Accelerating Laboratory Construction: Risk-Based Project Planning, Modular Prefabrication, and a Commissioning-First Delivery Framework

Abstract

The construction of laboratories is increasingly constrained by the need to deliver safe, compliant facilities rapidly, while also meeting decarbonisation and performance expectations. This scoping review maps peer-reviewed evidence on the acceleration of laboratories and laboratory analogue facilities through risk-based planning, modular prefabrication, and a commissioning-first delivery framework. Using the PCC framework and PRISMA-ScR reporting guidelines, searches of the Scopus and Web of Science databases (2015–2025) produced 461 records, of which 19 empirical studies met the inclusion criteria. The findings coalesced into three pillars of acceleration: (1) digital risk controls (e.g. interface governance, tolerance-aware coordination, and scan-enabled verification), which replace late discovery with early, testable gates; (2) treating modular prefabrication as a production-logistics system that requires early scope selection, interface freezing, and factory quality checks; and (3) commissioning-first readiness, where progress is defined by test outcomes, activation simulations, and operational stabilisation. Across the evidence base, speed gains were primarily achieved by preventing late rework rather than compressing tasks. This review did not involve protocol registration or risk-of-bias appraisal, but safeguards were in place, including PCC eligibility, dual screening, and standardised charting. Practical implications emphasise the risk-tiering of systems, 'progress-to-test' milestones, and the alignment of work packages to commissioning sequences. However, time-to-ready outcomes were reported inconsistently, which limited cross-case comparability. Future research should evaluate frameworks across laboratory typologies and regulatory settings and standardise acceleration metrics.