Standardized management and quality assurance model for university laboratory infrastructure

University laboratories play a pivotal role in research, teaching, and nurturing innovative talent. The quality of hardware construction directly influences the smooth implementation of laboratory-based education and the safety and efficiency of scientific research. However, current laboratory construction projects in universities often face challenges such as inadequate communication, insufficient interdepartmental collaboration, delayed implementation of administrative and safety standards, and incomplete supervision and acceptance during the construction phase. These issues not only diminish construction efficiency and waste resources but may also create long-term safety risks. The objective of this study is to explore a replicable and scalable model for standardized construction and quality assurance. By implementing systematic optimization strategies, the study seeks to shift laboratory construction from an experience-driven approach to a standards-guided approach. This transition is intended to enhance efficiency, ensure safety compliance, and achieve an integrated alignment of teaching and research functions, management norms, and user requirements.

Based on a review of domestic and international laboratory construction standards and management practices, and drawing on recent laboratory construction projects at Beijing Forestry University, this study employed the following methods. ① Standardized information collection and cross-departmental coordination. Unified information forms were designed to collect and integrate the infrastructure conditions provided by construction departments and the functional requirements of end-users. The management department served as the central coordinating body to ensure smooth information flow and support evidence-based decision-making. ② Embedding safety and management standards throughout the construction process. At the stages of design, blueprint review, and construction execution, national standards, industry norms, and university management regulations were systematically applied. Recommendations on the proportion of internal functional areas were proposed, and key design parameters and configuration requirements were comprehensively specified. ③ Establishing comprehensive quality control and multidimensional acceptance mechanisms. The responsibilities of construction, management, users, and third-party inspectors were clearly defined, forming a full-chain supervision model. Systematic acceptance was conducted across three dimensions: foundational engineering, functional adaptation, and safety assurance.

The study yielded three major outcomes. ① Significant improvement in design efficiency. Standardized information collection and scientifically informed space proportion recommendations reduced design revisions by approximately 50% and shortened the plan finalization cycle by nearly half. This minimized repeated construction and retrofits caused by fragmented information, resulting in substantial time and cost savings. ② Comprehensive implementation of standards and norms. Key parameters and safety facilities were rigorously enforced throughout construction, achieving nearly 100% compliance at first acceptance. Functional area layouts became more rational, and post-acceptance adjustments shifted from structural corrections to optimizing user experience, thereby enhancing comfort and management consistency. ③ Enhanced quality assurance system. The full-process supervision mechanism clarified responsibilities at all stages, eliminating regulatory blind spots and overlapping duties. The multidimensional acceptance framework enabled a transition from merely “engineering-qualified” to “functionally compliant and safely reliable,” significantly improving operational stability, safety, and the experimental experience and efficiency of faculty and students.

By introducing and validating strategies such as standardized information collection, embedded management and safety standards, and multidimensional quality control and acceptance, this study established a systematic management and quality assurance model for university laboratory hardware construction. This model not only enhances construction efficiency and reduces costs but also integrates functionality, compliance, and safety, demonstrating strong potential for widespread adoption.