In order to be able to continue to offer great flexibility for special process requirements and tailor-made solutions in the future, a 4,500 m² extension was built with laboratories (chromatography, analytics and BSL-1) and the associated technical areas. "Intensive coordination with the laboratory user is required right from the start. The processes need to be clarified," explains Christian Lorenz. Lorenz Consult was responsible for the building services planning and the associated technical construction supervision for this project.

Fresenius Kabi produces sterile drugs in Graz, 80 percent of which are exported. The product portfolio includes intravenously administered drugs such as anesthetics, analgesics, anti-infectives and antibiotics (not β-lactam). Large-volume products for parenteral nutrition and diagnostic products such as X-ray contrast media are also manufactured.

Laboratories place great demands on the building services: Planning of the furnishings is required at an early stage in order to be able to plan the building services pipes and connections. "However, experience shows that this changes again and again during the course of the project. The building services have to be adapted accordingly," says engineer Georg Dallasera, project manager at Lorenz Consult.

In the expansion of the Fresenius Kabi plant in Graz, even more attention is being paid to the building services, as one of the core elements is the heat extraction from the CIP wastewater from production. "The heating registers of the ventilation systems and the building heating can be operated at low temperature using this energy. This results in energy savings of around 800 KW heating capacity in the final expansion," reports Harald Leitgeb, Head of Technology at Fresenius Kabi Austria.

One particular challenge is that the multi-million euro conversion is taking place during ongoing operations. One advantage here is the BIM planning from Lorenz Consult. "Laboratories require flexible project organization with a focus on costs, deadlines and quality. There needs to be a clear demarcation between the construction site and ongoing operations," explains Christian Lorenz. Harald Leitgeb agrees: "Construction work in areas where laboratories are in operation is carried out outside of business hours or - if necessary - during a complete shutdown."