SEFA-8 testing changes slightly based on the surface material of your casework and the requirements of your lab. While some special materials may require specific testing to ensure they are up to par, the SEFA-8 standards typically consist of three relatively simple types of tests.
Mechanical Tests
Mechanical tests measure how much weight your casework can reasonably handle by testing the load-bearing capacity of its shelves, surfaces, drawers, and cabinets. These are also referred to as ‘load tests’, and provide manufacturers and customers with vital information regarding the weight capacity of each individual unit.
Mechanical testing may be performed by placing heavy loads on the shelves, measuring how much pressure a door can withstand, and so on. Without proper mechanical testing, manufacturers risk seeing their casework collapse under too much pressure, and customers risk selecting an option that won’t serve their unique needs.
Dynamic Tests
Dynamic testing involves analyzing the durability of dynamic parts of the casework, namely doors, drawers, hinges, etc. Dynamic testing can be carried out in a variety of ways and may include slamming doors, testing hinges for durability, assessing drawers for their ability to withstand regular use, and so forth.
These tests are often carried out in cycles so as to ensure the units have been adequately tested for strength and durability.
Surface Finish Tests
Surface finish testing is done in order to determine whether a specific material will be appropriate in various laboratory settings. Many labs handle corrosive chemicals and other potentially destructive materials that could cause permanent damage to certain surfaces and finish should they come in contact.
In order to determine the resistance of surface finishes to corrosive chemicals, SEFA-8 testing requires all surface materials to be tested for reactivity to a variety of substances including hot water, acids, paint, and more. Surface finish tests also include an impact test in which surfaces are assessed for resistance to scratching, scrapes, and warping.
Surface finish testing may also be done to assess the effectiveness of painted or sprayed on coatings/finishes.
Why You Should Choose SEFA-Tested Furniture
When it comes to purchasing furniture for your lab, you want to choose something high-quality, and doing so becomes a whole lot easier when you can rely on standardized methods of assessment like SEFA-testing. While un-tested furniture can, of course, be high quality, you won’t have the guarantee of its quality the way you would a SEFA-certified piece of furniture.
At OnePointe Solutions, we test our furniture for SEFA compliance not only to reassure our customers but also to help us maintain the high standards we set for ourselves. Beyond being extremely durable and in accordance with all SEFA regulated standards, our laboratory casework is also fully customizable and can be built to fit the exact specifications of your facility.
Need Help Selecting SEFA-Grade Lab Furniture?
Call us at (866) 222-7494 to speak to a representative to get started.