Laboratory Standby and Potential Shutdown Services
Ted Palashis | August 6, 2021
Over the past few weeks, and increasingly in the last several days, businesses across all sectors and industries in many parts of the nation have been impacted by the pandemic known as COVID-19. While this means limited access for some companies, and restricted availability for others, public, private, and university laboratories need to protect and prepare their instrumentation and operations for an extended absence.
Your laboratory’s assets are vital to your overall business and performance, as well as the safety of your facility. While times like this are unprecedented, there are measures, steps, strategies, and procedures that can be implemented to mitigate the risks that accompany a standby situation or a temporary shutdown.
Overbrook can provide the following services that make it safe, effective, and possible to allow your lab to follow a standby protocol, as well as a potential shutdown.
- Checking mobile phases and draining lines
- Shutting off gases as required
- Performing proper shutdown protocols of mass specs/checking temperatures
- Unplugging all instrumentation as required
- Checking power surge protection
- De-installation of equipment that needs to be decommissioned
- Decontaminating equipment
- Bagging equipment
While these times are challenging, there are steps that can be taken to protect the assets in your lab that you’ve invested in, making it possible to mitigate the risks and obstacles of returning to business as usual later this year. Overbrook provides reconditioned instruments, contractual maintenance, qualification services, and laboratory relocation for laboratories.
Cambridge is one of the most active life sciences hubs in the world. Driven by Kendall Square, MIT, Harvard, and hundreds of biotech trailblazers, the market is constantly evolving. For organizations expanding or consolidating, executing seamless lab relocation services in Cambridge is critical to maintaining a competitive edge. However, moving a laboratory in this historic, high-density market presents unique hurdles that standard commercial movers simply cannot handle. Why are Lab Relocations Unique in Cambridge? Unlike suburban research parks, Cambridge laboratories operate under tight spatial and regulatory constraints. Navigating laboratory relocation services in the Kendall Square and Greater Boston area requires managing specific urban logistical challenges: High-Density Logistics: Densely populated buildings with limited loading dock access and strict freight elevator schedules. Complex Stakeholder Alignment: Relocations require coordinated efforts among laboratory personnel, facility managers, specialized vendors, property owners, and municipal contractors. Strict Compliance & Infrastructure: Meeting rigid Cambridge bio-safety guidelines while integrating with shared building infrastructure (such as centralized vacuum or RO/DI water systems). The Golden Rule: Research Cannot Stop During a Lab Move Most life science organizations must migrate while research programs remain fully active. Project deadlines do not pause, and maintaining scientific productivity throughout the transition is paramount. "Many organizations compare laboratory relocations to changing the wheels on a moving car," says Ted Palashis , Founder of Overbrook Support Services. "Research doesn’t stop just because the physical space is changing. The true metric of success is how effectively you maintain scientific continuity, protect sample integrity, and minimize operational downtime." Key Steps for Successful Laboratory Equipment Planning The most common relocation bottlenecks occur after the equipment arrives at the new facility. Misaligned utilities or unverified clearances can stall a project for weeks. To prevent these delays, a specialized lab move requires a meticulous three-step asset assessment: Comprehensive Asset Audits : Conducting physical lab asset audits allows you to document every instrument, its current operational state, and its specific transport requirements (e.g., climate control, shock sensitivity). Utility Verification: Confirming that the new facility’s electrical, gas, data, and ventilation outputs precisely match manufacturer specifications. Addressing these details early prevents arriving at the new facility only to find misaligned utilities or unverified clearances that can stall a project for weeks. Spatial Workflow Mapping: Validating physical clearances (doorways, hallways, elevator capacities) and planning equipment placement. Utilizing precise spatial workflow mapping ensures that the layout optimizes daily laboratory operations from day one. Evaluating Facility Readiness Before Equipment Installation A laboratory may look complete from a construction standpoint yet be entirely unprepared for actual scientific operations. Before a single instrument is installed, specialized lab relocation services must verify that the facility is functionally operational. Coordinating an integrated laboratory fit-out ensures that utility capacities, service access, and vendor timelines are perfectly aligned before equipment arrives. This includes testing backup power systems, verifying gas line purities, checking HVAC air exchange rates, and ensuring that environmental monitoring systems are fully online. Addressing these infrastructure requirements early prevents costly startup delays. Comprehensive Lab Relocation Services for Cambridge Biotech The success of a Cambridge laboratory move is entirely defined by the strategy built before moving day. Organizations that invest in early equipment planning experience significantly less downtime and a much faster return to scientific discovery. A specialized lab moving checklist includes: Pre-move asset tagging and validation OEM vendor coordination for specialized instrument decommissioning/re-commissioning Chain-of-custody transport for sensitive biological samples and chemical reagents Post-move calibration and validation support At Overbrook Support Services , we provide tailored lab relocation services in Cambridge and the Greater Boston area. Our team focuses on continuity, compliance, and operational success, ensuring your science moves forward without interruption. For deeper insights into successful lab relocations and complex transitions, you might find this biotechnology enterprise course webcast with Ted Palashis highly relevant, as it features Overbrook's founder discussing real-world strategies for avoiding costly relocation mistakes .
Learn how a robust Laboratory Quality Management System (QMS) helps laboratories improve compliance, reduce audit stress, strengthen documentation control, and support long-term operational growth.
Understanding the core components of a Laboratory Quality Management System helps labs maintain compliance, audit readiness, and operational consistency across documentation, training, and equipment.
