Lab containers for industry & materials testing – ISO 17025
DAkkS-accreditation-ready QC containers, ATEX/IECEx Zone 2 for solvent and polymer piloting, vibration-isolated foundation for microbalances and SEM, climate classes 1–5 to VDI/VDE 2627. Directly at the production site, connected to works utilities, with no plant downtime.
Instead of six months of hall conversion, your works QC is in place after eight weeks.
Planexus Engineering Team
Content is owned by the Planexus engineering team — civil engineers, process engineers and laboratory planners with specialised experience in modular laboratory construction. Planexus GmbH is part of Wesemann Holding GmbH and delivers BSL-2, BSL-3, GMP and ATEX containers for pharma, biotech, research and crisis units across DACH.
Why works QC belongs in a container rather than a hall fit-out
Works halls are built for production, not for QC. A permanent fit-out means plant downtime and 6–12 months of construction. Works containers move in without production losing a single shift.
Standards, accreditation schemes and industry rules
| Standard | Application | Delivery |
|---|---|---|
| ISO/IEC 17025:2017 | Accredited testing and calibration laboratories | Environmental qualification, DAkkS-ready documentation |
| VDI/VDE 2627 | Climate-controlled measuring rooms, classes 1–5 | Dual climate plant, NTC/Pt100 loggers DKD |
| ATEX 2014/34/EU + DIN EN 60079 | Ex zones 0/1/2/20/21/22 | EX lighting, sockets, earthing, gas detector |
| TRBS 1201 / TRGS 727 / DGUV V104 | Explosion-protection document, ESD | Antistatic floor DIN EN 1081, documentation template |
| GefStoffV / TRGS 526 | Solvent/acid storage | DIN EN 14470 safety cabinet, bund |
| DIN EN 1991-1-1 | Load assumptions for works siting | Structural evidence for slab / strip foundation |
| DGUV V3 / DIN VDE 0100-718 | Electrical installation, workshop laboratory | Annual inspection in the hire contract |
| DIN ISO 2768 / DIN EN ISO 1101 | Tolerance/form/position, measuring workshop | Granite plate, vibration isolation |
Eight typical works and testing containers we supply
Tensile test DIN EN ISO 6892, Vickers/Brinell/Rockwell hardness, Charpy, metallography.
Compressive strength DIN EN 12390-3, splitting tensile, curing climate cabinet, cement testing.
Melt flow index ISO 1133, DSC, FTIR, tensile test ISO 527, Charpy/Izod impact.
Film thickness DIN EN ISO 2808, gloss, pencil hardness, salt spray DIN EN ISO 9227.
Climate class 2, granite plate, microbalance 0.01 mg, EMC-shielded, DKD-traceable.
Solvent synthesis, polymer pilot plant, gas detector and SIL-2. Refinery/tank farm → oil & gas page.
Directly at the works gate, sample QC, RFID link to MES, rapid release.
Directly on the production line, short sample paths, real-time evaluation in LIMS.
Six engineering details for works and testing containers
Spring foundation for microbalances and SEM
Natural frequency <2 Hz, vibration spectrum to VC-D or VC-E, optional pneumatic isolation, granite floor plate 200 mm thick.
Faraday cage for highly sensitive instruments
Wall shielding sheet in mu-metal or copper, filtered mains connections, separate earthing, EMC pre-test to EN 55011.
Zone 2-compliant to DIN EN 60079-14
Earthing resistance <1 Ω, Ex luminaires 2G EEx d/e, SIL-2 gas detector, ventilation bypass with controlled purge, Ex door interlock.
Direct connection to works interfaces
Compressed air 10 bar, cooling water, nitrogen, argon, 400 V three-phase 63 A, Profibus/Profinet/Industrial Ethernet, MES/LIMS integration.
Redundant plant, class 3 or better
Main plant + backup with automatic changeover, Pt100 loggers 24/7, NTP time sync, trend link to MES, annual DKD calibration.
Up to 2,000 kg/m² point load
Reinforced floor frame for 250 kN universal testing machines, pendulum impact testers, concrete compression presses, hardness testers, granite CMMs.
Industrial sites in DACH where we deliver
Ruhr steel cluster, Stuttgart–Mittlerer Neckar automotive region, Ludwigshafen chemicals cluster, Industriepark Frankfurt-Höchst, Munich-Garching research site, Port of Hamburg (steel logistics, mineral oil).
Schaffhausen–Tuttlingen cluster (medical devices), materials research at Dübendorf, industrial sites in Zurich–Baden, Visp and Bussnang.
ISO 17025 accreditation in a works container: checklist for DAkkS assessment
ISO/IEC 17025:2017 puts technical competence and reproducible environmental conditions at the centre, not construction method. DAkkS assessors typically check in works containers: climate-controlled measuring rooms with documented temperature ±0.5 K and humidity 40–60 % rH ±5 % (VDI/VDE 2627 class 3), vibration spectrum at the measuring position (VC-D or VC-E for microbalances), EMC field strength ≤3 V/m for sensitive instruments, traceability of all measuring equipment to national standards via accredited DKD calibration, method validation to ISO 17025 clause 7.2, impartiality evidence.
Frequent defects at first assessment: missing 24/7 climate recording, no vibration measurement before instrument installation, EMC shielding without a field-strength record, LIMS without an audit trail. Planexus supplies a DAkkS-ready pack: environmental qualification protocol, Pt100 loggers with DKD calibration, vibration measurement protocol with VC curve, EMC pre-test to EN 55011, sample method validation for tensile testing to DIN EN ISO 6892 and hardness testing to DIN EN ISO 6507.
Re-accreditation every 5 years, surveillance assessment annually. Container hire agreements of 36–60 months with annual re-qualification of environmental conditions in the hire contract keep the audit trail unbroken – re-qualification cost: €2,500–4,500 per year.
Vibration isolation for microbalances in a container: limit values to VC curves
Microbalances (resolution 0.01–0.1 mg) respond to floor vibration from 0.1 µm/s. VC curves (Vibration Criteria) define limit values: VC-D for microbalances ≤3 µm/s (1/3-octave band 8–80 Hz), VC-E for SEM ≤1.5 µm/s. Works-hall floors without isolation: typically 20–100 µm/s – unsuitable. Container solution: spring foundation with natural frequency <2 Hz, optional pneumatic isolation, 200 mm granite plate on rubber-metal mounts, separate foundation slab decoupled from the container frame.
Measurement before commissioning: vibration spectrum at four corners of the granite plate, comparison with the VC target curve, documentation for the DAkkS audit. Vibration-isolation cost: €15,000–45,000 depending on the mass of a universal testing machine (250 kN) or microbalance. EMC shielding (mu-metal wall, ≤3 V/m) is added for SEM and NMR spectrometers on a project basis at €20,000–60,000. For steelworks with blast-furnace vibration we plan additional decoupling of the container foundation from the hall floor. We repeat the measurement after each DAkkS surveillance assessment.
Series testing on the production line: QC containers with MES/ERP connection via OPC UA to common systems. Test results are stored by batch; limit exceedances trigger a batch hold. Payback versus an external testing laboratory is typically 18–24 months at ≥200 samples/day and three-shift operation.
A maintenance contract with annual DAkkS re-qualification of environmental conditions is available as an option. For automotive suppliers under IATF 16949 we supply PPAP documentation and measuring-equipment lists as an annex to the container handover protocol. Works QC containers can be linked to existing test plans to DIN EN ISO 6892, ISO 6507 and ISO 6508. Typical lead time from the Albstadt factory: 10–14 weeks including DAkkS-ready qualification, factory acceptance FAT and SAT on site available as an option.
Fuel quality, refinery turnaround, H₂S and tank-farm environmental analytics sit on the oil, gas & refining page – not in materials QC.
Planexus services for industry & materials testing
Technical laboratory planning
Works QC layout, climate class to VDI 2627, vibration isolation VC-D/E, ATEX zoning for solvent piloting.
Laboratory equipment
250 kN universal testing-machine interface, hardness testers, microscopy, MES/LIMS integration, works utilities compressed air/nitrogen/400 V.
Modular construction & manufacturing
ISO 17025-capable works containers, ATEX Zone 2, point load up to 2,000 kg/m², sited directly on the production line with no plant downtime.
Further reading
Frequently asked questions on industry & materials testing
Can we obtain DAkkS accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 with a container?
Yes. ISO/IEC 17025:2017 does not prescribe a construction method for the laboratory; it requires technical competence, method validation, traceability of measuring equipment to national standards (via accredited DKD calibration), staff qualification and impartiality. Containers meet all of these requirements provided that environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, vibration, EMC) are controlled reproducibly. We build ISO 17025-capable containers with climate-controlled weighing and measuring cells at ±0.5 °C / ±5 % rH, vibration isolation for microbalances, EMC shielding for highly sensitive instruments and documented qualification of environmental conditions. DAkkS assessors accept this without objection – we supply the assessment-ready documentation as an annex.
What does a works laboratory container cost compared with a permanent fit-out?
Standard works containers for incoming/goods-in QC sit between €2,800 and €4,500 per square metre. Specialised containers (climate-controlled weighing cell, vibration-isolated foundation, ATEX Zone 2) between €4,500 and €8,000 per square metre. A comparable permanent fit-out in an industrial hall costs €5,000–12,000 per square metre in an existing building, plus a 6–12 month construction period and plant downtime during the works. The container solution becomes economical especially when production must not be interrupted, or when the test line is to be scaled modularly. Hire-purchase structures (24, 36, 60 months) are common because they are treated as operating leases for tax purposes.
Are ATEX/IECEx containers possible for Ex Zones 1 or 2?
Yes, with clearly defined construction measures. The ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU and the IECEx scheme require equipment and protective systems certified for the respective zone (0/1/2 for gases, 20/21/22 for dusts). Container construction allows Ex-certified lighting (Atex Category 2G EEx d/e), explosion-protected sockets, antistatic flooring to DIN EN 1081, earthing to DIN EN 60079-14, ventilation with controlled purge and gas detectors with SIL-2 link-out. We build ATEX containers for Zone 2 (occasionally explosive atmosphere) as standard, Zone 1 (regularly explosive) on a project basis with notified-body assessment. TRBS 1201 / TRGS 727 / DGUV V104 is required reading in advance.
How does works QC in a container work without interrupting production?
We deliver the container into the works hall or directly in front of the production line. Connection to works utilities (compressed air, water, power, nitrogen, data) via standard industrial interfaces. Sampling uses a short path directly from the process. We know the typical test lines for steel (tensile test to DIN EN ISO 6892, Vickers/Rockwell/Brinell hardness to DIN EN ISO 6507/6508/6506, Charpy impact to DIN EN ISO 148-1, metallographic microscopy), concrete (compressive strength to DIN EN 12390-3, modulus of elasticity to DIN EN 12390-13), polymers (melt flow index to ISO 1133, tensile strength to ISO 527, DSC), coatings (film thickness to DIN EN ISO 2808). Container layout matched to the test – we configure it project by project.
What climate stability is required for measuring rooms?
The standard for measuring rooms to VDI/VDE 2627 is climate class 1 (setpoint ±0.5 K, tolerance Δ 1 K) to class 5 (setpoint ±0.1 K, tolerance Δ 0.2 K). For most industrial applications class 3 is sufficient (setpoint ±0.5 K, tolerance Δ 1 K, ventilation ≥3 air changes). High-precision weighing rooms for microbalances require class 1 or 2 plus vibration isolation. We build climate-controlled containers with dual air-conditioning (main operation + redundant backup), NTC/Pt100 data loggers with DKD-traceable calibration, 24/7 recording for DAkkS audits. Humidity typically 40–60 % rH ±5 %. Vibration isolation via spring foundation or rubber-metal mounts. EMC shielding for sensitive instruments (SEM, NMR, spectrometers) on a project basis.
Who prepares the risk assessment for works containers?
The risk assessment under ArbSchG § 5 + GefStoffV § 6 is the building owner’s duty – that is, your works occupational-safety specialist. We do, however, supply all input data: technical data sheets, safety marking, fire-protection report, noise forecast, heating/cooling-load calculation, substance inventory. For GefStoffV-relevant containers (solvents, acids/alkalis, gases) we supply the matching store to DIN EN 14470, F90 safety cabinets to DIN 18095 and bunds with the volume required for the stored quantities. With this input your risk assessment reduces to 4–8 hours rather than several days.
How does multi-year hire work with DAkkS re-accreditation?
DAkkS accreditations are recertified every 5 years, with annual surveillance assessments. Container hire agreements typically run for 36–60 months, with an extension option. DAkkS accepts containers as a permanent test environment provided that environmental qualification remains documented and vibration, climate and EMC conditions are reproducible. We supply the annual re-qualification of environmental conditions as a maintenance service in the hire contract – climate trend, vibration spectrum, EMC fields, ventilation balance, cleanliness class. You therefore have an unbroken DAkkS audit trail.
Works QC in a container for your production
Outline the plant site, test methods and any Ex-zone requirement. We reply within one working day with a concrete works-layout proposal including the utilities connection.
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Lab containers for your industry
We supply pharma, research, industry, education, public health, the energy transition, and oil, gas and refining — each with the relevant standards, containment classes and qualification documents.