Things to Consider Before You Plan to Purchase Lab Furniture

It's important to take a variety of aspects into account when purchasing new laboratory furniture. Selecting high-quality laboratory furniture such as lab cabinet, laboratory exhaust fume hoods and others are essential if you want to ensure that it will survive in the long term and can handle any kind of lab experiments. You can find a lot of cheaper alternatives on the internet, but most of those won’t last long as their quality might not be that good. For this reason, you should take your time when selecting furnishings for the lab. Consider your requirements and whether the options you are evaluating are suitable for your lab or not.

Consider the following things before making your initial purchase of laboratory furniture.

Type of Lab you are working in

You need to first keep in mind which type of laboratory you are associated with and based on that you need to purchase your lab furniture. They cater to specific demands and are subject to hazards that are peculiar to the industry they serve. The following are some examples of common laboratories:

  • Radiological Laboratories
  • Chemical Laboratories
  • Analytical and Quality Laboratories
  • Biosafety Laboratories
  • Manufacturing Laboratories
  • Clinical and Medical Laboratories
  • Production Laboratories
  • Electronics Laboratories
  • Research and Development Laboratories
  • Radiological Laboratories and many more.

Due to the fact that laboratory set-ups might vary, knowing the type can help establish the furniture requirements.

The Furniture Should Meet Industry Regulations

Many enterprises will necessitate the establishment of a laboratory capable of conducting on-site research and many types of toxic experiments. It is important to note that each type of laboratory has a unique function as well as the ability to deal with different sorts of risks. Your laboratory might need to comply with specific regulations. The laboratory furniture you choose should be able to meet or surpass any regulatory standards in these situations. Laboratory furniture must be carefully examined if your main work is related to working with harmful and toxic chemical substances.

Type of Material Used to Manufacture the Furniture

Materials utilized to manufacture your laboratory furniture will be classified according to the type of industry you are involved in. Standard laboratory furniture is made of industrial-grade stainless steel, which provides a robust solution. Stainless steel is corrosion-resistant, therefore it can be used to defend against chemical spills. Workstations or lab furniture can be manufactured from a variety of materials including ESD laminate to chemical resistant laminate.

Some of the varied available work surface material includes:

  • Stainless steel
  • Solid surface
  • High-pressure laminate
  • Phenolic resin
  • Epoxy resin
  • ESD laminate
  • Chemical laminate

Go for Flexible Designs

Traditional lab installations may be sufficient for some labs with a fixed quantity of samples and testing requirements. Changing sample characteristics and criteria are, nevertheless, the standard for most researchers. Such labs may benefit from adopting a flexible design. You may reconfigure your lab and revamp your workflows at any time using flexible lab furniture. These adjustable workspaces enable lab executives to swiftly scale up or down their operations, improving both efficiency and worker productivity.

Floor Plan for Your Laboratory

It’s important to evaluate your laboratory’s layout before you plan to purchase new lab equipment. In some cases, laboratories may decide to forego the acquisition of typical casework and instead purchase wall cabinets. Be sure to keep the lab furniture specifications in mind when you're shopping for lab furniture, as they could cause problems during installation. It is also possible to purchase modular furniture, which allows the lab personnel to move and modify their lab design as required. The measurements should be double-checked before you purchase any laboratory furniture. Also, check to see if there will be enough area to move around once the furniture is settled.

Fume Hood Requirements

There are many laboratories that require the usage of fume hoods in order to keep their workers safe. Considerations should be taken into account while designing a laboratory room with a fume hood. The fume hood will have an impact on airflow as well as energy efficiency. One way to achieve this is by positioning the fume hood in the middle of the laboratory, as opposed to the corner. Most of the time, location is governed by safety and ductwork requirements. A fume hood's location should be always determined before any other laboratory furniture is installed.

Storage Space

The need for storage capacity should not be overlooked while purchasing laboratory equipment such as lab tables, lab seating, and lab shelving. When choosing lab storage cabinets, be sure they have enough storage space and can accommodate all the goods you need to store. Depending on the situation, traditional cabinets may also suffice at times. As a result, it is possible that you may need laboratory chemical storage cabinets that can be used to store acid or specimens, combustible materials, pesticides. Examine thoroughly your lab's storage requirements before selecting a storage cabinet.

Think About the Price

In addition to maximizing laboratory efficiency, the cost must be taken into account. No matter whether you are changing a few pieces of furniture or beginning from scratch, money is a major consideration you should look out for. Before making a purchase, consider the return on investment, the product's lifespan, and the cost of ownership.

Furniture Maintenance

Cleaning lab furniture can be as simple as wiping off the surface with a soft cloth after each usage and avoiding abrasive materials. To prevent discoloration on a plastic laminate work surface, use a commercial laminate coating and sealer. You can also contact the manufacturer for more information if you are unclear about what can be used to clean your lab furniture’s work surface.

Conclusion

Purchasing quality laboratory furniture does not have to be a time-consuming or expensive endeavor to acquire. Getting high-quality lab furniture for your laboratory will assist you in many cases. Use these simple guidelines to select the best furniture for your laboratory based on your lab’s needs and specifications.

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