Labkafe Blog

No matter the kind of lab you plan on setting up or running, you will need lab furniture. 

Where will you store your test tubes, run PCRs or mix solutions and sit and analyze the data that you get?

The answer is quality lab furniture. It helps you store beakers and reagents in cabinets, titrate solutions on workbenches and sit at the computer and look at your data, wondering what to do next. 

Before you start, discover the essential lab furniture you need with this detailed guide.

What is Lab Furniture?

Lab furniture consists of furniture that is especially designed for use in laboratories. It helps workers store essential components, rest equipment on, perform experiments with apparatus and assemble desktops and laptops for dry lab analysis of acquired data. 

Essential Lab Furniture Checklist

1. Workbenches

General Features:

• Provide a stable surface for conducting experiments.
• Designed to resist vibrations and chemical corrosion.
• Made from non-porous materials for easy cleaning and durability.
• Often include electrical sockets, castor wheels (for lighter models), and storage shelves for daily-use reagents.

Types of Lab Benches:

🔹 Dry Lab Benches:

• Feature large surface areas for computational and engineering tasks.
• Include extensive electrical connections and ample storage above and below the work surface.

🔹 Wet Lab Benches:

• Designed for liquid handling, with racks for containers and sinks for waste drainage.
• Have a more compact surface space to accommodate specialized equipment.

🔹 Lab-Specific Variants:

• Chemistry Lab Benches – Resistant to harsh chemicals and equipped with ventilation options.
• Biology Lab Benches – Designed for specimen handling, often with built-in sinks and biosafety measures.
• Physics Lab Benches – Stable, vibration-resistant surfaces for precision instruments.

🔹 Specialized & Customized Solutions:

• Electrostatic Wall-Mounted Benches – Ideal for controlled environments.
• Ergonomic Benches – Adjustable height, foot support, and lumbar support for comfort.

For more details on lab workbenches, head over here Lab Workbenches by Labkafe.

2. Cabinets

General Features:

• Designed for organized storage of lab equipment, chemicals, and biohazards.
• Have dedicated spaces for electronic equipment, flammable substances, and hazardous materials.
• Classified based on utility and placement for maximum efficiency.

Types of Lab Cabinets:

🔹 Base Cabinets:

• Placed on the floor and may include a countertop.
• Can have doors, drawers, or an open structure for easy access.

🔹 Castor Wheel Cabinets:

• Equipped with wheels for mobility.
• Built-in counterweights prevent tipping, ensuring safety.

🔹 Suspended Cabinets:

• Mounted on walls or rails using mechanical devices.
• Highly dynamic, repositionable, and modular for flexible lab setups.
• Placed at eye level for convenient access.

🔹 Wall Cabinets:

• Fixed to walls, facing the lab interior.
• Typically have doors but no drawers for secure storage.

🔹 Counter-Mounted Cabinets:

• Installed on or around the work surface.
• Commonly used for storing frequently accessed reagents.

🔹 Tall/Full-Height Cabinets:

• Stand over 6 feet tall and include doors or drawers as needed.
• Feature a front-opening mechanism for easy retrieval of stored items.

Head over here (Labkafe Storage Cabinets) for complete information. 

3. Fume Hoods

General Features:

• Used for chemical reactions that release toxic or noxious fumes.
• Protects users from harmful vapors, spills, and chemical splashes.
• Maintains safe airflow by drawing contaminated air away and circulating fresh air back into the room.
• Equipped with alarms to indicate low airflow, preventing hazardous conditions.

Types of Fume Hoods:

🔹 Ducted Fume Hoods:

• Connected to an external ventilation system that expels toxic air outside.
• Suitable for handling highly volatile chemicals.

🔹 Ductless Fume Hoods:

• Uses filters to clean the air before recirculating it back into the lab.
• Ideal for low-toxicity chemicals and temporary setups.

🔹 Walk-In Fume Hoods:

• Designed for large-scale experiments or bulky equipment.
• Provides ample space while maintaining proper containment.

🔹 Bench-Top Fume Hoods:

• Mounted on lab benches for general chemical handling.
• Common in school chemistry labs for chemicals with low boiling points.

🔹 Perchloric Acid Fume Hoods:

• Specifically designed for handling perchloric acid and hot aqua regia.
• Includes a wash-down system to prevent hazardous residue buildup.

For detailed information on Fume Hoods: Labkafe Fume Hoods

4. Biological safety cabinets

General Features:

• Enclosed workspaces that protect users, samples, and the environment from biohazards while working on biological samples like bacteria and microorganisms. 
• Utilize HEPA filters to remove contaminants and maintain sterile conditions.
• Control airflow to prevent exposure to hazardous materials and cross-contamination.

Types of Biological Safety Cabinets:

🔹 Class I BSCs:

• Protection: Protects the user and environment but does not safeguard the sample.
• Airflow: Draws air inward, filters it, and exhausts it safely.
• Applications: Suitable for handling low to moderate risk biological agents.

🔹 Class II BSCs:

• Protection: Provides protection for the user, environment, and the sample.
• Airflow: Uses both inflow and downflow air, filtered through HEPA filters.
• Applications: Commonly used in microbiology, pharmaceuticals, and biomedical research.

🔹 Class III BSCs:

• Protection: Offers the highest level of protection for users, the environment, and samples.
• Construction: Gas-tight design with glove ports for maximum containment.
• Airflow: HEPA-filtered exhaust air, often incinerated for safety.
• Applications: Used for handling high-risk pathogens and hazardous materials.

Complete details of biological safety cabinets here: Labkafe Biological safety cabinets. 

5. Chairs and stools

General Features:

• Designed to improve comfort and reduce strain during long lab hours.
• Available in various heights to align with different workbenches and equipment.
• Help maintain ergonomic posture, reducing fatigue in wet and dry labs.

Types of Chairs and Stools:

🔹 Tall Stools:

• Use: Ideal for working at high granite workbenches.
• Benefit: Provides proper support while handling experiments.

🔹 Short Stools:

• Use: Used for sitting while sorting reagents in cabinets.
• Benefit: Ensures accessibility to stored chemicals and tools.

🔹 Lab Chairs:

• Use: Placed in front of desks for dry lab data analysis.
• Benefit: Supports researchers working long hours at computers.

🔹 Conference Chairs:

• Use: Used in meeting rooms for discussions and presentations.
• Benefit: Provides comfort during extended sessions.

Buy lab furniture like chairs and stools from here: Labkafe Modular Lab Furniture

6. Sinks and drainage systems

General Features:

• Attached to workbenches or installed as separate basins.
• Essential for handwashing, equipment cleaning, and waste disposal.
• Often equipped with soap dispensers, paper towels, and spray hoses.

Types of Sinks and Drainage Systems:

🔹 Handwashing Sinks:

• Use: Required in biology labs for washing hands after handling samples.
• Benefit: Ensures safety even when using gloves or PPE.

🔹 Chemical Wash Sinks:

• Use: Used for washing off hazardous chemicals like acrylamide, or carcinogens such as EDTA.
• Benefit: Prevents contamination and protects users from harmful substances.

🔹 Glassware Washing Stations:

• Use: Designed for cleaning test tubes, beakers, and lab utensils.
• Benefit: Ensures proper cleaning before autoclaving for sterilization.

Buy Lab Washbasins and Sinks here: Labkafe Washbasin and Sink

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the 20 laboratory equipment and their uses?

View the 20 most essential lab equipment list here: 20 Essential Lab Equipment. All types of lab equipment are available at the Labkafe Store.

What are lab tables called?

Details of lab tables are explained in detail here: Lab tables in detail

What is a lab cabinet?

Cabinets are designed for the organized storage of lab equipment, chemicals, and biohazards, ensuring safety and efficiency in the workspace. They provide dedicated spaces for storing electronic equipment, flammable substances, and hazardous materials, keeping them properly contained and easily accessible. These cabinets are classified based on their utility and placement, ensuring that they meet the specific needs of the lab environment for maximum organization and efficiency.

Which is the best lab furniture design company?

Labkafe is the best lab furniture design company, with extensive experience in multiple reputed institutes like IITs and NITs. Visit the Labkafe Design Guide for more information. 

Which is the best modular lab furniture manufacturer?

Labkafe is the best lab furniture design company, with extensive experience in multiple reputed institutes like IITs and NITs. Visit the Modular Lab Furniture guide.