use in a 100% exhaust environment? How do thesesystems provide health, safety and comfort for staff? Learning Objective 3: What other lab planning features were providedin the building to enhance the diagnostic laboratory operations andstaff satisfaction?

Project Team Client: Cottage Health System (CHS), SantaBarbara, CAArchitect: Lenvik & Minor Architects, SantaBarbara, CALab Planner: Strategic Facilities Planning,Atherton, CAMechanical Engineer: MechanicalEngineering Consultants (MEC), SantaBarbara, CAElectrical Engineer: Alan Noelle Engineer,Santa Barbara, CACasework: Herman Miller Dealership: Aegis,Laguna Hills CAFume Hoods: Dow Diversified, Costa MesaCAAircuity Representative: The George YardleyCo., Santa Anna, CAContractor: Melchiori Construction Co.,Santa Barbara, CAMove Coordinator & Equipment: MHS andAssociates, San Mateo, CAOwner's Representative: Celeste DaigneaultRedondo Beach, CA

Labs21 ConferenceOctober 2 ­ 4, 2012Presenters Amy L. Delson, AIA ­ Strategic Facilities Planning www.sfp­ald.com Chris Abbamonto ­ Aircuity, Inc. www.aircuity.comMechanical Engineer Mechanical Engineering Consultants (MEC)

Project ChallengeLocated in Goleta, CA, Pacific Diagnostic Laboratories (PDL), “awholly­owned subsidiary of Cottage Health System (CHS), is the mostcomprehensive reference laboratory between LA and the Bay Area”. In2009, PDL decided to relocate its core lab operations to a 25,900 gsf,single­story, former telephone building, across the street from theGoleta Valley Cottage Hospital. The design challenge was to create astate­of­the­art laboratory providing safe, healthy and comfortableworking conditions for staff, while controlling energy usage, enablingchange, and supporting patient care, laboratory operations and staffsatisfaction. The project was completed in 2010.

Clinical and anatomic pathology (AP)diagnostic laboratories receive,process and test specimens manuallyor using instruments, and evaluateresults to inform diagnosis andtreatment. While research labs includerepetitive benches and support,diagnostic labs are more like factories,driven by operations, equipment,staffing and accuracy of results.Diagnostic lab hazards include chemicals (xylene and other solvents,formalin, corrosives, etc.) andpathogenic specimens. To mitigatehazardous fumes / noxious odors andcontrol contact with infectious agents,single pass air (100% exhaust), oftenat high ventilation rates, is needed.Some portions of the laboratoryoperate 24/7 while others are 12/5. Diagnostic labs must also adapt tochanges in technology, operations andindividual staff requirements.

Automation Line with Adaptable/Relocatable Casework

AP Local Exhaust for Stainer ­ Hard connect and backdraft

Snorkel Exhaust & Dropped Ceiling at Molecular/ Flow Mopec Custom Grossing Station

Thomas Hughes, CEPE, LEED AP B+Cprepared an energy analysis for CHS aspart the California statewide SavingsBy Design (SBD) energy efficiencyprogram. BIM modeling enabledcoordination of building systems. Bysupporting the design intent, CHSfostered the success of the integrateddesign approach. The building wasfully commissioned by a third party toensure the design intent wasimplemented. Feedback fromemployees, management and CHSfacilities personnel confirms designgoals are being met.

The building design incorporates the following features to improve theenergy performance by 37.8 percent as compared to California’s Title24 Energy Standards and enable programmatic change withoutcompromising operations or employee health, safety and comfort:

­ Phoenix Controls VAV labs system with Aircuity OptiNet to modulate ACH between a minimum of 4 to a maximum of 12 depending on airborne contaminant levels (VOCs, CO2, particulates, etc.) ­ Sensible and latent energy recovery on exhaust air stream with pre­heating and pre­cooling coils in all air handlers ­ Variable speed drives for AHU’s & pumps­ Switchable local exhaust devices ­ backdraft, snorkel, canopy hood­ Demand control ventilation on AHU serving the office area­ Staged high efficiency chiller plant and boilers­ Johnson DDC energy management system­ Occupancy sensors control lighting in non­lab areas ­ High­performance dual pane tinted glazing­ A high mass building with added thermal insulation in the walls and roof ­ cool roof rating council certified roofing material ­ Herman Miller Co/Struc adaptable casework system with low cup sinks to create a grid of drains for future analyzers

Demand VentilationAircuity OptiNet matches ventilationrates to the actual demand, improvingdilution ventilation when contaminantsare sensed and providing energysavings during low­process andnon­occupancy periods. The figure tothe right shows the lab ventilationperformance over a 1 week period. Total Volatile Organic Compounds(TVOC) contaminant detection (greenand yellow) is met with an increase inventilation rate (red).

INTEGRATED DESIGN APPROACH Systems Features

Automation Line

Specimen Receiving with Dropped Ceiling for Utilities

Diagnostic vs. Research Labs

Floor Plan

Variable Frequency Drives

Energy Recovery Tower

Phoenix Control on the Fume Hood Canopy Hood Local Ventilation Controls and Aircuity Sensor

Incorporating energy efficiencymeasures was calculated to add$410,850 to the project cost. Part ofthis cost was offset by the SBD utilityrebate of $138,131. The remainderwill be offset by energy savings in 6.5years. Calculated energy savings are233,633 kWh's of electricity and57,097 therms of natural gas.Approximate yearly savings is$42,000 compared to T24 2008.