During a lab relocation, not everything moves directly from Point A to Point B. Construction delays, phased moves, equipment installation schedules and other factors can create a need for temporary storage.

For items that don’t require refrigeration or freezing, ambient storage may be the answer.

Here are five common questions about it.

What is ambient storage?

Ambient storage is storage for laboratory equipment, supplies and other assets that can safely be kept at stable room-temperature conditions.

Unlike cold storage, it doesn’t require refrigerated or frozen environments. But it still needs to protect sensitive lab assets from temperature fluctuations, humidity and other environmental factors.

What kinds of items can be stored?

Ambient storage can be used for laboratory instruments and analytical equipment, glassware, consumables, IT equipment, spare parts, records, office furniture and new equipment waiting to be installed.

It can also be used for decommissioned equipment awaiting disposal or resale.

When would a lab need ambient storage?

A common scenario is a gap between moving out of your current facility and moving into the new one.

Ambient storage can also help during phased relocations, renovations, consolidations or buildouts that require equipment to be moved and delivered at different times. Storage periods can range from a few weeks to several months depending on the project.

Why not just use a regular storage facility?

Lab assets often require more than an empty warehouse or storage unit.

Lab Movers’ ambient-storage service includes inventory tracking, labeling, controlled access, surveillance, organized retrieval and chain-of-custody documentation. That makes it possible to know what is being stored, where it is and when it needs to be delivered.

How does storage fit into the actual lab move?

Ideally, storage isn’t treated as a separate project.

Lab Movers coordinates stored assets with the overall relocation schedule, including when specific equipment needs to leave storage and the sequence in which it should arrive at the new facility.

Bottom line: Ambient storage can provide the bridge between moving out and moving in — while keeping lab equipment and materials secure, organized and ready when they’re needed.

Planning a lab relocation? Talk to Lab Movers about whether ambient storage should be part of your move plan.