Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Surrey

“Yorkon performed very well at every level – from head office to site management.  Their attention to detail was excellent and the laboratories were finished to an exceptionally high standard." 

The Requirement

The Veterinary Laboratories Agency, an Executive Agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), is an internationally recognised centre of excellence in veterinary scientific research and provides a wide range of animal health consultancy, diagnostic and surveillance services to Government and commercial organisations.

The VLA had a requirement for a new, purpose-designed high specification laboratory in Surrey, which would meet the containment and operating requirements for DEFRA Category 4 specified animal pathogens.  This would also require a license under the Specified Animals Pathogens Order (SAPO), and protect staff by operating at ACDP Containment Level 3 (Advisory Committee for Dangerous Pathogens).

The Solution

Yorkon was awarded the £2.5m contract by Shepherd Construction, to manufacture, install and fit out the self-contained laboratory building, which would accommodate new research and diagnostic facilities. 

The client’s project managers were Cyril Sweett, who are responsible for the project management of a wider redevelopment of the site. 

The building was manufactured off site in York and delivered on time in a challenging construction period of only six months to meet the VLA’s programme requirements.  The modules were delivered to site and installed over one weekend, minimising any disruption to existing operations on the site.

The new VLA laboratory comprises:

•  two SAPO 4/ACDP CL3 laboratories
• preparation areas
• freezer room
• cold store
• two hot rooms
• toilet and changing facilities
• office accommodation
• isolation showers

There is a full height services distribution void on the upper floor, which allows quick and easy access to all major plant serving the SAPO 4 laboratories, and maintenance of filters and light fittings from above without disrupting the working laboratories. 

To the side of the building is a two-storey plant room, which contains the air handling equipment, safe change filters and other plant to support the building services.

Features and Specification

Yorkon project managed the highly complex fitting out, working with its partner MSS Clean Technology – specialists in the design and supply of clean rooms and controlled environments for the life science, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.

Features of the building include:

• two SAPO 4/ACDP CL3 laboratories 
• control systems to allow a structured fumigation process to be carried out
• a building management system with strategic control monitoring and alarming facilities
• an environmental management system in line with the Government’s proposed guidelines
• independent security and controlled access
• a highly complex effluent treatment plant.  All effluent from the laboratories is discharged from a holding tank into a treatment tank for heating and cooling
• an internal clean room panelling system with a crevice-free construction and coved interfaces
• air handling systems fitted with duty and standby fans and two stage HEPA filtration to maintain the quality of the internal environment and the dynamically controlled pressure gradient, which operates up to a maximum of -75 Pa in each of the two SAPO 4 laboratories
• state-of-the-art constant volume microbiological safety cabinets which can be operated at class 1 or class 3 and maintain the required pressure gradients
• a standby generator to maintain the integrity of the building in the event of a power failure.

Comments from the Client Team

Professor Steve Edwards, Chief Executive, Veterinary Laboratories Agency:

“I am very impressed at the quality of this new laboratory, and the speed with which it was delivered and commissioned.  It will prove a major asset, significantly increasing our capacity to deliver scientific projects for DEFRA in areas that have come under increasing pressure.”

Keith Thomas, Project Manager, Cyril Sweett:

“Yorkon performed very well at every level – from head office to site management.  Their attention to detail was excellent and the laboratories were finished to an exceptionally high standard. 

We visited the factory at the outset, which was very impressive.  The Yorkon system enabled us to meet the VLA’s programme requirements and benefit from a building that was manufactured under quality controlled conditions.

Delivery of the modules and cranage during a weekend was another significant advantage over traditional site-based construction as the new laboratories are located on such a busy site.

This building was successfully completed to a very tight programme and is a credit to the whole construction team.”