If you are selecting lab cabinets, you are likely in the midst of learning or reacquainting yourself with all there is to know about the necessary components of a lab. In your search, you will come across recommendations for different types of laboratory casework, along with a variety of other laboratory furniture and equipment.
At OnePointe Solutions, we design, build and install high-quality lab furniture made to fit the exact specifications of your lab. Our laboratory design team can help guide you through the process of selecting the perfect laboratory cabinet solution, help you choose additional features and accessories, and make recommendations for the best materials for your particular application.
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In this guide, we will cover a few of the key points related to selecting laboratory casework, and share some of our knowledge of laboratory design.
Key Considerations of Laboratory Design
Lab design allows for plenty of flexibility for designers and researchers to customize their own options, but there are nevertheless a set of guidelines and general principals that should be followed when designing a lab. The general principals of laboratory design can also be applied to the creation of casework, and should always be considered before purchasing furniture items for your lab.
Here are some key considerations of laboratory design and how they relate to lab casework:
Environmental Health and Safety
The type of work conducted in your laboratory facility will dictate the type of furniture and equipment you need. Not all furniture or surface materials will be suitable for every lab application, so understanding your environmental health and safety requirements is key to making the right selection.
Facilities performing minor testing of consumer products may have more lenient requirements, while labs handling biological materials may be required to adhere to specific surface materials or configurations.
Flexibility
Labs change the nature of their work abruptly and frequently, so the ability to expand or reconfigure is highly valuable in the design of your lab and its casework. Flexible and mobile casework can allow you to easily accommodate changes without sacrificing storage or available workspace.
Reagent and Specimen Storage
Specimens, lab instruments, and other sensitive materials require careful storage to prevent cross-contamination and damage. Ample storage space should be allowed for all instruments, tools, and materials to ensure the work environment is kept tidy, safe, and organized.
Cluttered surfaces and overcrowded cabinets make for spills and productivity loss, so ensuring your facility is equipped with plenty of storage from the start is key to a good workflow.
Lab Casework Materials
To accommodate the needs of every lab, we offer a range of lab casework materials to suit the needs of any application. Selecting the right material for your laboratory casework is imperative to ensure you get the most out of your purchase.
Choosing the right material will ensure you get years of use out of your casework, prevent the buildup of harmful materials, end maintain the efficiency and safety of your facility. We offer the following casework material options at OnePointe Solutions:
Metal:
- High water and fungal resistance
- Moderate bacterial and scratch resistance
- Metal casework is ideal for dental facilities, ESD labs, etc.
Stainless Steel:
- High heat, water, bacterial, and fungal resistance
- Moderate to low scratch resistance
- Easy to clean
- Stainless steel casework is ideal for pharmaceutical labs, food testing, etc.
Wood:
- Natural and aesthetically pleasing
- Long-lasting and durable
- Wood casework is ideal for educational laboratory settings, product testing, etc.
Plastic Laminate:
- Durable and long-lasting
- Low tolerance to scratching, corrosive chemicals, and heat
- Affordable and lightweight
- Plastic laminate casework is ideal in educational settings
Phenolic Resin:
- High resistance to water, and most corrosive chemicals
- Moderate scratch and stain resistance
- Extremely durable
- Phenolic resin casework is ideal for pharmaceutical testing, food testing, etc.
Custom Configurations
You shouldn’t have to work around generic furniture options; your laboratory casework should be working for you. At OnePointe Solutions, we work with you to design custom casework options that are tailored to fit the needs of your facility.
We offer a huge range of casework configurations that can be tweaked and customized for the unique workflow of your lab.
Not sure where to start creating your own casework and want advice from the experts? We offer on-site consultations with our design team to analyze the needs of your facility.
Working closely with you and your team, we’ll create 3D renderings of your lab design and lay out all your options for customizing your casework. Custom configurations include options for additional storage, safety and organization features, antimicrobial coatings, veterinary considerations, computer monitor arms, and more. Some of the casework configurations we offer include:
- Wall-mounted lab casework
- Base casework
- Lab islands
- Mobile casework on casters or wheels (locking or rolling)
- Under-table or workbench suspended casework
- Wall-length cabinets
- Corner cabinets
Need Help Selecting Lab Cabinets?
The lab design experts of OnePointe Solutions help scientists and contractors all over the US create and install their perfect custom lab casework configurations.
If you need help with pricing or drawings, call us at (866) 612-7312, fill out an online form, or chat with us online.