Modular containment unit

Abstract

A prefabricated, self-contained, standardised working environment that combines transport-useful physical standards for overall dimensions (a shipping container / cargo container) together with functional standards (such as specified clean air or biological containment standards) related to specific types of work to be carried out, and takes advantage of volume production at an assembly site with appropriate materials and expertise. Optionally, users are provided with “no-touch” control of items like doors or taps, and with management of supplies, event logging, instrument control, communications and the like through a network of computer peripherals and a control unit.

Description

FIELD [0001] This invention relates to provision of an environmentally controlled, stand-alone, user-facilitated work space, and more particularly to providing an effective containment laboratory within a standardised shell with modular fitments capable of passing quality standards appropriate to the type of work carried out within. BACKGROUND [0002] Some types of work must be carried out within environments having unusual characteristics such as extreme freedom from particles carried in the air (“clean rooms” for silicon foundries and photolithography), or being effectively sealed from the outside world, such as for the handling of infectious organisms. One form of standard descriptor for a clean room is the US Federal Standard 209D including a specific class number representing the degree of freedom from particles of defined size ranges within a given sampled volume of air. [0003] A bio-technical operation may require, or be required by law to use an enclosed laboratory space meet...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0029] Preferably the internal working space provides walls, floors, ceilings and fitments constructed so as to minimise the release of particles into the air, so that the working space meets or exceeds a standard requirement for the amount of suspended particles in the air.

[0031] Preferably the lining is at least partially resilient so that imposed strains, distortions, or impacts do not cause structural damage such as cracks or fractures.

[0041] In a subsidiary aspect, the modular containment unit includes means for preventing exchange of organisms between the internal atmosphere and the external surrounding environment by carriage within liquids passing across the barrier.

[0042] In another related aspect, the modular containment unit includes means for preventing transfer of organisms across the barrier upon workers' clothing, by providing garment storage and changing areas.

[0057] (d) the or another computer-based installation being interfaced with voice recognition technology in order to simplify and improve the sterile work process (such as by opening a door in response to a voice command).

[0058] In a fourth broad aspect, the invention provides a method for manufacture of a plurality of modular containment units as previously described in this section, wherein the method incorporates the steps of aggregating the steps of manufacture at a single site so that experience gained in meeting imposed standards may be used repeatedly, so that any one modular containment unit may be later provided with at least one modular item of laboratory equipment, and so that the cost of supply of said modular containment units is minimised. Preferred Embodiment

Problems solved by technology

Further, such procedures may have to be carried out in a site that is remote from the usual scientific laboratory services.

This can be prohibitive for smaller organisations, for short-term activities, and for universities on tight budgets.

Furthermore, should the building suffer a structurally damaging catastrophe such as fire, earthquake, or explosion, the risk that the contents of the laboratory have been spread in an invisible manner about the general area adds an unknown degree of risk to firefighting, search and rescue, demolition, repair, or occupation of surrounding areas.

Known prior art comprises the infrequent construction on an ad hoc basis of laboratories within containers such as wet labs for use in oceanography or the like; however no attempt has been made to provide such constructions that are specifically designed to meet stringent standards for cleanliness, for the containment of hazardous organisms, or the like.

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