From the Desk of Guru Thakkar, Director of Engineering
In life sciences, close enough isn’t good enough—especially when you’re trying to control every variable in a regulated space.
Whether it’s a cleanroom, an R&D lab, or a production facility, the performance of your Building Automation System (BAS) can directly impact product quality, regulatory compliance, and ultimately patient safety. And yet, we see far too many life sciences companies relying on rigid, proprietary BAS platforms that weren’t built for precision and GMP compliance.
It’s time to rethink what a BAS should be.
What’s at Stake? Precision, Compliance, and Longevity
Life sciences facilities operate under a microscope—literally and figuratively. Your BAS isn’t just keeping people comfortable; it’s maintaining environmental conditions that affect batch integrity, lab results, and regulatory outcomes.
That means your BAS needs to deliver:
- Precise control for pressure differentials, airflow, and temperature/humidity conditions
- Full validation support with traceable documentation
- Robust hardware that will last a long time with minimal down time
- Flexibility and transparency to support audits, alarms, and root-cause analysis
Off-the-shelf BAS solutions from traditional/commercial providers often struggle to meet all four. And worse, they lock you into long-term service contracts with limited vendor support. Life Sciences facilities should be treated like mission-critical facilities and should implement systems that provide the highest amount of reliability.
The PLC-Based BAS Advantage
At InflexionPoint, we help our clients take a more effective approach. Virtually all our BAS experience is built on Rockwell PLCs — because open, industrial-grade control systems offer better long-term value and flexibility than proprietary alternatives.
Here’s why more regulated environments are making the switch:
- No vendor lock-in. PLC-based solutions can be serviced and supported easily by a plant engineering team, and by a wide range of integrators. This also opens up the possibility of having the same product platform for building automation and process automation, enabling the resident support team to support both more effectively.
- Industrial reliability. These systems are built to last and designed for 24/7 operation.
- Easier integration. PLCs talk seamlessly to SCADA, MES, and other facility systems. Data can be funneled to historians and other databases for advanced analytics and reporting.
- Built-in audit readiness. With the right development approach, you can trace every control action and system change — perfect for GMP compliance.
If you’re looking for a deeper dive into our approach, check out our Building Automation Systems Solution Brief.
Designed for Control. Built for Validation.
We’ve implemented BAS control strategies across a wide range of life sciences and lab environments, from pharma production to high-stakes research spaces. That includes:
- Seasonal modes of operation (e.g., summer/winter switchover)
- Enthalpy-based decisions for economizer cooling
- Freeze protection, startup/shutdown sequences, and airflow modulation
- Smoke or CO2 detection, alarms and door-triggered pressure control
- Integration of controls with process equipment
- Real-time environmental data collection, reporting, and analytics
And we don’t just build systems — we validate them. Our methodology, based on GMP principles, includes lifecycle documentation, training, QA reviews, and everything you need to operate effectively, including traceability.
Smarter BAS = Smarter Energy Use
Your BAS is also a key player in your energy efficiency strategy. When integrated with the right instruments, real-time monitoring and analytical tools, it can uncover patterns in energy use and reduce waste — without sacrificing control. Learn more in our Energy Management Solution Brief.
BAS Readiness Checklist
Wondering how your current BAS stacks up? We’ve created an 8-point checklist to help life sciences teams assess their system’s readiness for regulated environments. From open architecture to audit trails, this quick guide can help you spot gaps before they become problems.
