Laboratory Fit-Out

At Laboratory Fit-Out, we provide professional laboratory fit-out services for research facilities, universities, schools, healthcare organisations, pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology businesses, manufacturing facilities, testing laboratories, and commercial organisations throughout the UK. Our services are designed to create practical, durable, and appropriately specified laboratory environments tailored to scientific, educational, healthcare, testing, and industrial applications.

Laboratories have specialist requirements that differ significantly from conventional offices and commercial interiors. Workspaces may need to accommodate laboratory furniture, specialist equipment, ventilation and extraction systems, gases, water supplies, drainage, electrical services, chemical-resistant surfaces, controlled storage, and appropriate safety equipment. A professionally planned laboratory fit-out brings these elements together within a coordinated working environment.

From individual teaching laboratories to complex research and commercial facilities, Laboratory Fit-Out provides a structured service covering site assessment, space planning, laboratory design coordination, furniture installation, mechanical and electrical services, specialist flooring and finishes, ventilation considerations, storage, and final handover.

Why Choose Laboratory Fit-Out?

Choosing Laboratory Fit-Out means working with specialists who understand that laboratory environments require careful consideration of health and safety, hazardous substances, ventilation, fire safety, electrical systems, accessibility, and building regulations. Our approach considers applicable duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and other relevant workplace safety requirements.

Where hazardous chemicals, biological materials, dusts, fumes, vapours, or other potentially harmful substances are used, applicable requirements under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) may need to be considered. Laboratory layouts can be planned to support appropriate segregation, storage, handling, ventilation, and exposure control measures according to the activities undertaken.

Where Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV), fume cupboards, or other extraction systems are required to control airborne contaminants, appropriate design, installation, commissioning, and future maintenance requirements should be considered. Relevant HSE guidance, including HSG258, may apply to suitable LEV systems.

Laboratory fit-out projects may also need to consider the Building Regulations, including requirements relating to fire safety, ventilation, electrical safety, accessibility, and other applicable building standards. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 may be relevant to fire safety management within non-domestic premises, while duties under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 may apply during qualifying construction and refurbishment work.

Where flammable substances or potentially explosive atmospheres are present, the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) may also require consideration. Electrical installations should be completed by appropriately competent contractors with consideration for relevant requirements, including the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.

How Much Does a Laboratory Fit-Out Cost?

The cost of a professional laboratory fit-out ranges from £1,000 to £4,000+ per m².

The cost of professional laboratory fit-outs depends on the laboratory type, floor area, existing building condition, specialist equipment, furniture requirements, mechanical and electrical services, ventilation, extraction, gases, drainage, finishes, and compliance requirements.

Basic laboratory refurbishment and fit-out projects may cost approximately £1,000 to £1,500 per m². More comprehensive laboratory fit-outs involving specialist furniture, mechanical and electrical services, ventilation, flooring, and laboratory-grade finishes may typically cost approximately £1,500 to £3,000 per m².

Highly specialised research, pharmaceutical, healthcare, containment, or technically complex laboratories may cost approximately £3,000 to £4,000+ per m² depending on their equipment, services, environmental controls, and regulatory requirements.

For example, fitting out a 100 m² laboratory may cost approximately £100,000 to £400,000+, depending on the specification and complexity of the facility.

These figures are indicative UK estimates rather than fixed quotations. Laboratory Fit-Out provides tailored pricing after assessing the property, proposed laboratory use, technical requirements, and project specification.

What Laboratory Fit-Out Services Are Available?

• Laboratory Fit-Out provides a range of professional laboratory refurbishment and installation services.
• Laboratory design and planning – Developing practical layouts around workflows, equipment, personnel, and laboratory activities.
• Laboratory furniture installation – Installing suitable benches, worktops, cabinets, shelving, and storage systems.
• Laboratory refurbishment – Updating and improving existing laboratory environments.
• Laboratory flooring – Installing suitable flooring systems selected according to the intended environment and performance requirements.
• Mechanical and electrical services – Coordinating suitable power, lighting, water, drainage, ventilation, and other building services.
• Laboratory ventilation – Coordinating appropriate ventilation and extraction requirements according to laboratory activities.
• Fume extraction systems – Incorporating suitable extraction arrangements where airborne contaminants require control.
• Laboratory storage – Providing suitable cabinets and storage solutions for equipment and materials.
• Educational laboratory fit-outs – Creating suitable laboratory environments for schools, colleges, and universities.
• Commercial laboratory fit-outs – Delivering specialist facilities for research, testing, healthcare, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and industrial organisations.

What Types of Laboratories Can Be Fitted Out?

Laboratory Fit-Out can provide solutions for a wide range of laboratory environments, with each project tailored according to its intended activities and technical requirements.

• Research laboratories – Facilities designed to support scientific research and development activities.
• Educational laboratories – Laboratory environments for schools, colleges, universities, and other educational institutions.
• Healthcare laboratories – Suitable facilities supporting diagnostic, testing, research, and healthcare-related activities.
• Pharmaceutical laboratories – Specialist environments supporting appropriate pharmaceutical research, development, and testing.
• Biotechnology laboratories – Facilities designed around suitable biological and biotechnology research activities.
• Industrial laboratories – Laboratories supporting manufacturing, materials testing, quality control, and industrial processes.
• Testing laboratories – Controlled environments designed for product, material, environmental, or analytical testing.
• Teaching laboratories – Practical learning spaces designed to accommodate students, teaching staff, equipment, and appropriate safety requirements.

The appropriate fit-out specification depends on the laboratory’s activities, equipment, substances used, occupancy levels, containment requirements, ventilation needs, and applicable regulatory standards.

What Is the Professional Laboratory Fit-Out Process?

The Laboratory Fit-Out process begins with an assessment of the existing property and the proposed use of the laboratory. We consider the available space, laboratory activities, equipment requirements, personnel numbers, workflows, storage needs, building services, and relevant safety considerations.

A suitable layout is then developed to support practical movement and working procedures. Laboratory benches, specialist equipment, storage, sinks, extraction equipment, and other facilities are positioned according to operational requirements.

Mechanical and electrical services are coordinated around the laboratory layout. This may include electrical power, specialist sockets, lighting, water supplies, drainage, ventilation, gases, data connections, and other required services.

Suitable laboratory furniture, worktops, flooring, wall finishes, ceilings, doors, and storage systems are installed according to the project specification.

Where required, specialist ventilation, fume extraction, or LEV systems can be coordinated with the wider fit-out. Appropriate consideration is given to the location of capture points, ductwork routes, discharge arrangements, and future maintenance access.

Once installation is complete, relevant systems and equipment can be tested or commissioned as required. The completed laboratory is then inspected before final handover and occupation.

What Regulations Apply to Laboratory Fit-Outs?

Laboratory fit-outs can be subject to several different regulatory requirements depending on the building, laboratory activities, substances used, and equipment installed.

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 establishes general duties relating to workplace health and safety. COSHH applies where employees may be exposed to substances hazardous to health and requires appropriate assessment and control of exposure. DSEAR may apply where dangerous substances could create risks from fire, explosion, or similar energy-releasing events.

The Building Regulations can apply to construction and refurbishment work, including relevant requirements concerning fire safety, ventilation, accessibility, and electrical installations.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 may apply to fire safety arrangements within non-domestic premises. The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 may apply to the planning and management of health and safety during laboratory construction and fit-out projects.

Additional sector-specific standards and guidance may apply to healthcare, pharmaceutical, biological, educational, or specialist containment laboratories.

The applicable requirements should therefore be established according to the individual laboratory rather than relying on a single standard specification.

How Long Does a Laboratory Fit-Out Take?

A professional laboratory fit-out typically takes approximately 4 to 20+ weeks, depending on the size, complexity, and technical requirements of the project.

A smaller laboratory refurbishment involving furniture, finishes, and relatively straightforward building services may take approximately 4 to 8 weeks. Medium-sized laboratory fit-outs involving significant mechanical and electrical work, specialist furniture, ventilation, and extraction may require approximately 8 to 16 weeks. Large or highly specialised laboratories involving complex services, specialist equipment, extensive ventilation systems, or demanding regulatory requirements may require approximately 16 to 20 weeks or longer.

The overall project programme can also be affected by design development, planning requirements, equipment lead times, building condition, specialist system commissioning, and coordination with other contractors.

Laboratory Fit-Out provides project-specific timescales based on the proposed laboratory design, technical specification, and required scope of work.

Why Hire Professional Laboratory Fit-Out Specialists?

Professional laboratory fit-outs require specialist planning because laboratory environments must combine practical workflows with complex technical services and appropriate safety controls.

A conventional commercial fit-out approach may not adequately account for laboratory-specific requirements such as chemical-resistant worktops, specialist ventilation, extraction, hazardous substance storage, gases, drainage, equipment loads, and controlled working areas.

Professional coordination is also important because laboratory services are often interconnected. The position of equipment can influence electrical requirements, water and drainage connections, ventilation design, extraction arrangements, and maintenance access.

Laboratory Fit-Out approaches each project as a complete working environment, considering the laboratory activities, personnel, equipment, furniture, storage, mechanical services, electrical systems, ventilation, extraction, finishes, and applicable safety requirements.

The objective is to create a practical laboratory environment that supports efficient working practices, appropriate risk controls, regulatory responsibilities, and the long-term operational requirements of the organisation.

Get a Quote from Laboratory Fit-Out

If your organisation requires a new laboratory, refurbishment of an existing facility, or specialist laboratory workspace, Laboratory Fit-Out can provide a tailored solution for your project.

Laboratory Fit-Out provides laboratory design coordination, laboratory refurbishment, furniture installation, laboratory flooring, mechanical and electrical services coordination, ventilation planning, extraction systems, specialist storage, educational laboratory fit-outs, research laboratory fit-outs, and commercial laboratory fit-out services throughout the UK.

Contact Laboratory Fit-Out today to discuss your facility, technical requirements, and proposed laboratory activities, and receive a tailored quotation for professional laboratory fit-out services.