Physical Secure Zone 4 – Lab Facility

Delivering a certified Zone 4 secure laboratory and collaboration environment

Omni designed, delivered, and accredited a Physical Secure Zone 4 (PSZ4) laboratory environment, enabling secure collaboration, data handling, and operational capability within a Defence industry context. The project required integrating multiple secure environments while maintaining compliance with strict government security frameworks.

Key Outcomes

• Delivered a fully accredited Zone 2/4 secure facility
• Enabled secure collaboration across boardroom, lab, and server environments
• Achieved compliance with physical, technical, and procedural security standards
• Stabilised evolving requirements through structured governance
• Provided a secure, operational environment for government-facing services

Overview

The project involved the design and construction of a secure facility incorporating a boardroom, multi-domain server room, and laboratory. The environment was embedded within an outer secure office to support layered security principles. [omniexe.com]

The Challenge

The client required a multi-functional secure facility that met stringent Zone 4 security requirements while operating within an existing environment.

Key challenges included:

• Integrating a Zone 4 facility within a lower classification outer environment
• Managing landlord constraints and base building limitations
• Responding to evolving user requirements and design changes
• Maintaining compliance while requirements shifted during delivery
• Controlling emerging risks introduced by design and scope changes

These factors created complexity in maintaining both progress and compliance, requiring continuous reassessment of security measures throughout delivery.

The Solution

Omni implemented a structured, governance-driven approach to stabilise requirements, manage risk, and deliver a compliant secure facility.

Secure Facility Design and Integration

• Designed a Zone 4 environment aligned with government security standards
• Integrated multiple functions, including:
  • Secure boardroom
  • Laboratory space
  • Multi-domain server room
• Applied a security-in-depth model with layered protection

The facility was constructed to meet all physical, structural, electronic, acoustic, visual, and procedural requirements for Zone 4 certification.

Change Control and Design Governance

• Introduced structured change-control processes
• Maintained clear accountability across stakeholders
• Conducted ongoing security assessments at each design decision point

This approach enabled the team to manage evolving requirements without compromising compliance or delivery timelines.

Security Controls and Systems Integration

• Installed a Type 1A security alarm system
• Implemented electronic access control for continuous monitoring
• Designed an airlock to separate security zones and meet acoustic standards

These controls ensured the facility met both operational and regulatory requirements for high-security environments.

Stakeholder Coordination

• Engaged early with landlord and project stakeholders
• Maintained continuous communication with users
• Balanced operational needs with security compliance requirements

This coordination ensured alignment across technical, operational, and delivery priorities.

Results and Impact

Omni successfully delivered a secure, multi-functional facility with clear operational outcomes:

• Full accreditation of the Zone 2/4 environment
• Stabilised delivery despite evolving requirements
• Mitigated risks introduced by design changes
• Enabled secure collaboration across multiple functions
• Provided a facility supporting government decision-making activities

The completed environment delivers a secure, flexible, and operationally effective space tailored to complex Defence and industry requirements.