Overview
ISO 22544:2025 - Laboratory design: Vocabulary provides a consolidated, authoritative vocabulary of core terms used in laboratory planning, design, construction and operation. Rather than prescribing technical specifications, the standard establishes consistent definitions across areas such as laboratory structures, planning and workflows, systems and utilities, furniture and equipment, health & safety, sustainability, and laboratory roles. ISO 22544:2025 is a foundational reference to harmonize language used by designers, owners and regulators.
Key topics and definitions
The standard organizes terms into clear categories and includes explanatory notes and cross-references. Key topics covered include:
- Laboratory types and structures: definitions for laboratory, laboratory building, mobile laboratory, modular laboratory, and smart laboratory.
- Planning and project documents: terms such as laboratory design, operational concept, room data sheet (RDS), user requirement brief (URB) and integrated project delivery (IPD).
- Workflows and safety: workflow, inherently safe design, means of egress, airlock, travel distance, and other safety-related vocabulary to support risk reduction and emergency planning.
- Systems, engineering and finishes: vocabulary for ventilation, utilities, coving/plinth, lighting and infrastructural-climate design.
- Sustainability and lifecycle: terms including sustainable design, ecodesign, and environmental impact assessment (EIA) to align lab design with environmental performance goals.
- Roles and responsibilities: common terms for personnel, facility managers and stakeholders involved in laboratory delivery and operation.
Practical applications and users
ISO 22544:2025 is useful for anyone involved in the lifecycle of laboratory facilities:
- Architects, engineers and laboratory designers - to ensure consistent briefs, drawings and specifications.
- Project managers and owners - for drafting user requirement briefs and room data sheets and running IPD procurement.
- Facility managers and maintenance teams - to interpret design intent and safety requirements.
- Regulators, certification bodies and safety professionals - to harmonize inspection language and compliance documentation.
- Educators, researchers and industry stakeholders - to align terminology across multi-disciplinary laboratory operations.
Practical uses include preparing contract documents, standardizing procurement specifications, designing modular or mobile labs, integrating smart building and smart laboratory systems, developing safety and emergency plans, and embedding sustainability (ecodesign, EIA) in project delivery.
Related standards
ISO 22544:2025 references and aligns terminology with other ISO/IEC documents (for example ISO 6707‑1, ISO 13943, ISO 14006) and supports consistent terminology across laboratory and building standards. Use ISO 22544 as the vocabulary baseline when developing or applying lab design standards, room data sheets, and regulatory guidance.