Laboratory furniture is in many ways the foundation of all lab work. It represents the hard and steady surfaces where all work is performed. And let’s not forget, where laboratory tools and samples are stored and equipment is transported. It is the rock on which the foundation of every research lab is built.

But what if your lab furnishings budget is limited? What are the key laboratory furniture components that every lab manager absolutely needs to get?

Here are five of what we condor to be the most critical pieces of laboratory furniture that there are.

1. Laboratory Casework and Cabinets

The simple, humble cabinet is an essential piece of laboratory furniture. Every lab of reasonable size will be teeming with all sorts of materials — especially tools and chemicals — which need to be used only intermittently. When not in use, they’ll need to be stored away. Since many common lab chemicals are caustic, flammable, or otherwise hazardous, they’ll need to be put away somewhere where they can’t do harm.

RDM’s quality-designed laboratory casework is just the thing to help you in all of these crucial areas. We made a wide array of both overhead and floor cabinets. As mentioned, we can include these as part of our workbenches, but we are happy to produce standalone casework as well. As with our workbenches and tables, we can make our cabinets flame-resistant, chemical-resistant, and/or static-resistant. We can make both small and large-sized cabinets. Our large, tall storage cabinets, in addition to the standard features already mentioned, also allow you to choose which kinds of doors you’d like them to have. We offer stainless steel doors, glass doors, or no doors at all. We can also make doors that either swing or slide open.

Have a look at RDM’s wide selection of industrial-quality laboratory casework here.

2. Lab Tables and Workstations

Arguably, tables and workstations are the most important pieces of furniture that you can have in your lab. They’re where all of the magic happens — where many important experiments are performed, where all chemicals are mixed and samples inspected, and where all lab workers and researchers spend the majority of their working hours. It’s virtually impossible to imagine a lab humming along smoothly without good tables or workbenches placed orderly about.

RDM’s laboratory workbenches are designed for maximal efficiency comfort. Most of our workbenches are made of stainless steel, though you have the option of ordering ones made of wood or other materials if you so desire. We also sell special types of workbenches called laminar flow workstations, which are meant to prevent particulate matter from disturbing or contaminating lab samples. In laminar flow workstations, the work surface is encased in glass or acrylic to keep anything unwanted from getting in.

Our laboratory tables come in many different shapes and sizes and can boast quite a wide range of functionalities. Tables can be square-shaped, rectangular, L-shaped, or have an F-frame. Though most of our tables are made of stainless steel, we also offer some wooden models for sale as well.

In addition to all of this, you can also place orders for factory-direct tables with any of the following special features:

• overhead racks or shelves
• overhead lighting fixtures
• adjustable-height legs
• wheels
• side drawers
• floor cabinets (for workbenches)
• adding of fireproof coating, chemical-resistant coating, or ESD anti-static coating to stainless steel tables
• light tables with adjustable and tilt-able surfaces

All of our factory-direct laboratory tables and workstations can be customized to suit your labs’ specific requirements. Customization is based accordingly on any of the parameters discussed here, and many others as well. These and other features all meant to make workers comfortable, safe, and productive.

3. Ergonomic Lab Seating

RDM Offers a Wide Variety of Industrial Duty and Laboratory Chairs

We’ve already discussed some of the critical lab equipment that allows work to get done. But there’s a second side to every lab work equation that reaches beyond mere efficiency. Comfort is this other side.

Uncomfortable workers are disgruntled and unproductive workers. Comfortable ones are happy and hardworking ones. Since lab workers will likely spend hours every day sitting at their workbenches, they’re going to need some comfortable chairs.

Our ergonomic laboratory seating is simple but deceptively luxurious. We offer a number of height-adjustable chairs with supportive backrests, leg rests and wheels for quick mobility if you need to slide from place to place. Our laboratory seating varies greatly in size, giving it the ability to comfortably support all workers, large, small, short, and tall.

4. Laboratory Fume Hoods

A fume hood is a very advanced piece of technical equipment. Which is nevertheless indispensable to workers’ safety whenever the question of handling noxious fumes comes up. Certain chemical reactions release dangerous gases as by-products. To keep all lab personnel out of danger, the air into which such gasses are expelled should be kept strictly segregated from the air that they breathe, and the gases should be swiftly removed from the lab environment.

That’s exactly what fume hoods are designed to do. They can be thought of either as accessories to workstations or as special devices in their own right. A fume hood encloses a workstation and keeps gases from flowing into the rest of the lab. It also sucks up said gases and swiftly removes them from the outside through a ventilation system. Fume hoods can be either ducted or ductless. Ductless hoods simply capture and release gases. Ducted hoods run them through a filtration system before releasing them.

5. Lab Utility Carts

Often, things need to be transported quickly across the lab and put into the hands of others. Whether you need to swiftly distribute some important tools that your researchers need to carry on with their work, or whether you need to collect chemicals or safety equipment from everyone at the end of the day, a good lab cart is an excellent thing to have.

We make custom laboratory carts and mobile tables of a variety of different kinds. Of course, the fact that we’re ready to build them in any way you need — whether high or low, single or multi-shelved, square or rectangular — puts all of the power at your disposal. Whichever sort of custom laboratory carts, your lab requires, RDM stands ready to build them at an industrial quality.

Conclusion

A well-rounded lab may have more than just these pieces of furniture, but we feel confident in saying that no lab can be truly complete without them. No matter what you happen to need, we encourage you to browse through our full collection of lab furniture until you find something that precisely meets your requirements. All of our equipment is proudly manufactured in the USA. At RDM Industrial Products, we’re ready to provide you with only the very finest of lab furnishings.

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Laboratory Tables and Other Lab Furnishings

Lab tables are used in healthcare facilities, educational and research institutions, specimen testing centers, and other environments that feature laboratories. These furnishings are made from wood or metal and feature different top surfaces including some, such as a chemical-resistant solid surface, designed for special environments.  Microscope tables have an adjustable height feature and may have height memory and special accessories.

Laboratory cabinets are made from standard steel or flame or chemical-resistant material designed for the special substances used in some lab environments. Fume hoods remove potentially dangerous fumes from the air, increasing the safety of lab workers. Lab counters can be equipped with sinks containing special service fixtures that include hot and cold water faucets, air and gas valves, and eye wash stations.

When Ordering Laboratory Tables, Remember Seating

Lab tables become more user-friendly when comfortable chairs are purchased with them. Laboratory seating includes ergonomic chairs designed for standard laboratory, ESD static control, and cleanroom environments and backless stools for lab workers who regularly move from seated to standing positions. Some industrial seating is designed for tables that are 34 inches or higher, combining functionality and utility.

Purchasing the highest-quality, most well-designed laboratory furniture within budget should result in years of use. When shopping for these industrial products online, look for a manufacturer that builds to customer specifications and offers accessories designed for use with the items being considered. This furniture will make lab work comfortable and more productive.

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Features of Laminar Flow Workstations

These laboratory workstations remove contamination from airborne particulates while providing ample working space for various purposes. Particulate-free air is provided to the work area, courtesy of a high-efficiency HEPA filter that is 99.99 percent efficient at 0.3 micron. ULPA filters are also available as an option with RDM Industrial Products.  Despite its efficiently, the fan is extremely quiet, operating at just 50 dBA. Sealed fluorescent lights illuminate the area, allowing for close work.

Many styles of Laminar Flow Workstations are available, including those featuring chemical resistant solid surface tops and ESD static control versions with grounding ports and hardware. Optional accessories designed for compatibility with other laboratory furnishings include integrated power strips, keyboard trays, computer monitor stands, and storage areas. Customers ordering this lab equipment from a manufacturer can customize it for their use.

Laboratory Furnishings – Vertical vs. Horizontal Airflow

In a vertical flow station, air is pushed through a HEPA filter located at the top of the unit. The air flows downward at a constant speed, eventually reaching the work surface. Horizontal models push air through a HEPA filter located at the back of the unit, directing it horizontally at a constant speed over the work surface, toward the user.

Application determines which of these laboratory furnishings is better. A horizontal unit usually has a taller, larger working area designed for lab equipment like microscopes. It is usually preferred for inspecting electronics, assembling medical devices, taking cultures of plant tissues, and preparing media plates and pharmacy drugs. A vertical unit features a partial sash that offers protection for chemical work in industries like biotechnology, forensics, and microbiology and helps to direct the air flow downwards.

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Selecting Lab Tables for a Biotechnology Lab

Once a lab has been constructed, those in charge must determine which laboratory tables will be most suitable for the area. If they are not biotechnologists, they should consult with these scientists to determine their needs. While a fixed top table may be suitable for some projects, others require an adjustable height table designed for close work. Scientists should make it known whether they prefer a manually adjustable table or one that adjusts automatically using an electric motor.

A microscope is standard equipment in a biotechnology lab. Lab tables should be sturdy enough to support the heaviest microscope that will be used. Tabletops are available in different materials including ESD static control, chemical resistant solid surfaces, and cleanroom styles. Depending on the environment, one of these may be the preferred choice.

Equipping Tables with Special Features

When ordering from a manufacturer, it may be possible to customize these lab furnishings, allowing them to serve as workstations. Optional accessories include a keyboard tray, flat computer monitor stand, cabinets, drawers, and bins. Special-purpose accessories like bin rails or panels and tool trolleys may also be available, enhancing the functionality of the table.

Laboratory tables come in standard sizes but a manufacturer may be able to create tables in custom dimensions. Planners should consider the amount of floor space available when determining the desired size of lab tables. Each scientist should have enough room to work comfortably at a table, whether seated or standing.

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Standard steel cabinets are made from 16-gauge steel that is finished with powder coat paint. This paint is baked on and resistant to both chemicals and corrosion. Various style combinations, lab tables, and drawer pulls are available. Flame-resistant cabinets also feature a 16-gauge steel superstructure. Doors are self-closing and self-latching to meet code requirements and to protect contents. A flammable label is applied to the cabinet front, alerting workers to keep fire away from the area.

Chemical-resistant cabinets and science lab tables are designed for an environment where acids or corrosive chemicals are frequently used. These two-door cabinets feature a 16-gauge steel superstructure, chemical resistant interior lining, aluminum door pulls, and labeling describing whether acids or corrosive chemicals are stored in the unit. Available accessories include fume hoods, which are
often necessary in most laboratory and forensic science environments.

Standalone science tables are designed for light, standard, or heavy duty use and support the corresponding type of equipment. These laboratory tables feature a metal or wood frame and may be stationary or have casters. Solid surface, laminated, and chemical resistant surface options make the tabletop compatible with specific uses. Lighting and ventilation options suitable for different laboratory
environments are also available.

Lab table feautures installed on laboratory casework may include service fixtures like hot, cold, and deionized water, an eyewash station, or unit that dispenses air or gas. When requesting a quote for customized laboratory cabinet units, customers should specify the type of cabinet, laboratory tables, and included service fixtures they need. When providing complete details, price estimates can be best
prepared to meet your exact needs.

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A lab bench like a stool or saddle seat does not have a back. Some stools are designed for use in healthcare environments or small spaces. An upholstered seat and pneumatic adjustment are features that are intended to provide comfort. Models with casters are available for use on carpeted or hard surface floors. Metal parts make RDM’s laboratory seating very durable. It is compatible with all laboratory tables or a standard workstations.

When selecting a lab chair with a back, consumers can choose from products designed for cleanroom environments and those that feature ESD static control. An economy priced chair features upholstered surfaces, an ergonomic backrest, armrests, and multi-way seat control. Pneumatic adjustable height and casters expand the environments in which this lab chair can be used.

Premium seating has ergonomic features and is designed for either task or office use. Task chairs feature comfortable form-sensing mesh and are eco-friendly due to the use of fewer parts than traditional designs. Standard features include self-adjusting recline, pivoting backrest, and synchronized armrests. Mesh office chairs feature an optional gel seat cushion, foot ring, and different caster options.

When purchasing RDM laboratory seating, consumers can choose from different colors of upholstery. Though function and comfort are usually preferred over style, having color options may be desirable. Some manufacturers offer custom solutions designed to accommodate unique dimensions, uses, or users with special needs. This seating can be paired with customized laboratory tables to deliver a one-of-a-kind solution for many different industries.

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In a scientific or manufacturing cleanroom, the goal is to maintain a low level of environmental pollutants. The area must be kept free of ionic contaminants, particulates, static, and moisture. Airborne particulates are controlled via continuous air circulation and air filters. This enables the use of sensitive lab equipment or the fabrication of intricate electronic devices. Some laboratory tables and other lab furniture are designed specifically for clean rooms.

A cleanroom can be a very large area, sometimes encompassing entire manufacturing facilities. Semiconductor, biotechnology, and life sciences sectors use these environments extensively. Workers pass through airlocks when entering or leaving the room and they wear protective clothing. Lab equipment and lab furniture inside a cleanroom is designed to generate a minimum amount of air contamination. Lab supplies like specialized buckets and mops are sold for cleaning the area.

Lab furniture used in cleanrooms is designed to generate a minimum amount of particles. Laboratory tables and other cleanroom furniture must be easy to clean. A cleanroom is not a sterile environment, but particle levels are regularly measured using particle counters. Positive pressure is maintained in some cleanrooms so if an air leak occurs, air will emit from the chamber rather than unfiltered air permeating the room.

Electropolished stainless steel tables are usually adequate for CLASS 10 cleanroom environments. Other RDM table models are suitable for cleanrooms up to CLASS 100. These feature work services that are laminated and sealed to eliminate contamination. Fully-welded steel frame connections on the tubular steel frame provide no open areas to collect dust. Table legs may include leveler feet or casters.

These laboratory tables come in several standard sizes and feature a polyurethane paint finish. Powder coated finish or custom sizes may also be available. When selecting lab furniture for a cleanroom environment, select RDM as your manufacturer because they offer high-quality products that are designed to last a lifetime. To keep costs down, customers can save money by selecting finished or sealed steel frame tables rather than stainless steel tables.

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Know the Standard: Always be aware of your local city, state and federal laws, as well as professional advisories for the material you expect to be handling. For example, if you’re handling live specimens you probably should peruse the CDC’s Biosafety Level Criteria. Private companies will not typically work with infectious agents, so in all likelihood you’ll look to Biosafety Level-1 criteria, which specify a water-impervious surface with the ability to handle moderately high temperatures. Other fields will have specific requirements in for heat, chemical reaction and conductivity.

Don’t Skimp on Surface Integrity for the Sake of Price: It’s never worth it to save money by skirting regulations and advisories. Aside from the safety and liability issues the fact is that you won’t really save money. You’ll just make the demand for a replacement come that much sooner. If you purchase a bench that allows water to penetrate any cracks or crevices on the surface coating, you’ll end up with enough rot or corrosion to rapidly render it useless. Besides, lab surface technology has advanced to the point where it’s economical to make choices that exceed the requirements. Trespa’s TopLab Plus is one example of an excellent all-around solid surface material that suits many laboratory and industrial area applications.

When in Doubt, Ask: With over three decades in the industrial furniture business, RDM has plenty of experience outfitting research and manufacturing facilities with lab furniture of all kinds. If you’re not sure how to outfit a space within your budget, talk to us. We’ll draw on what we know to help you find the best possible solution. Contact RDM for your lab furniture solution. We’ll strive to exceed your expectations.

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