Moving is always challenging, whether you’re packing up your office or relocating an entire company.

Moving a laboratory can be especially challenging, requiring extra attention to the details. That’s because labs must conform to specific parameters to ensure the safety, accuracy, and performance of the equipment. And those parameters can look radically different from one lab to the next. Before you start packing your lab supplies, it’s important to spend some time assessing the new space. Completing a careful study of your new facilities can help to ensure a smoother, more expedient relocation.

It’s All About Planning

The first thing to keep in mind with any laboratory relocation? It’s never too soon to plan. Indeed, you’ll want to visit the new space as early in the process as you can. A few general guidelines for your relocation planning process include:
  • Start planning months in advance of the relocation, if at all possible. Whatever time you invest in planning can pay off huge dividends when you move and unpack.
  • It’s critical to develop a thorough, detailed inventory of all the tools and equipment you’ll be moving. Include dimensions, service requirements, and calibration settings.
  • Tour the new space with your lab manager and architect. If you notice any potential issues, try to address them sooner rather than later. If you need to buy new equipment to accommodate the new facility, there could be a long lead time for you to contend with. Don’t wait until the last minute!
  • Work with your lab manager to review any areas of the new space that involve shared equipment. These are the areas where it can be most challenging to ensure the setup meets everyone’s specific needs.
  • Also ensure all utility and electrical connections are compatible with the incoming equipment.

Details Matter When Planning a Lab Move

Finally, remember that even things that seem trivial at first could ultimately impact ongoing research efforts. Be meticulous in sizing up the new space and cataloging any potential issues. Certainly, you’ll want move planners who will pay attention to every last detail, ultimately earning the trust of the lab manager. Specifically, move planners should scrutinize:
  • Plumbing, electrical, and mechanical infrastructure.
  • The future location of shared laboratory equipment.
  • Specifications, dimensions, and capabilities of any new equipment.
  • Planning bench space and needs to accommodate bench-top equipment.

Choose Corovan for Your Laboratory Relocation

planning a lab move Remember, mistakes can be costly. Maintaining the integrity of active research is a key to success. Something like not reviewing the dimensions of a new freezer could make the difference between a successful transition or losing years of research. That’s why having the right move planners tour the new space and monitor every last detail is so essential.

Planning a lab move?

At Corovan, we have decades of experience providing comprehensive move planning, storage, and logistics services. We’ve worked with some of the largest enterprises in the country, helping them coordinate transitions into new facilities and larger campuses. We are especially passionate about helping laboratories maintain the integrity of their research even in the midst of a relocation. We’d love to tell you more about the services and experience we bring to the table, and about the ways in which we can work with you when planning your lab move to ensure your new lab space is move-in ready once the big day comes. Contact Corovan whenever you’re ready to chat.