In the construction of laboratories, the water supply and drainage systems are just like the blood vessels and urinary system of the human body. The rationality and scientific nature of their construction standards are directly related to the normal operation of the laboratory, the accuracy of experimental results, and environmental safety. Guangzhou Cleanroom Construction Co., Ltd. has been always committed to creating high-quality supporting facilities for various laboratories. Today, let's explore in depth the construction standards for water supply and drainage systems in laboratory construction.

The water sources for laboratory water supply usually include municipal tap water, water prepared by pure water systems, and special experimental water (such as deionized water, ultrapure water, etc.). Municipal tap water should meet the national sanitary standards for drinking water and satisfy the basic water requirements for general experiments, such as the preliminary cleaning of instruments and equipment and the preparation of water for non-critical experiments. For some experiments with higher requirements for water quality, such as high-precision analytical tests, cell culture, and gene sequencing, it is necessary to rely on pure water systems to prepare pure water or ultrapure water that meets specific indicators such as resistivity and microorganism content. For example, in the cell culture experiments in a biopharmaceutical laboratory, ultrapure water with a resistivity of not less than 18.2 MΩ·cm is required to avoid the interference of impurities in water on cell growth.

The selection of materials for water supply pipes is of vital importance. For municipal tap water pipes, galvanized steel pipes or PPR pipes with good corrosion resistance and high compressive strength can be used. While for pure water pipes, inert materials such as PFA (Perfluoroalkoxy resin) pipes or PVDF (Polyvinylidene fluoride) pipes should be adopted to prevent the pipe materials from contaminating the pure water quality. In terms of pipe installation, the principles of being horizontal and vertical with a reasonable slope should be followed to ensure smooth water flow in the pipes and avoid water accumulation or dead zones. Meanwhile, the sealing work of the pipes should be done well to prevent water leakage. Especially in the pure water piping system, even a tiny leakage may lead to a decline in water quality.

Different areas in the laboratory and experimental equipment have different requirements for water pressure and flow rate. Generally speaking, in areas where instruments and equipment are concentrated, sufficient water pressure and flow rate should be ensured to meet the needs of the normal operation of the equipment. For example, some large liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry combined instruments require a stable high water pressure to ensure the delivery of the mobile phase during operation. To this end, booster pumps and pressure stabilizing devices can be installed in the water supply system to adjust the water pressure and flow rate according to the actual needs. At the same time, water pressure monitoring equipment should be equipped to monitor the changes in water pressure in real time. When the water pressure is abnormal, an alarm should be sent out in time and corresponding measures should be taken.

To ensure the stability and safety of the water supply quality, the water supply system needs to be equipped with corresponding purification and disinfection facilities. For municipal tap water, activated carbon filters can be used to remove impurities such as residual chlorine and organic substances in the water, and then ultraviolet sterilizers can be used for sterilization. While pure water systems usually contain multi-stage filtration devices, such as reverse osmosis (RO) membranes and ion exchange resins, to remove various ions, particles, and microorganisms in the water. In addition, regular cleaning and disinfection of the water supply system are also essential. Chemical disinfectants or high-temperature steam can be used to remove dirt and sources of microorganism growth in the pipes.

The materials of drainage pipes should have the characteristics of corrosion resistance and acid-base resistance. Commonly used ones include UPVC (Unplasticized Polyvinyl Chloride) pipes and PP pipes. In terms of layout, it should be reasonably designed according to the functional areas of the laboratory and the direction of drainage to ensure smooth drainage and avoid backflow. Different types of laboratory wastewater should be collected separately. For example, wastewater containing heavy metal ions, organic wastewater, and acid-base wastewater should be discharged into corresponding wastewater treatment facilities through independent drainage pipes respectively. In some chemical laboratories, special waste liquid collection barrels will be set up. High-concentration and dangerous waste liquids will be collected first and then treated centrally, while general experimental wastewater can be directly discharged into the drainage pipes.

Drainage pipes should have a certain slope, generally not less than 0.5%, to ensure that the wastewater can be naturally discharged by gravity. Meanwhile, to prevent the backflow of odors and harmful gases from sewers into the laboratory, trap devices should be set at each drain outlet of the drainage pipes. The depth of the trap is usually not less than 50 millimeters. For example, installing an S-shaped or P-shaped water trap under the drain outlet of the laboratory sink is a common trap method. In some special experimental areas, such as laboratories involving highly toxic and volatile substances, the sealing and reliability of the trap should be strengthened. Measures such as double traps or increasing the depth of the trap can be adopted.

Laboratory wastewater must be treated before discharge to meet the national or local environmental protection discharge standards. For general acid-base wastewater, the neutralization method can be used to adjust the pH value of the wastewater to between 6 and 9. For wastewater containing heavy metal ions, technologies such as chemical precipitation and ion exchange can be used to remove the heavy metal ions. The treated wastewater should be monitored for water quality to ensure that it meets the standards before being discharged into the municipal sewage network. In some large scientific research laboratories or areas with high environmental requirements, special laboratory wastewater treatment stations will be built, adopting a combination of multiple treatment processes to conduct in-depth treatment of various types of laboratory wastewater to minimize the impact on the environment.

Regular maintenance and inspection of the drainage system are the keys to ensuring its normal operation. It is necessary to check whether there are blockages or leaks in the drainage pipes, whether the trap devices are intact, and whether the wastewater treatment facilities are operating normally. Inspection methods such as regular patrols, pressure tests, and water quality tests can be adopted. Once problems are found, they should be repaired and dealt with in time to avoid laboratory environmental pollution or experiment interruption caused by drainage system failures. For example, the drainage pipes can be dredged and inspected once a month, and the operating parameters of the wastewater treatment facilities can be calibrated and tested once a quarter to ensure that the drainage system is always in good working condition.

To improve the operation efficiency and safety of the laboratory water supply and drainage systems, an automated control system can be adopted to achieve the linkage and monitoring of the two. Sensors are used to monitor parameters such as water supply pressure, flow rate, water quality, drainage flow rate, and water level in real time, and the data is transmitted to the central control system. The central control system automatically adjusts the operation of water supply pumps, the opening of valves, and the working state of wastewater treatment facilities according to preset programs and parameter ranges. For example, when the water level in the drainage pipe is too high, the control system can automatically reduce the water supply flow rate to prevent laboratory water accumulation caused by poor drainage. When the quality of pure water is abnormal, the control system can promptly stop the operation of the pure water preparation system and send an alarm to notify maintenance personnel to handle it. Meanwhile, a remote monitoring function can also be set up, enabling laboratory managers to know the operation status of the water supply and drainage systems at any time and anywhere through mobile phones or computers and deal with problems in time.

The construction standards for the water supply and drainage systems in laboratory construction are multifaceted and meticulous. From water source selection to pipe materials, from water pressure and flow rate control to wastewater treatment and discharge, every link needs to be strictly controlled. Guangzhou Cleanroom Construction Co., Ltd., relying on its rich experience and professional technical team, can provide all-round construction solutions for the water supply and drainage systems in laboratories, ensuring the safe, stable, and efficient operation of the water supply and drainage systems in laboratories and laying a solid foundation for the smooth progress of various experimental research work. If you have any questions or needs regarding the water supply and drainage systems in laboratory construction, please feel free to contact us, and we will serve you wholeheartedly.