Designing accessible PC2/BSL2 laboratories

Designing PC2/BSL2 laboratories presents unique accessibility challenges. From containment requirements and specialist equipment to safety procedures and laboratory workflows, creating environments that are accessible to wheelchair users requires careful planning. With the right risk assessment and design approach, organisations can create inclusive laboratory spaces without compromising biosafety standards.

Improving access for disabled scientists remains a priority for many research organisations and pharmaceutical companies, yet the challenge often lies in translating that ambition into practical design solutions. Certain PC2/BSL2 laboratories, particularly those involved in animal, plant and invertebrate containment, can present operational and biosafety considerations that complicate accessibility modifications. However, with early stakeholder engagement, robust risk assessment and thoughtful design, accessible laboratory environments are both achievable and compliant.

Step one: Define the accessibility requirements

The first step is for key stakeholders and members of the biosafety committee to understand the rationale behind making the laboratory wheelchair accessible.

Recognising this rationale will enable the organisation and its design team to comprehend the goals and specific user needs that this project aims to fulfill. The group will then understand who the modifications need to suit and serve, whether for guests, industry collaborators and visitors, researchers and/or laboratory operators who conduct their work there.

Step two: Assess biosafety and operational risks

Once rationale has been recognised, a risk assessment workshop must be conducted. It is essential that the workshop's participant roster includes, at a minimum, a member from the institutional biosafety committee, the laboratory's facility and operations manager, an architect and a DDA consultant .

Here are four elements your workshop must cover to mitigate risk:

• Clear guidelines regarding permissible and prohibited activities within the laboratory setting for the individual in the wheelchair. Laboratories classified as PC2/BSCL2 are designed to mitigate the risk of contamination to the environment by microorganisms, yet the paramount concern is safeguarding the welfare of the lab occupants.
• A defined list of range of materials and procedures that can be handled safely by an individual within the laboratory and to tailor the lab's design to accommodate these operational practices. This includes ensuring the safe use of laboratory apparatus, secure transportation of materials and accessibility of equipment and essential service infrastructure.
• Access to decontamination facilities including washbasins, safety showers, eyewash stations, and personal protective equipment (PPE). Consideration must also be given to the treatment protocols for wheelchairs used within the laboratory environment, including any possible handling and operation of the wheelchair.
• A comprehensive evaluation of all conceivable scenarios that may pose risks to an individual's operational practices, with the aim of designing and engineering these risks out of the lab design.

In instances where the infrastructure cannot cater to an individual's needs, it is imperative that written procedures are developed and adhered to, ensuring that safety and compliance are maintained. These procedures should provide clear instructions and protocols to compensate for any design limitations, thereby upholding the laboratory's safety standards.

Step three: Design and build for accessibility

When moving to the design and engineering phase, the expertise of the team is crucial. Here are three key considerations for your team:

• Place operational needs first: Guidance must align with the operational needs of wheelchair users and comply with the exacting criteria of regulatory authorities. It's essential that the team possesses a deep understanding of the specific design and spatial requirements and operational options to meet these rigorous standards. With an experienced design team, they can provide sound and compliant advice on ‘out of the box’ design and operations to assist the users.
• Pay close attention to detail: This is especially important when selecting materials, particularly for custom joinery or specialized equipment. This may involve consulting with suppliers of equipment and materials to guarantee adherence to safety protocols in the laboratory.
• Collaborate to succeed: Collaboration among consultants is vital, especially since certain elements of the design will deviate from the conventional PC2/BSL2 laboratory setup. Ensuring that all aspects of the design are meticulously planned and executed is key to achieving a safe and functional laboratory environment for wheelchair access.

How is Wood making PC2/ BSL2 laboratories more accessible?

Wood, serving as the architect and engineering designer for the UTS Hive Superlab, prioritised wheelchair accessibility during the design phase.

Tasked with creating a laboratory that was both visually striking and unprecedented in its design as a PC2/BSL2 facility, UTS also required wheelchair accessibility.

While not all intended infrastructure was in place from the outset, Wood provided UTS with strategic recommendations to modify the facility for full wheelchair accessibility and operations as needed, along with guidance on operational procedures.

Leveraging our extensive expertise in laboratory design, Wood crafted a laboratory that is not only accessible for personnel in wheelchairs, but is a uniquely aesthetically designed lab that incorporates cutting-edge features compliant for a PC2/BSL2 environment.

At Wood, our commitment to pioneering advanced life sciences facilities has spanned more than fifty years and we remain dedicated to innovating designs that accommodate all individuals.  Accessible laboratory design should be considered from the earliest stages of planning rather than as a later modification. Through early stakeholder engagement, robust risk assessment and thoughtful design, organisations can create PC2/BSL2 facilities that support both biosafety requirements and broader workforce participation.