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The
laboratory worksurface is by far the single most visible
and interacted with component of any laboratory.
Since the late 1980’s, when epoxy resin replaced
cement asbestos as the industry standard for lab worksurfaces,
manufacturers have strived to refine countertop designs
to perform beyond the chemical, heat and load bearing
requirements of the research lab. It is now possible
to select between modular designs, colors and many
additional safety and aesthetic options to individually
tailor each laboratory’s efficiency, accuracy,
comfort and precision for various applications.
Designing for Precision/Reconfiguration
Typically, new laboratory worksurfaces are required
for new facilities, the reconfiguration of existing
space or for a complete retrofit. Workspaces designed
with a degree of flexibility are recommended due to
R&D labs’ project specific nature (the useful
life of an R&D lab is on average very short and
may require alterations as often as every three to
five years). Long-term savings can be achieved by forecasting
future requirements and specifying appropriate countertops
(and supporting cabinetry) in the initial construction
of the facility.
Worksurface Evaluation Criteria
The lab owner in conjunction with the architect, the
lab manager and in some cases the lab user should specify
the type (or types) of worksurfaces required in the
initial design phase of a lab project. Worksurface
evaluations should be based upon individual lab requirements
for:
- Resistance to the chemicals to be used
- Heat resistance
- Liquid absorption
- Load bearing capabilities
- Impact and abrasion resistance
- Electrical conductivity
- Liquid containment and liquid disposal (especially
in sink areas and fume hoods)
- Ease of maintenance
- Ergonomics
- Availability
- ADA compliance
- Color
- Overall appearance
- Special requirements (i.e., irregular shapes, minimal joints, etc.)
Each lab design project will have unique worksurface
requirements; however, depending upon laboratory classification,
some general guidelines can be supposed:
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- Chemistry Use Area (i.e.,
Organic, Inorganic, Bio-chemical, Analytical) – consideration
should be given to chemical resistance, ease of
cleaning, color suitability, strength, abrasion
resistance and thermal shock resistance.
- Physics Use Area – consideration
should be given to physical strength, abrasion resistance,
impact resistance and heat resistance.
- Biology Use Area – consideration
should be given to stain resistance, ease of cleaning,
abrasion resistance plus bacteria and fungus resistance.
- Special Purpose Use Areas Where Chemical Resistance is
a Prime Consideration (i.e., pathology/hematology and
other special biochemical areas) – consideration
should be given to impermeability and ease of cleaning.
- Special Purpose Use Areas Where Chemical
Resistance is Not a Prime Consideration:
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- Electronics – consideration
should be given to physical strength and other
task specific characteristics.
- Electrical – consideration
should be given to insulation characteristics, dielectric
strength and physical strength.
- Mechanical – (i.e., metallurgical, geological, etc.)
– consideration should be given to resistance
to physical abuse.
- Radioactive – consideration should be given to
contamination by radioactive material.
- Thermal – consideration should be
given to temperature requirements.*
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Certainly other classifications exist and practical combinations of the
above laboratory types are numerous. For safety, evaluate worksurface needs
based upon the usage in the hardest impacted areas of the lab. Typically
fume hoods and sink areas see the majority of harsh chemicals and reactions.
The Selection Process
Once the worksurface requirements have been specified, various materials
and styles can be evaluated for compliance. The three most popular work
surfaces used today are epoxy resin, plastic laminate and phenolic resins.
To facilitate the selection process, many worksurface manufacturers perform
and publish the results of physical properties tests as well as chemical
resistance tests that evaluate worksurface resistance to the chemicals
commonly used in lab environments as well as standard measurements for
hardness, flammability and deflection. These tests are provided as guidelines.
Carefully evaluate results between various material types and between individual
material manufacturers as occasionally results are impacted due to dissimilar
testing methods.
A variety of resources are available to help identify and evaluate
worksurface materials and manufacturers. SEFA (Scientific Equipment
and Furniture Association)
is a non-profit organization dedicated to the enhancement of member company
performance and the improvement of the quality and timely completion of
laboratory facilities. The SEFA web site, www.sefa.cc, provides a wealth
of lab design information and links to member’s web pages as well
as government regulating agencies.
Laboratory types and requirements have been adapted with permission
from "SEFA’s Recommended Practices." SEFA 3 – 1996.
Article as appeared in Nov. 01 Issue of R&D
Magazine.
Co-written by Hank Von Der Bruegge and John Powell.
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Countertop Selection