Animal & Plant Health Centre:

Lesson Learnt on BSL3 Design

3 Jun 2009
 Background: Timeline End of Warranty
End of DLP Conduct 1st
First Tender;
Audit by
Aborted due to
Biosafe
cost over run
Construction
Completed

‘Value
Project Conduct 2nd
Engineered’;
Transferred to Audit by
Re-tender and
Corporatized Basler &
awarded
PWD/CPG AVA could Hoffman
not start
facilities Reached
‘Hander-
over’; AVA settlement
Discussed did not agreement
Fumigation operate
Procedure &
make M&E
changes

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
APHC: Learning Points

Risk Identification

• Identify specialized areas beyond our knowledge or

capabilities, ‘don’t be a hero’, and take on risk that we
do not understand.
• Identify standards to be adopted, e.g.
• ACDP (Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens –
UK) Guidance, 2001
• BMBL Guidelines (Biosafety in Microbiological and
Biomedical Laboratories, Appendix D, USDA
recommendations for BSL-3-Ag facilities, 5th ed. 2007)
APHC: Learning Points
Risk Management

• Staff involved must fully understand risk, and

limitation of our roles. For example, specialist
consultant behaving as advisor, not designer
translate to great risk for CPG
• Ensure that specialist consultants appointed
discharge their duties
• Getting Client’s involvement and commitment,
e.g. conduct proper briefing sessions and clear
documentation so that Client’s are fully aware of
their responsibilities. Sign-off the agreed brief,
procedures, etc.
APHC: Learning Points

Appointment of Specialist Consultants

• It is preferred that Specialist Consultants be

directly appointed by Client
• If CPG is the principal consultant, consider ways to
minimize our risks, e.g.
• Sign contract with a party that has financial
strength, not a hollow local subsidiary
• Ensure that the company has adequate and valid
insurance coverage
• Ensure that suitably qualified staff are appointed
by Specialist Consultants to work on the project.
APHC: Learning Points

Appointment of Certifier

• BSL3 Labs need to be certified by

MOH-sanctioned certifiers
• Certifier examine both physical
facilities and protocols
• Certifier should be appointed early
• Compliance to be resolved early and
on paper, minimize modification on
site
APHC: Learning Points

Project Budget

• Do not succumb to Client’s pressure to

compromise quality to meet low
budget.
• If have to, reduce scope, e.g. number
of labs. Better to have less number
number of labs (but high quality ones)
then more labs that don’t work.
APHC: Learning Points
Project Implementation: General Issues

• Problem of staff turnover: Knowldege and

communication lost
• Project Documentation must be clear, thorough and
complete
• Knowledge management – Resides not with
individual but team
• Manpower shortage – Must allocate adequate
resources
• The role of adequately knowledgeable and impartial
Project Manager. Must raise red flag when
necessary
APHC: Learning Points

Project Implementation: Design Process

• Staff involved must fully understand risk, our roles

For example, Specialist consultants must take full
responsibility for design; our daily correspondence
must reflect that.
• Users have a big part to play, make sure the
Specialist guide the user in establishing standard
operation protocols, have it properly documented
and signed off, and ensure that the design take into
account the SOP.
APHC: Learning Points
Project Implementation: Tender Process

• Need to shortlist and award to specialist contractors,

not general contractors
• All tech specs should come from specialist, including
both M&E and architectural finishes, with clear
documentary records.
• If possible, be performance-based in terms of design
and specifications, so that the risk is transferred to
specialist contractors.
• Ensure that specifications and recommendations from
Specialist consultant are included in the tender
documents. If possible, get specialist consultant to
endorse.
APHC: Learning Points

Project Implementation: Closure Process

• Adequate time for testing & commissioning, with

proper record of results.
• Understand the validation and certification process
thoroughly, and ensure compliance.
• Ensure that operational manuals and maintenance
requirements are handed over to Client with clear
hand over documentation
• Make sure Client sign off T&C and take over the
facilities.
APHC: Learning Points

Design Issues

•Wall Finishes
•Floor Finishes
•Joints within and between
Wall, Floor and penetration
to be sealed