Instrumentation Specialists vs. OPMs: Who Should Execute Your Test Fit?

When designing or relocating a laboratory, test fits serve as a critical bridge between science and construction. They ensure that instrumentation, utilities, and workflow align long before installation begins. The question is, who should oversee this process: the OPM or a technical specialist? The answer depends on understanding what a test fit is meant to accomplish and the expertise required to do it correctly.



Why Laboratory Test Fits Require Technical Oversight

A laboratory test fit begins with the science plan and the people who will carry it out. Every instrument functions as a mechanical system with specific environmental, spatial, and utility requirements that go far beyond standard construction knowledge. Determining umbilical support, bench load capacities, gas pressure decay distances, ventilation needs, and service accessibility requires specialized knowledge of laboratory instrumentation, not general building methods.

OPMs excel at managing schedules, materials, and construction teams, but they often lack the technical background needed to translate scientific workflows into mechanical and spatial plans. Oversight from a qualified instrumentation engineer ensures that equipment placement, gas and electrical connections, and service access points are designed according to precise specifications rather than assumptions.

Without this level of technical planning, labs often face costly rework such as rerouting utilities, reopening walls, or modifying casework after construction. These problems can be avoided with proper test fit oversight.

The Role of Technical Specialists in Laboratory Test Fits

Technical specialists understand both the scientific goals of the lab and the operational requirements of the instrumentation that supports those goals. At Overbrook, our test fit process begins by assessing workflow, current and future scientific needs, and each instrument’s mechanical dependencies.

This technical insight allows our team to work directly with architects, engineers, and OPMs to ensure that utilities, ventilation, and workspace layouts are guided by function rather than adjusted after the fact. By engaging specialists early, the test fit becomes more than a layout exercise. It becomes a comprehensive plan that drives design accuracy, reduces construction risk, and aligns infrastructure with real-world laboratory operations.

Who Should Manage a Laboratory Test Fit?

OPMs play a vital role in building the physical environment, but laboratory test fits should be managed by technical specialists who understand the instrumentation, workflows, and service requirements that define a lab’s success. Once test fits and equipment planning are finalized, architects and MEP engineers can translate those details into construction documents, allowing OPMs to build with confidence and precision.

This collaboration allows every stakeholder to focus on their area of expertise:

• Technical specialists ensure scientific and mechanical accuracy.
  
• Architects and engineers document the plan and coordinate systems.
  
• OPMs manage execution, coordination, schedule, and budget on behalf of the owner.

The result is a smooth transition from planning to construction and a laboratory that performs as intended from day one.

How Proper Test Fit Oversight Ensures a Successful Laboratory Build

Test fit oversight by qualified technical specialists reduces errors, prevents workflow inefficiencies, and eliminates the need for costly redesigns. At Overbrook Support Services, our team ensures that scientific objectives drive every design decision, aligning utilities, layout, and mechanical systems with the realities of daily research operations.

By placing technical expertise at the center of test fit planning, laboratories achieve efficient layouts, supported utilities, and long-term adaptability for future growth. The success of a laboratory build depends on starting with a test fit that is scientifically sound, technically accurate, and managed by professionals who understand both the science and the structure.