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Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences VCHS
  1. VCHS
  2. Administration
  3. Planning & Space Management
  4. Office/Lab Relocation Resources
  5. Lab Equipment Relocation Planning

Lab Equipment Relocation Planning

If you have equipment with special packing and relocation needs, under warranty or a service contract, contact the third-party vendor to dismantle or relocate the equipment.  Relocating equipment without notification or involvement of the service vendor could void or compromise an active warranty.

Bio-Safety Cabinets

  1. Equipment to be disconnected and reconnected by UCSD Facilities Management. Place a work order here. 
  2. Once your equipment has been disconnected, you will need to proceed with the appropriate decontamination of said equipment. Technical Safety Services ("TSS") is a service provider to UCSD and can perform small scale decontamination services. 
  3. Use the form here to request a clearance survey by UCSD Environmental Safety and Health ("EH&S") once your equipment has been decontaminated. 
  4. Arrange with Moving Services to move the equipment to your new location.  Again, you will need to submit a service ticket (see step 1 above). If Moving Services is unavailable, then you must use a substitute vendor who is qualified to move this type of laboratory equipment.  Be sure to affix a label to both the top and bottom of the cabinet as they are typically moved separately.
  5. Contact your EH&S RAP to re-certify the equipment once it is placed at the new location and prior to use.  

Centrifuge

After the relocation, the centrifuge must be rebalanced before use.  Operating an unbalanced centrifuge poses a risk of equipment damage, injury and possible release of hazardous materials if samples break due to uneven forces generated during high-speed rotation.

Equipment Restraints

If your equipment currently has seismic restraints please submit a workorder to FM to have a carpenter disconnect them prior to the move.  

Following the relocation, coordinate with FM to re-install the seismic restraints.

Freezers

  1. Prior to relocating your freezer(s), confirm the available electrical outlet is sufficient, including available e-power. 
  2. Properly defrost your freezer, including the removal of contents. For more information click here. 
  3. Ensure your freezer’s satisfactory operation once it has been relocated.
  4. Affix lab contact information on the front of your freezer.  This should include the name of the PI and at least two (2) individuals to contact if there is an operational issue with your freezer.

We encourage you to consider investing in an alarm system with remote monitoring for your Ultra Low Freezers (“ULT”).   These systems are relatively inexpensive and serves as an early warning of issues such as temperature fluctuations, malfunctioning sensors or door issues. 

Gas Cylinders/Dewars

Plan with your gas delivery vendor to relocate or provide new cylinders/dewars at the new location.

Liquid Nitrogen

Contact your liquid nitrogen vendor and advise them of your relocation plan. They can/should move your tank to your new location.  However, prior to being relocated, the storage tank must be cleaned and green-tagged. For more information click here. 

Mill-Q Water Purifier

If your lab has a Milli-Q Water Purifier or other similar system, then please work with a third-party vendor to have your system disconnected to allow for it to be moved; have this same vendor reconnect the system once in place at your new location.

Tissue Culture Incubator

  1. Submit a work order to Facility Maintenance and arrange for a plumber to disconnect the incubator and subsequently reconnect it once moved to the new location. Provide dates as you’ll want to schedule the plumber to make the reconnection as soon as the incubator has been relocated.
  2. Clean and drain (if water jacket) before the move date.  It will not be moved if there is any water remaining.
  3. Once installed at the new location and the incubator has been reconnected, power on the incubator, fill the water jacket, tray/pan (as applicable) to allow the incubator to acclimate to the appropriate temperature and CO2 pressure.                                     
  4. Contact TSS here or at (858) 598-4228 [local office] to calibrate the incubator.  The incubator must be running for a minimum of 12 hours prior to calibration.   Have the following information available:
    • Make:
    • Model:
    • Manufacturer serial number:
    • Indicate if single or double stacked:
    • Indicate if Incubator has water jacket (Y/N):
    • Current building & room number: