Choosing lab furniture for a school is no easy job. There is a lot to think about, from specific requirements and customisations to characteristics and regulatory guidelines. You also need to consider the floor and storage space and the durability of the furniture. Schools in Chennai (https://www.internationalvillage.org/) usually draft a thorough plan and a list of criteria before investing in lab furniture. You can also browse more here to learn about Smart ULT monitoring.

Different Types Of Lab Furniture

Physics lab:

Physics laboratories are unique in their way, and the components that go into the construction of a physics laboratory are also unique. A fully-equipped Physics lab provides us with an opportunity to build on the fundamentals taught in class. A typical Physics laboratory has workbenches, cabinets, and a teacher’s table, as well as a first-aid kit, safety chart, and fire extinguisher. Physics laboratory equipment is necessary for testing theories through experiments.

To make maximum use of the lab, students are expected to understand lab equipment and record data accurately.

Chemistry & Biology lab:

Chemistry and Biology labs are wet labs because most experiments require working with liquids. Therefore these subjects require specialised wet lab furniture that provides quick and easy access to tap water.

Wet labs require one sink for every 4-5 users, and reagent racks are commonly found in chemistry and biology laboratories.

For storage space, these labs are equipped with:

• Three drawers stacked vertically
• A single drawer resting on top of a cabinet with two shutters
• A cabinet with one shelf

A fume hood is used in the chemistry laboratory where students conduct hazardous experiments. It is a costly piece of equipment. Fume hoods are lab workbench designed to protect people from toxic fumes. They are mounted on a laboratory table and have exhaust vents and utility connections. When planning a laboratory, consider the location of the fume hood since it will change the flow of air and impact energy efficiency.

Some pieces of furniture are common to all three labs:

• Overhead cabinets are used in laboratories to store equipment, glassware, and supplies.
• Lab workbenches made of granite, marble, and wood on which experiments are carried out.
• Laboratory tables or workbenches are available in two configurations: island-facing and wall-facing. Both types have enough space around them to accommodate utility connections.
• Laboratory stools are used to rest the researcher during the experiment.
• Base cabinets made of CRC sheets, particleboard, ply-laminate, and MDF, store laboratory equipment and consumables locally.
• Storage cabinets for storing acid, specimens, pesticides, and flammable materials.
• Demo table, prep table, and a robot workbench for lab assistants.
• Display table to display specimens, especially in the biology lab.
• Sink placement in relation to the lab layout
• Drips cups to implement perimeter benching
• Lab tables from 1mm CRCA steel plates, which are stronger than normal steel
• Lab tabletop with some utility embedded in it
• Powder-coated workbenches to protect them from corrosion

Tips To Consider Before Buying Lab Equipment

When choosing laboratory furniture for schools, there are many things to consider, including the following:

• Facility’s characteristics, the possible customisations, and the regulatory guidelines
• Amount of space in a laboratory and the overall operation of the lab
• Lab’s floorplan and the size of the furniture
• Number of students the lab space can accommodate at any given time
• Average age of the students using the lab
• Materials used to construct lab furniture
• Lab compliance regulations and standards
• Quality of the furniture and the materials used
• Ergonomics to improve comfort and posture and aid in better concentration.
• Lab’s furniture arrangement.

Some Final Words

Top international schools in Chennai have customised wet and dry labs to suit the requirements of the subjects. Since lab furniture is a long-term investment, it is important to ensure that you buy it from reliable manufacturers who provide after-sales services. Also, ensure the laboratory furniture you choose exceeds all applicable regulatory requirements.

When choosing lab furniture, consider the future in terms of years. Identify the key components that will require repair or replacement before you begin. Choose companies that offer the highest-quality lab furniture at the most competitive prices available in the industry.