Key Takeaways
- A search for modular laboratory space can start even when no site is currently available.
- Potential options may include partner sites, leased commercial or industrial land, operational reserve areas, or suitable parking and yard areas.
- An apparently vacant area is not automatically a suitable laboratory site.
- Define the use, search radius, space, access and utilities first; LAB can support the search and initial review.
Why the site search begins with the laboratory use
A search for “somewhere to place a laboratory container” should not begin with any vacant piece of land. The intended laboratory use comes first because it affects the approximate space, utility interfaces, access requirements and the relationship to surrounding operations.
Five initial questions help define the search:
- What activities are expected to take place in the laboratory?
- Which principal instruments and work areas are likely to be required?
- How many people are expected to use the facility?
- Within which city, region or travel distance from the main operation must the site be located?
- Is the requirement temporary, long-term or not yet decided?
These answers do not replace technical design. They prevent time being spent on locations that cannot support the project because of their position, size or accessibility.
Types of location that may be considered
Different location models may be reviewed depending on the project. The examples below are starting points for a structured search, not assurances that a particular type of site will be suitable.
Additional space elsewhere on an existing operational site
There may be no room beside the current laboratory building but usable space elsewhere on the organisation’s property. A yard, paved auxiliary area or more distant part of the site may be worth considering. The organisation must first determine whether the area can be released from its current purpose and whether access, utilities and safe use can be investigated.
Space at a partner or affiliated organisation
For collaborative projects, a partner’s location may be closer to the required utilities, personnel or production processes. Rights of use, responsibilities, access, operation and eventual reinstatement need to be defined clearly. A partner’s willingness to provide space does not by itself make that area an approved laboratory site.
Leased commercial or industrial land
When the organisation has no suitable property of its own, an external site within the preferred region may be considered. The permitted use, servicing, duration, potential reinstatement obligations and responsibility for preparatory work matter alongside the lease terms.
A useful site request should therefore describe more than an area in square metres. It should include a search radius, approximate space requirement, expected duration, access needs and any known requirements for power, water, wastewater, data or other utilities.
Parking, yard or reserve areas
A paved parking area may be a potential candidate, but it is not automatically suitable. Existing parking obligations, traffic routes, emergency access or other operational needs may prevent its use. Ground conditions, access, possible crane positioning, clearances, utilities and the planning and building-control position also require review.
For the detailed technical questions, see LAB’s existing guide, “Where can laboratory containers be installed?” That guide assesses a known area. This article addresses the earlier question: how can a potential area be found in the first place?
A visually vacant area is not automatically a suitable laboratory site. Intended use, access, utilities, safety and the applicable planning framework all require project-specific review.
Turning a preferred region into a realistic search area
Many enquiries begin with a city name. For a real project, a search radius is usually more useful than a city keyword. The relevant limit may be employee travel time, proximity to production or sample receipt, or the practical route for supplies and services.
A structured search can therefore follow four stages:
- Define the target region: a city, district or maximum travel radius.
- Describe the minimum requirements: approximate space, access, intended duration and necessary proximity to existing operations.
- Collect possible locations: auxiliary areas, partner sites, commercial or industrial property and other available areas.
- Conduct an initial screening: only progress sites where intended use, access and utility connections can be reviewed in practical terms.
This produces a focused shortlist related to the actual laboratory requirement instead of a list of arbitrary properties.
What must be reviewed before selecting a location
| Area | Initial question |
|---|---|
| Availability | Who can provide the area, and for what period? |
| Intended use | Is the proposed laboratory use capable of being considered within the site's planning context? |
| Access | Can delivery, unloading, installation and future servicing be organised? |
| Space and ground | Are the dimensions, working areas and ground conditions capable of supporting the proposed concept? |
| Utilities | How could power, water, wastewater, data and any additional utilities be provided? |
| Safety | How will traffic routes, escape routes, fire safety, controlled access and neighbouring uses be addressed? |
| Contract and reinstatement | Who is responsible for preparatory work, ongoing obligations and eventual reinstatement? |
In Germany, planning treatment depends on the location and applicable planning framework, while state building-control and other public-law requirements remain relevant. The later laboratory operation may also trigger specific workplace and safety assessments. A general guide therefore cannot replace a site-specific decision by the responsible authorities and professionals.
For projects outside Germany, the responsible local planning, building-control, workplace and environmental framework must be identified separately.
How LAB Modulbau can support the site search
LAB Modulbau can include the location question during an early project discussion. The initial output is not a final site approval; it is a more useful search profile.
1. Capture the requirement and search radius
The intended use, approximate space, preferred region, anticipated period of use and known operational constraints are brought together.
2. Narrow down suitable types of location
The search profile helps identify which types of area deserve closer consideration. A short-term capacity need may lead to different options from a long-term expansion. Proximity to manufacturing may be more important than a central address, while a standalone research programme may allow a broader search radius.
3. Screen candidates for obvious constraints
Before detailed planning begins, visible problems such as inadequate access, insufficient space, an unclear permitted use or unrealistic utility routes should be raised. This initial screening is not an approval and does not replace professional design or authority review.
4. Review promising candidates in project-specific detail
Once a specific location has been identified, more detailed site questions become relevant. These may include ground support and foundations, delivery and crane routes, utilities, drainage, fire and workplace safety, and authority requirements. The responsible authorities and professional advisers depend on the site and intended activity.
Information to prepare for the first discussion
An initial project discussion can be useful even before a site is available. Helpful inputs include:
- a short description of the intended laboratory use;
- preferred city, region or maximum search radius;
- approximate start and period of use, without assuming a delivery commitment;
- expected number of users and principal work areas;
- main instruments or processes, where known;
- required proximity to manufacturing, sample receipt, storage or offices;
- preferred procurement model, if already decided;
- any known auxiliary, neighbouring or external location options;
- contacts responsible for the site, technical questions and internal approval.
Missing information does not prevent an initial enquiry. A structured starting point simply makes it easier to distinguish the possible routes and define the next checks.
Need a laboratory but do not yet have a site?
Tell us about the intended use, preferred region and principal constraints. LAB Modulbau can help structure possible location options and define the next review steps.
Further LAB information:
- Site requirements for laboratory containers
- Site-constrained installations
- Purchase a laboratory container
- Rent a laboratory container
Official German guidance relevant to projects in Germany:
- German Federal Building Code, particularly sections 29–34
- German Workplace Ordinance
- BAuA technical rules for hazardous substances, including TRGS 526
- DGUV Information 213-850: Working safely in laboratories
This article provides general orientation and does not replace a site-specific technical, legal or authority review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. LAB Modulbau can support the search for and initial review of potential installation sites. The process begins by defining the intended use, preferred region, approximate space requirement and principal operational constraints. Whether a specific location is available and suitable must then be established for that project.
A parking area can be a potential candidate, but it is not automatically suitable. Existing parking use, ground conditions, access, working and safety space, utilities, and applicable legal and authority requirements all need to be reviewed.
Not necessarily. Depending on the project, an external area with an appropriate contractual right of use may be considered. Landowner consent, duration, responsibilities and reinstatement obligations need to be clearly defined.
No. A limited period of use does not create a general exemption. The applicable position depends on the location, intended use and relevant rules. The responsible authorities must assess the specific case.
The most useful candidate is one whose availability can at least be discussed and for which location, dimensions, photographs, access and known utilities can be described. If there is no candidate yet, the process can begin with the preferred region, search radius and minimum requirements.
