ABSTRACT
The building and its associated structures represent the life-long environment of laboratory animals that are housed and used in it. Therefore it is essential that this environment is designed and constructed so as to provide for all of the animals’ needs throughout the time they spend in the facility. The planning and building of a laboratory animal facility is a complex process involving the participation of expertise drawn from several different areas. Determining the capacity of a large laboratory animal facility somewhat resembles the process for a hotel. The head of a laboratory animal facility and his/her management team are responsible for all aspects of running the entire facility. A loading dock area with dedicated bays for receiving animals and material from suppliers as well as removal of wastes is essential for the proper running of the facility. The ventilation system plays an important role in the overall performance of the animal facility.
