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Tips on Choosing Correct Lab Furniture and Countertops

Your lab’s furniture and countertop choices are some of the most important lab equipment decisions you can ever make for your laboratory. These two aspects handle the majority of the daily tasks performed in any lab. Therefore, they typically encounter the biggest brunt of the continuous wear and tear.

Buying lab furniture is never an easy undertaking given that there are characteristics and specifications that need to be taken into consideration as you look for workbenches, countertops, seats, and storage spaces for your lab. Selecting the correct laboratory furniture requires due diligence to establish which casework provides the highest levels of flexibility, functionality, and investment value.

Sparing some time to know the types of material that are available in the market is critical when it comes to selecting a furniture product that will not only serve your application well but also for many years. Today, there are 5 main types of lab furniture all providing different flexibility levels at varying costs:

Fixed lab bench Table-based Core System Mobile cart Custom flexible

Laboratory furniture is available in a wide range of sizes and styles based on what you intend to use the furniture for. Specific factors must be taken into account when deciding on the most suitable furniture system for a particular lab environment.

Here are 6 useful tips worth considering before you make your decision.

1. Design and Functionality

When acquiring furniture for your lab, particular care and priority must be taken in terms of design and functionality. Traditionally, metal and wood casework was the preferred laboratory furniture choice but times have now greatly changed. The laboratory environments of today require mobile and modular solutions that easily adjust with the lab workflow and which boost efficiencies inside the work-stations.

2. Consider the Exposure

What do expect your laboratory casework and countertops to be exposed to? This forms a vital consideration as you make your furniture decisions. Because of exposure demands, some specific materials must be selected so as to accommodate particular situations. For best chemical resistance, you may opt to go for trespa countertop and stainless steel or phenolic furniture for your lab. Study your materials expected exposure guide to help in forming your countertop and furniture decisions.

Although the majority of lab furniture is made of steel, you can still get some quality ones made of heavy duty, sturdy plastic. On top of that, due to the constant exposure to strong chemicals and some hazardous-waste, the furniture you select may need to be customized so that it can properly dispose off the corrosive chemical-based waste substances. Understand the materials and chemicals regularly used in your lab before purchasing furniture.

3. The Lab Furniture Users

An aspect that you cannot afford to overlook when considering your lab furniture is the ease of use. Usually, scientists working in labs are trying to solve complex problems or performing delicate tasks such that they actually lack the extra time to think of adjusting lab seats, countertop heights, opening storage spaces, or even spread out the tables.

Useful furniture for the laboratories must not only be functional but also user-friendly. It is important that your furniture does not disrupt the lab workflow or break under pressure. In addition, it could be an excellent idea to go for a lab bench that is on wheels or one that is mobile so that it becomes easy to move it around.

Remember that some professionals handling chemically based materials could require furniture that is highly customized to best accommodate their job function.

4. Furniture Quality

Quality is an important aspect that must be kept in mind when thinking of your lab furniture needs. The materials used should be of the highest quality. You should ensure that the shelves and tabletops are chemical and flame resistant. You wouldn’t want a table that easily burns in case acids or chemicals leaked accidentally from the beakers.

Another crucial aspect to think about is the finishing of your furniture. You must make sure that every nail or screw on the benches or tables are tightly secured in place and that the shelves hinges are functioning properly.

5. Budget Allocation

Maximizing on your budget is vital if you are to get the correct furniture for the lab. Spend too little and it could lead to your laboratory being poorly outfitted such that it cannot cope with your work environment. On the flip side, don’t spend too much of your budget allocation on materials that are overly expensive, when more price-sensitive bargains are still available. The saving could go towards developing other equally important lab areas. While some labs may demand more expensive materials, for others you can maximize on the available money by simply consulting a specialist in lab products.

6. Ask Questions before Buying

As with any product, it pays to ask questions before you buy. Lab furniture dealers listen to many questions from people who want new laboratory casework options. As professionals, your questions can guide them in directing you to the best solutions for your particular requirements. Their recommendations, based on your queries, may in fact present a better fit when it comes to what your lab casework and lab counters needs. When you ask questions, it also ensures you are getting the kind of furniture you really need in that lab.

Giving careful thought is important when selecting the most suitable furniture for your laboratory work environment. To get quality and real value for your laboratory, casework ought to be a top priority as you make those decisions.

It is always advisable to consider things in the long term when making purchases. Even if it means paying a little more for the laboratory shelves, countertops, benches, tables, chairs, and storage units, if you are convinced that they are durable and functional, you are most likely getting great value for your investment.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jack Smith .