Lab containers for research & universities – DFG, GenTSV, BSL
BSL-1, BSL-2 and S1/S2 under GenTSV, GefStoffV-compliant hazardous-substance storage to DIN EN 14470, Class II microbiological safety cabinet to DIN EN 12469, chemical fume cupboards to DIN EN 14175. Hire agreements from 12 months, matched to the third-party-funded project term. Building-application documents, ZKBS declaration and DGUV inspection records from the Albstadt factory.
While the university estates office is still planning the conventional application, your funded project is already under way with us.
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 universities and non-university institutes turn to containers
A DFG research-grant project typically runs for 36 months. A conventional university laboratory building takes 36–72 months from application to commissioning under the construction-document decree and HBR procedure. Modular research containers close that gap.
Three bottlenecks in university research projects that we solve with containers
DFG funds flow from the award. Building-authority procedures often last longer than the project. A container bridges the gap.
Planexus: building application and ZKBS notification in the factory pack.
Asbestos, fire-protection or GEG refurbishment shuts the existing laboratory for 12–24 months. An interim container keeps research running.
Planexus: temporary permit with take-back.
DFG, BMBF and the EU require a hire-versus-purchase comparison. Container hire matches the project term without a residual-value problem.
Planexus: cost-benefit comparison as an annex.
Standards and regulations for university and research containers
| Standard | Application | Delivery |
|---|---|---|
| GenTG / GenTSV | Genetic-engineering facilities S1/S2 | ZKBS notification, GenTAufzV rooms |
| BioStoffV § 15 | Biological agents, containment level 2 | Risk assessment, TRBA 100 |
| GefStoffV / TRGS 526 | Hazardous-substance stores and workplaces | Safety cabinet DIN EN 14470, bunds |
| DIN EN 12469 | Class II microbiological safety cabinet | Type A2 or B2 with DGUV V3 inspection |
| DIN EN 14175 | Chemical fume cupboards | VAV control, face-velocity validation |
| DIN 1946-7 | HVAC for laboratories | Air changes ≥8/h, pressure cascade |
| DGUV V3 | Electrical installations, annually | Inspection record in the hire contract |
| DGUV Information 213-850 | Safe working in laboratories | Emergency shower, eyewash, first-aid point |
| ISO 3696 Type 1/2/3 | Ultrapure-water quality | Connection for ultrapure-water plant |
| DFG rules of use 2024 | Third-party-funding eligibility | Cost-benefit comparison, evidence |
Eight applications we supply for universities and research institutes
Microbiology, virology, molecular biology with directional airflow and HEPA H14.
CO₂ incubators, Class II cabinets, sterilisers, ultrapure water, low vibration.
Climate-stabilised ±0.5 °C, EMC-shielded, argon cabinet, nitrogen generator.
Several fume cupboards to DIN EN 14175, solvent storage cabinet, inert-gas supply.
Vibration-isolated foundation, high load capacity, 8 bar compressed air, 400 V three-phase.
TVT-compliant preparation area, separate material/personnel flow, low noise level.
Dual cold chain, UPS connection, alarm link-out, data loggers to GLP.
Hire term 12–60 months, standardisation with existing equipment, rapid assembly/disassembly.
Six engineering details that separate university containers from office containers
Minimum 8 air changes to DIN 1946-7
Displacement supply with F7+F9 filters, extract via fume cupboards to atmosphere, pressure cascade airlock → laboratory → exterior, emergency operation with standby power for ventilation for 60 min.
Full research-standard fit-out
Hot and cold water, compressed air 6/8 bar dry/oil-free, vacuum, N₂, Ar, town gas, ultrapure-water connection, 230/400 V with UPS reserve.
DGUV Information 213-850 in full
Emergency shower with heated pipework, eyewash to DIN EN 15154, Category 1 fire-alarm system with link-out, first-aid cabinet, illuminated escape routes.
GLP-capable to OECD
LIMS connection, audit trail, ELN-capable workstations, redundant data backup, NTP time synchronisation, role-based access.
Bench-height adjustment 720–1,080 mm
C-profile rail system, mobile under-benches, trolleys, power tracks above the work surface, multiple data patch, reconfiguration without building work.
Chemically resistant to DIN EN ISO 175
Seamless rubber/linoleum floor with coving, abrasion-resistant walls, wipeable ceiling, all materials GISBAU-assessed, recyclable.
Where we supply research and university containers in DACH
Research sites in Berlin, Heidelberg, Braunschweig, Potsdam, Jülich, Munich, Göttingen, Tübingen, Stuttgart, Dresden, Karlsruhe and Aachen.
DFG statement of use for lab-container hire: which evidence is most often missing
The DFG rules of use 2024 require for container hire: a written quotation with a specification of services, a hire agreement whose term matches the project duration (typically 24–36 months), an acceptance protocol at commissioning, a declaration of use by the project lead, and a hire-versus-purchase cost comparison with residual-value calculation. The most frequent defects in the statement of use: missing cost-benefit comparison (DFG rejects 15–20 % of statements), hire agreement shorter than the project term without an extension option, no allocation to the line “project-related hire costs” or “major-instrument-like investment”, missing acceptance by the university estates office or deanery.
Planexus supplies a DFG-ready pack: quotation structured by DFG categories, hire agreement with extension clause, acceptance protocol with technical specification, declaration-of-use template, cost-benefit comparison in Excel with NPV over the project term. For BMBF and EU Horizon projects we add a financial-statement template and audit-trail-compliant invoicing. The own-funds and budget rules of non-university research institutes also accept the same evidence pack.
Hire costs for a BSL-2/S2 research container: €4,500–8,500 per month depending on configuration (fume cupboards, microbiological safety cabinet, media supply). A 36-month DFG research-grant project: €162,000–306,000 of hire costs eligible where economy versus a new building is demonstrated (new-build comparison: €800,000–2.5 million, construction period 36–72 months).
GenTSV S2 containers: ZKBS notification step by step
S2 facilities under GenTSV require authorisation under GenTG § 8. Sequence: (1) risk assessment to GenTSV Annex 3, (2) technical description of the container with Class II microbiological safety cabinet to DIN EN 12469, personnel airlock, autoclave, ventilation with directional airflow, (3) submission to the Land authority, (4) opinion of the ZKBS secretariat at BVL Berlin (8–12 weeks), (5) authorisation or conditions. Overall processing time: 14–22 weeks. S1 facilities: notification only, 4–8 weeks.
Mandatory operating documentation: GenTAufzV records (access control, cleaning, maintenance), annual DGUV V3 inspection of the microbiological safety cabinet, 12-month HEPA H14 filter integrity test, autoclave validation to EN 285. Planexus supplies a ZKBS notification template, technical drawings, BMS/EMS connection for GenTAufzV rooms and a training concept for S2 staff to TRBA 120.
Planexus services for research & universities
Technical laboratory planning
BSL-1/2 and S1/S2 under GenTSV, research-standard media supply, flexible furniture, LIMS/ELN interfaces for third-party-funded projects.
Consulting & permits
ZKBS notification, building application as a temporary structure, DFG/BMBF evidence pack, hire-versus-new-build cost comparison.
Modular construction & manufacturing
Research containers from the Albstadt factory, hire term 12–60 months, interim laboratory during refurbishment, take-back included.
Frequently asked questions on research & universities
Are lab containers eligible for DFG funding?
Yes. The German Research Foundation (DFG) funds, under its rules of use (General Guidelines for the Use of Funds for Research Grants, status 2024), both hire costs and investment in project-related research infrastructure. Lab containers fall under “major-instrument-like investment” or “project-related hire costs”. We supply the DFG-relevant evidence (quotation, acceptance protocol, declaration of use, hire-versus-purchase cost comparison) as an annex to the statement of use. Modular containers are established for Research Training Groups (GRK), Collaborative Research Centres (SFB), Clusters of Excellence, research buildings under Article 91b of the Basic Law, and major instruments under the DFG major-instrument initiative. BMBF projects (ramp-up, IPCEI, FONA) and EU Horizon projects also accept container hire structures.
What is GenTSV and why does it matter for university containers?
The German Genetic Engineering Safety Ordinance (GenTSV) regulates facilities in which genetically modified organisms are handled. It distinguishes safety levels S1, S2, S3 and S4. S1 facilities are notifiable; S2–S4 require authorisation under the Genetic Engineering Act § 8. Competent bodies: Land authorities with a technical opinion from the ZKBS (Central Committee on Biological Safety) at the BVL in Berlin. For S2 you need controlled access, separate personnel and material airlocks, a BGW-compliant Class II microbiological safety cabinet to DIN EN 12469, and autoclaved waste streams. S3 additionally requires negative-pressure HVAC with HEPA H14 dual filtration and directional airflow. We build S1 and S2 containers as standard, S3 with BSL-3 engineering. For GenTAufzV records we supply the rooms with BMS/EMS connections.
How quickly can a third-party-funded project start with a container?
It depends on the degree of configuration. Standard hire containers from our pool (BSL-1, S1, GefStoffV-compliant hazardous-substance store, simple wet room) can be delivered in 4–6 weeks. Project-specific containers (BSL-2, S2, dedicated HVAC, cleanroom standard) need 12–16 weeks of factory production. Delivery 1 week, commissioning 1–2 weeks, acceptance 1 week. Overall: 18–22 weeks to project-approved operation. A conventional university building application under Land budget rules typically takes 18–36 months – so for 24- or 36-month projects a container is often the only realistic option. Hire agreements of 12, 24, 36 or 60 months are available.
Can containers serve as interim space while the existing laboratory is refurbished?
That is one of our most frequent applications. Universities regularly face the problem that an existing building is refurbished (asbestos removal, fire-protection upgrade, energy modernisation under the Buildings Energy Act (GEG), structural strengthening) while research cannot stand still for 12–24 months. During the works we place interim container laboratories of equivalent fit-out (fume cupboard, microbiological safety cabinet, sink area, emergency shower, eyewash station) on the campus. Typical hire period 18–36 months, with take-back included. Building application under the Land building code (LBO) as a “temporary structure” with a time-limited permit – that accelerates authority approval dramatically versus a new building. We supply the building-application documents.
Which microbiological safety cabinets and fume cupboards do we install?
Standard for university containers: Class II microbiological safety cabinet to DIN EN 12469 (personnel, product and environmental protection; HEPA H14 in supply and extract, directional airflow 0.38 m/s ±20 %), optionally Type A2 with internal recirculation or Type B2 with extract to atmosphere for hazardous chemicals. Chemical fume cupboards to DIN EN 14175 with documented face velocity ≥0.5 m/s, ENERGY-VAV control with sash position, mechanical confirmation of the ventilation state. Special types: PCR cabinets with UV sterilisation, cell-culture cabinets with restriction against aerosol carry-over, tracer-gas fume cupboards for SBF tests. 12-month maintenance interval included in the hire contract. Annual DGUV V3 inspection.
What distinguishes research containers from industrial QC containers?
Research containers are laid out for flexibility and experiment: diverse media connections (compressed air, vacuum, nitrogen, argon, deionised water, ultrapure water to ISO 3696 Type 1), modular furniture with movable benches, bench-height adjustment 720–1,080 mm, power tracks with 230 V and 400 V, multiple Cat 6a data patch panels, many functional fume cupboards. Industrial QC containers are method-fixed and process-stable: fixed furniture to SOP standard, dedicated GMP data integrity, validated instrument interfaces, less flexibility but more reproducibility. We build both types – universities and research institutes usually receive the research configuration.
What is the legal position for containers on university premises?
Universities are building owners under the Land building code. A container >75 m³ gross volume or with a permanent connection to the ground requires a building permit under LBO §§ 60 ff. Procedure-free structures (LBO § 61, slightly different by Land) generally do not apply to laboratory containers because they are GenTSV/BioStoffV-relevant. We supply the building application: site plan, structural design to DIN EN 1991/1992/1993, fire-protection report to LBO + MBO + ASR A2.2, noise and ventilation evidence, GenTSV/BioStoffV declaration. On heritage-protected sites (for example listed university campuses in inner-city locations) we clarify in advance with the heritage authority.
Research containers for your funded project
Outline the funder, project term and containment level. We reply within one working day with a DFG/BMBF/EU-ready concept including a cost-benefit comparison.
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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.