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After 60 weeks of construction the new QC2 and QC3 laboratories at EMAI are almost ready to commission. Electricians, plumbers, painters, tilers and cleaners are putting the finishing touches on the new $35 million laboratories.
A detailed 16 week commissioning plan has been developed to ensure all systems perform as specified and that the laboratories comply with laboratory standards and Department of Agriculture and Water Resources and OGTR requirements.
An EMAI Biosecurity Upgrade Commissioning Committee has been established and meets fortnightly to manage the commissioning process. It is the first real opportunity for the future users to come directly in contact with the new buildings as they will be integral to the testing and acceptance of some elements.
The commissioning includes:
- Electrical systems and generator
- Hydraulic systems (including laboratory grade water supplies, hot and chilled water)
- Air handling (air conditioning, heating, ventilation and pressure regimes)
- Autoclaves
- Cold rooms/freezer rooms
- Liquid waste treatment system
- UPS/comms/switches/servers
- Liquid nitrogen system
- Laboratory gases
- Fumigation system
- Building management system
- Security
- Fire services
- Alarms
- Documentation
- Handover procedure
Refurbished laboratories coming back on line
The refurbishment of laboratory blocks 9, 6, 5 & 3 and sample receival block 1 is well advanced with block 9 and block 6 back in action. This completes the laboratory refurbishment work at the eastern end of the site.
The regional veterinary laboratory has moved from block 3 to the temporary laboratory block 21 while block 3 is refurbished. This was a critical move that needed to keep client services maintained during the disruption and the staff from block 3 developed and executed a successful business continuity plan.
The Customer Service Unit remain in temporary accommodation eagerly awaiting their new purpose built accommodation which is scheduled for completion in September.
Dealing with liquid waste
A separate project to connect the EMAI facilities to the Sydney Water main trunk sewer has been commissioned and is now well advanced. This is a very important initiative that will remove any risk of environmental contamination at the site and will satisfy AQIS requirements for liquid waste from QC2 & QC3 laboratories.
The 3.5 km pipeline involves a new waste transfer station constructed to the east of the current laboratory complex and a new pump station approximately 2km along the line. The existing 25,000 litre effluent holding tank will be retained to allow for additional storage on the site if required during peek times such as during a large scale emergency response.. The existing pumping and centre pivot system for disposal of liquid effluent “on farm” will be decommissioned as part of the project.
There is also a significant amount of liquid waste management infrastructure being installed on site currently. This includes the construction of a large concrete bunker, stainless steel storage tank and pumping system to carry the trade waste from laboratory blocks 3, 5, 6 and 9 to the new heat treatment facility located under block 18. Known as block 20, the new storage is part of future proofing the site by ensuring all PC2 liquid waste can also be treated to AQIS standards.
Under Building 18, the storage tanks, chemical treatment and heat treatment machinery is now being installed. This contaminated waste plant room will allow all liquid waste from laboratories and physical containment animal houses to be treated before being sent to the municipal sewer.
Computer networking and telecommunications
A modern site with modern buildings also demands the extensive use of smart technology. There are nine different computer networks being installed on the site operating everything from the waste treatment plant, to air conditioning, lighting and security. One of the major improvements is in how the systems on the site are controlled with a dedicated operations centre being established so that infrastructure can be managed remotely. The department network on the site is also being upgraded with new cabling, fibre optic, switches, phones and racks being installed in all new and refurbished buildings.
