Monday, July 27, 2009

Three Things that You Should Look for in Laboratory Furniture

By Joshua Geary

Since laboratories look simple and unadorned, many people think that it is quite easy to pick laboratory furniture. In reality, however, getting the right chairs, tables, storage cabinets and other furniture for your laboratory can be quite difficult.



In picking furniture for your laboratory, whether it is in a company or school, you have to ensure that you strike a balance between comfort and functionality, cost and quality. Your typical wood and metal casework used to be the preferred choice for laboratory furniture, however lab environments are what they used to be. Today's labs require flexible and scalable solutions to adjust with work requirements in order to increase the efficiencies within the lab environment. Most laboratories are lined with casework with storage, which unfortunately are not utilized properly. If you work in a modern lab environment, then you are probably already aware that more drawers and cabinets doesn't automatically mean you're organized. Here are the factors that you should bear in mind when looking for furnishings for a laboratory.

Cost is important when looking for laboratory furniture. Since there is a global financial crisis, it is wise for you to look for furniture that is easy on the pocket. However, this is not to say that you should always buy the cheapest ones in the market. Although you should be on the lookout for bargains and discounts, you should also make sure that the chairs, tables and other furniture that you buy will last for years. In the same manner, you should also understand that buying the most expensive furniture in the market would not necessarily give you a superior quality.

Another thing that you should consider when choosing laboratory furniture is the quality and ease of use. People who work in laboratories are usually solving complicated problems or doing very important things so they really do not have the extra time to think about how to adjust the seats, open storage spaces, or spread out tables. Good furniture for laboratories should not only be functional but also user friendly. It would be better if the furniture would not disrupt the workflow of people and would not break under pressure. It may also be a good idea to choose furniture that is mobile or have wheels so they can be easily transferred or moved.

Lastly, laboratory furniture should be affordable. In a time when everyone is feeling the financial pinch in their pocket book, you should be able to find furniture that is easy on the budget.

Safety is something that you should also keep in mind when buying laboratory furniture. In work places where experiments and tests are commonplace, you ought to always think about safety. For example, it might be better to choose tables and shelves that do not have corners because people inside the lab are always on the go and you do not want lab technicians or users to hurt themselves while going from one spot to another. As part of safety, you should also make sure that the furniture that you buy for your lab is easy to clean.

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