Welcome to EGNATON CERT

1. Scope
As a result of the development of the DGNB (and the BNB criteria for the certification of laboratory buildings), it became clear that the influence of the technologies used for laboratory processes, i.e. equipment, instruments and facilities, is to be regarded as essential for the sustainability of the socio-technical system of laboratory buildings. On the other hand, the usual disregard for process consumption in different building types leads to an approach that is not holistic for laboratory buildings and is thus of little use for sustainability.

Process-related installations require their consideration in the dimensioning of services and energy supply. Thus, significant savings effects, cost-effective solutions, resource-saving equipment and user safety can only be achieved if laboratory equipment and instruments are developed and operated under sustainability criteria to the same extent as the buildings.

Although laboratory buildings represent only a tiny part of the national and international building stock, their importance for the development of society is considerable. Furthermore, energy consumption in medium-sized laboratories, for example, is similar to that of small towns.

The fulfilment of sustainability criteria is a socio-political demand that research must meet as a driver for developing future sustainable solutions, processes and substances. To enable research to do this, the provision of a sustainable working environment is essential.

2. Objectives
EGNATON CERT focuses on the immediate working environment of laboratory users.
The system boundary is the laboratory room and all devices, instruments or equipment which
are to be regarded as work equipment,
have to service consumption and
are technically connected to the building,
or whose use must be taken into account in planning.

In this sense, optimising them under the premise of sustainability is essential.

With the EGNATON - CERT - system, tendering bodies have a tool at their disposal which:
makes it possible to invite tenders for sustainable laboratory equipment,
understands sustainability within the framework of the BNB/DGNB three-pillar model
comprehensively describes and weights all award criteria,
is transparent and neutral, and
makes comparisons of equipment possible                                                                                                        

2.1 Improving lab work
Laboratory buildings are workrooms that:
generate extremely high energy consumption,
generate very2 high operating costs,
are to be regarded as part of a socio-technical system and
fundamentally represent a hazardous workplace.

These influencing factors are intrinsically taken into account by sustainable laboratory equipment. Users must be allowed to work sustainably at the highest level, so to speak, mainly without their intervention, with the help of sustainable technologies. This approach achieves the desired socio-political goal and gives users the performance-enhancing feeling that they are making a significant contribution.                                                

2.1.1 Efficiency (economic quality)
Increasing economic quality, efficiency or profitability against the background of an extremely expensive workplace [1] is legitimate and does not affect the demands for free science.
[1] In pharmacology laboratories, the total cost of a laboratory workstation is estimated to be over 250,000€/a.

The faster the results of laboratory work are available, the more favourable the consequences for operators and the population. I.e. all planning and development measures that increase sustainability concerning workplace equipment have positive effects on the economic efficiency of laboratory operation.

2.1.2 Ecological quality
The ecological footprint of a laboratory building - seen as a socio-technical system - is considerable. For researchers, however, it is crucial that the process-related work equipment functions and produces reliable results as quickly as possible. Therefore, planners and operators must optimise the working equipment in terms of efficiency and ecological quality.                                                                                                                                  

2.1.3 Human factors
Since a laboratory is a hazardous workplace, the socio-cultural quality of the BNB/DGNB system is replaced at EGNATON by the umbrella term human factors. I.e. only safe workplaces and analogously safe equipment can be sustainable. This statement meets the already allocated responsibility of operators and employers to provide safe workplaces.                                                                                                                                                              

2.2. Improving the sustainability of laboratory buildings
The laboratory building as a socio-technical system requires a holistic view. Therefore, restricting sustainability criteria to the building alone without simultaneously assessing the technical equipment of the devices described in 3. is not only incomplete but of secondary importance, if sustainability is to be realised as an honest concern of builders, operators and users.                                                                                                                    

2.3 Complementing building certification systems
EGNATON CERT sees itself as completing the building certification systems [2]. This perspective naturally makes adopting the certification principles and the system structure a prerequisite. However, it is now possible to achieve the assessment result, whereby the weighting of EGNATON CERT in the BNB/DGNB system still has to be carried out.
[2] With respect to DGNB, Leeds or BREAM
Below are the assessment levels of EGNATON CERT analogous to BNB/DGNB:

Level                    Total degree of fulfilment                  Minimal degree of fulfilment
Bronze                  min. 35%                                               -
Silver                     > 50%                                                   min. 35%
Gold                       > 65%                                                  min. 50%
Platinum                > 80%                                                   min. 65%                                          

2.4 Assistance for procurement
While operating a laboratory building, equipment is purchased at the following times or because of the following reasons:
at the beginning
Replacement investments due to unusability (also technical progress)
Additional investments due to capacity expansion
Change to new fields of research (e.g. due to appointments or change of Chair)

In terms of initial investment, the laboratory equipment under consideration often falls under cost group 300 and thus into the building owner’s budget or the funding agency.

However, it also happens that such equipment is renewed or supplemented during operation since the average time for new developments is only two years, and users need the latest versions. These cases usually strain the budgets of the operators. Therefore, it makes sense to also procure equipment with a proven sustainability level when investing in ongoing operations.

For equipment and buildings, considering the life cycle, the costs cannot be higher than for a piece of non-certified equipment (or construction). Otherwise, the economic quality would not be considered with 22.5% of the total evaluation; in other words, a sustainable building or equipment cannot be more expensive than a non-sustainable one because it would fail in terms of economic quality. Consequently, a piece of laboratory equipment's economic efficiency is assessed appropriately, consensually, transparently and uniformly, and solely with the help of the LCC, which thus represents the ultimate aid in procurement, whether as a first-time replacement or multiple procurements.

EGNATON CERT enables the use of a comprehensive evaluation system for purchasing, which, due to its complexity and its neutral auditing system, could not be set up by a single investor alone.                                                                                                                                      

3. Products in focus
Initially, CERT considered equipment that significantly influences the sustainability of laboratory operation, i.e. equipment with high consumption, including media planned and provided by the technical building equipment, e.g. electricity, water, steam, gases [3]. Therefore, we urge manufacturers of this equipment to subordinate their development to design criteria that promote sustainability, following the individual profiles of the evaluation categories, to score more points. With the market penetration of EGNATON CERT, one can expect sustainable laboratory operation of new and existing buildings soon.
                                                                                                                                                                                           
[3] The system could easily be extended to other appliances families, even in other sectors (e.g. hospitals, commercial kitchens).

3.1 Cleaning and sterilisation equipment
This group of units is the high consumption of various services and chemicals, i.e. the operating costs are considerable. In many places, the units run in continuous operation. A typical criterion of this group of units is the large amount of waste heat, which requires corresponding planning measures concerning the buildings. Interruptions in operation would mean the immediate shutdown of entire laboratories or parts.

The product's performance is essential for users' safety and the work's quality and efficiency. The space requirements of these devices play a significant role in floor planning, statics, supply and disposal of consumables (logistics). Their intelligent integration into the workflow must also be considered in planning. In terms of safety, they are subject to special requirements.                                                                                                                  

3.1.1 Laboratory glasswashers
Cleaning machines for laboratory glassware are indispensable and in use in large numbers. However, their example illustrates the systemic difficulties. On the one hand, we need a well-defined load spectrum of the machine to obtain a test scenario that is as close to practice as possible, and on the other hand, we have to demand specific performance. Moreover, in the case of laboratory glassware washers, a clean wash ware is required, which also presupposes the definition of standard contamination. Therefore, the degree of fulfilment of the requirements plays a significant role and makes all the difference.

3.1.2 Rack washer
Rack washers are cleaning devices used in animal husbandry, e.g. for cleaning cages and enormous racks. For these and the next group of tunnel washers, the AK KAB (Arbeitskreis Käfigaufbereitung) has already made very far-reaching specifications regarding their performance. Therefore, EGNATON CERT has identified this minimum functional requirement as an approval prerequisite for a certification procedure.                      

3.1.3 Tunnel washer
These devices, also in animal husbandry, fulfil similar tasks as the rack washers. They have high capacities and are in continuous use in many places. Redundant machines are often available to avoid downtimes.

This equipment group clearly shows why EGNATON CERT does not insist on testing or measuring consumption by neutral test houses. Laboratory equipment is very bulky and heavy; its transport and installation are complex and expensive. Therefore, the applicants test themselves according to EGNATON specifications. The devices are suitable for placing on the market, and there is no time, and the effort would be too high and unsustainable for shipment to test houses. A plausibility check by the auditor ensures that the information is consistent.

3.1.3 Autoclaves
The use and size of autoclaves are diverse. Therefore, there were repetitive discussions about determining the goods to be sterilised.
This group of devices requires a comparatively large number of services for operation; as a result, measurements in the load spectrum are very complex.

3.1.4 Freezer
Many freezers (e.g. in biological laboratories) suggest excellent potential for energy savings. For example, in molecular biology laboratories, freezers can account for up to 5% of total energy consumption. These devices are also significant regarding their sustainable operation by users (freezer management).

3.1.5 Lab Furniture
Laboratory furniture is at the end of EGNATON CERT's work list because furniture does not consume any energy or media during operation. In this respect, laboratory facilities are comparable to building materials. However, we must also consider them when we derive LCA [4] of the entire building.

[4] In all appliance families, applicants receive points when submitting EPDs

3.1.6 Fume Cupboards
Fume cupboards are, on the one hand, an essential part of safety installations; on the other hand, they are the final device of laboratory ventilation. Therefore, if their total air consumption is below the air requirement of the room, we must provide a separate room to extract air. On the other hand, if total air consumption is higher, for example, in a seminar room with many fume cupboards, the lowest possible air consumption for the energy consumption of the building plays a significant role with the help of design optimisation of the fume cupboard.

Approximately 40 % of the building's energy consumption is for laboratory ventilation. This energy share has enormous cost-saving potential and a decisive influence on laboratory user safety and well-being.

EGNATON CERT requires as a prerequisite for approval conformity with DIN EN 14175 or the performance of the tests described therein - and further tests, e.g. the service life of the sashes or the break-out behaviour under thermal loads.

With the help of the test set-up described in DIN EN, the extent of break-outs is measured, for example. The sash gets the highest score in this prioritised profile if less than 0.05 ppm is measured. Such a result can only happen with a higher air volume – in conjunction with flow-technological measures -as a result of which auditors would award fewer points in the corresponding fact sheet. But this downgrade does not have the same negative effect; i.e. the resulting safety plus is weighted higher.

3.4 Laboratory logistics
Laboratory relocations are often underestimated and neglected, although the impact on sustainability is significant and attributable to the laboratory. EGNATON has decided to subject laboratory moves or their providers to a sustainability assessment. The use of vehicles, their optimisation, and the use of qualified personnel trained in handling hazardous materials, packaging materials and transport containers requires planning effort and experience.

Laboratory relocation is a complex service provided by specialised companies and is subject to the same regulations for handling hazardous substances as laboratory operations.

EGNATON CERT implements sustainability criteria systemically, even though products are not involved.

4. System
The basic structure of EGNATON CERT corresponds to DGNB/BNB (see below). The sub-items do not conform to a specific profile and are only to pass on the contents of the categories:

1. economic quality (22.5%)
a. LCC: Invest. Consumption costs, maintenance costs, personnel costs
b. Spare parts availability and guaranteed spare parts delivery time

2. ecological quality (22.5%)
a. Energy consumption: electricity, steam, heat, gas, media
b. Extract air volume
c. Cooling water quantity and temperature level
d. Quantity of detergents and chemicals consumed,
e. Other service consumption
f. Space consumption/utilised volume and power
g. Heat recovery efficiency
h. Heat load to space
i. Ecological material use, EPD submission
j. Recyclability
k. Take-back and recycling

3. human factors (22.5%)
a. Perception of safety facilities
b. Operability, handling, haptics
c. Height adjustability and operating height
d. Suitability for disabled person
e. User guidance
f. Operating instructions
g. Stress factors - noise, heat, etc.
h. Surface temperature (radiant heat)

4. technical quality (16.25%)
a. Performance - minimum requirements
b. Maintenance accessibility
c. Installation quality
d. Cleanability, sterilisability, freedom from dead space,
e. Modularity
f. Update capability
g. Diagnostics, monitoring, interfaces
h. Service infrastructure

5. process quality (16.25%)
a. ISO 9001 certification
b. ISO 14001 certification
c. Own R & D
d. Training on sustainability and sustainability reporting,
e. Social standards

4.1 Special features
An important distinguishing feature between BNBB/DGNB and EGNATON CERT is the objects considered. This difference results in elements that do not make sense in the other system.

The main distinction is, on the one hand, the individual building at a known location and, on the other hand, devices in large numbers at many unknown locations. Therefore, local parameters such as energy prices, personnel costs, climate conditions, etc. must be standardised to enable transparent evaluation of equipment from different manufacturers.

In DGNB/BNB, the sustainable planning process (of the building) plays a vital role with 16.25 %. EGNATON considers the manufacturing process under the category of process quality. The method also comprises the fulfilment of social standards.

The EGNATON CERT certificate is valid for a period of 5 years.