Cost of Laboratory Space

The amount of additional laboratory space that should be set aside for installation of GC/MS analysis equipment is small. Therefore, in this calculation, only the marginal cost of allocating extra space in an existing laboratory is considered, and not the cost of providing new laboratory accommodation. 

The sample preparation should be carried out under a fume hood, which is usually already available in the laboratory. 

Installation of a GC/MS requires an area of 150 x 80 cm of laboratory bench space, and it is therefore essential that the location should allow for the heat evolved by the gas chromatograph. For the evaluation of the chromatograms, a writing desk with space for a computer and printer should be provided. The equipment should be accessible from all sides for maintenance purposes. If no central gas supply exists, space for a helium bottle is also required. A total floor area of approximately 8 should be sufficient for the installation of a GCZMS. 

The exact costs of the laboratory space can only be determined for each individual case. In this calculation, a covering cost of 1.00 DM per analysis should be included to allow for miscellaneous labor costs and reception of the GC/MS samples. 

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