Situation

A Tank Terminal expansion at the existing site required a new Petroleum Testing Lab. The RFP required a dedicated electrical room and a separate hazardous storage area for petroleum sample cans. The new lab also needed to be elevated due to potential flooding.

Project Scope

Best practices in lab design required the physical separation of hazardous storage, the electrical room, and the main lab. With the main lab in the center of the building, Electrical and Storage both needed separate entrances and fire separations. The building also required 500-gallon exterior petroleum waste and mineral spirits tanks. EcoFlex developed a Building Plan with the client to address Site and Lab Programming parameters.
Standard criteria included:

• Fume hood orientation and size
• Intrinsically safe (IS) fume hood area
• Gas detection systems
• Alarm Systems
• Hazardous area classifications

The client selected a Modular Construction design with pre-engineered insulated walls, a structural steel-framed floor, roof and metal siding.

Petroleum Industry
Market:	Midstream Pipeline
Construction:	Modular
Type:	Testing/Gauger
Size:	64'x13'
Layout:	3 rooms
Airflow System:	Variable Air Volume (VAV)

The laboratory met all industry air-change rate, fume hood face velocity, contaminant and pressurization envelope standards.
The lab design provided:

• Enhanced Lab Ventilation
• Air Quality Monitoring and Alarms
• Fume Hood Work Process Space
• HVAC Automation with VFD Controls
• Fire Safety
• Flammable Liquid Storage
• Test Equipment Space
• Dedicated Petroleum Waste System
• Mineral Spirits Supply Tanks

This modular lab met or exceeded Laboratory, Sample, and Sample Storage Company Standards. It also met all current Health, Safety, and Environmental codes and standards.

Benefits

• Cost reduction due to offsite modular construction
• Quick on-site assembly with minimal disruption
• Increased safety for lab personnel
• Higher quality test results
• Energy efficiency reduced lab energy costs by 80%