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Laboratory cabinet or laboratory furniture, what is the difference?
Laboratory furniture is self-supporting and can be used like a desk or table and is not installed permanently. Installation is reverseable, as lab furniture (cabinets) are freestanding, so they can be removed and relocated by removing alignment screws or pins.
Laboratory cabinets often are not finished except on the face and exposed to view sides, they can rely on abutting cabinets for stability. They do become part of the building once installed and go on the building depreciation schedule.
Laboratory furniture enjoys a faster depreciation and sometimes can be expensed in the year puchased. Whatever type of laboratory furniture you select, select materials capable of performing in your lab. Materials must be appropriate to your lab type. While office furniture is being used in some lab applications; it is not appropriate for most labs. Office casework is not designed to handle the equipment load nor does it handle vibration as does lab furniture, also office furniture lacks chemical resistance.
Laboratory furniture does not require blocking in walls usually, as designed to use a hanging rail which distributes weight over a number of studs. For new construction it is recommended that blocking be in the walls where wall cases could be installed.
 Example of blocking in walls for lab cabinets
Scroll down to see pictures and when finished do go to our gallery link above for more examples of work.
Our labortory furniture is made in the USA.
Lab Furniture in plastic laminate - our standard lab cabinet catalog
Our laboratory plastic laminate furniture brochure in PDF format, use back arrow after viewing.
Why "Made in American" is important:
Most plastic laminate laboratory casework is American made, but many large Canadian companies ship to distributors in the US.
Not all laboratory casework or furniture is of US materials and labor.
US manufactured metal cabinets should be made of all new material.
(Note recycled metals often lacks purity and have not been found to be inconsistent; we do not offer recycled metal cabinets or fixtures any longer.
A case for using metal furniture:
All of chemical & fuel facilities consistently select coated steel or steel cabinets.
Metal does not contribute material if a fire starts and will not burn.
Metal lab cabinets are selected for any lab where many flammables are in use.
When cleaning or hygenic issues are a concerns metal is a preferred selection.
If a lab is without a sprinkler system, select metal lab casework.
When selection is focusing on elimination of contamination, eliminate absorption issues, or cleaning concerns, then
metal is and has been the preferred material. The principles of hygene and elimination of contaminates drive many selections of lab materials.
Lab furniture painted metal offerings are stock and standard colors and construction.
Custom colors are available at an add cost and longer production time.
Paints or coatings for lab cabinets should be chemical resistant.
Not all metal paint coatings hold up to all chemicals in the same way.
Provide a list of the chemicals you use or expect to use, and test information.
Review information and ask for a sample to test if you have any concerns.
Confirm the grade of furniture, office grade metal furniture is not lab grade paint either.
Metal lab cabinets can be stainless steel which cost the most, but can be appropiate plus in long term can be the best value.
Where acid chemicals or bases are stored you need liners in metal cabinets or type 316 stainless steel.
When contamination is a concern stainless steel is the best choice.
Stainless steel cabinets or stainless steel tables standard grade 304 - #4 finish are standard.
If any corrosives or acid then type 316 (grade 316) - #4 finish is needed.
Calling out or specify marine grade or chemically resistant stainles steel for uses with chemicals is important.
To be chemical resistance stainless steel grade 316 stainless steel is low nichol.
When calling for 316 grade sinks, you must specify basket strainers and tailpieces to be 316 or you will get 304 standard grade.
Verify basket strainer and tailpiece are 316 as the difference is 304 is $16.00 vs $65.00 for 316 stainless steel.
Metal Base cabinets come with one standard shelf and it is turned and return.
Here is a catalog of some of the metal laboratory furniture.
Metal Laboratory Furniture
Metal Lab Cabinetry
Use the back arrow or button to return after viewing pdf
Painted Steel, Stainless Steel, metal casework does not perform as well as other materials when the enviroment is corrosive.
Other Non Metal Laboratory Furniture Options are important:
Trace metal labs, will need to look at our polypropylene furniture and hoods, a good choice for corrosive materials labs.
Select light, heavy duty or special duty cabinetry based on lab application. We have material information to help guide you to
appropriate casework such as polypropylene cabinetry for Trace Metal, Metallurgy, Environmental Toxic Analysis, Toxicology, Marine Science or any lab where corrosives or metal free is important.
Lab grade laminated wood laboratory furniture is often selected for general purpose labs and medical:
Laminated wood laboratory cabinets in any size, but standard sizes save money.
Laminate cabinets in metric sizes save the most money. as there is less waste of material.
Metric sized lab cabinets are:
40cm./15-3/4 inches
80cm./31-1/2 inches
120cm./47-1/4 inches wide.
Larger than 120cm (48 inch wide) units are more prone to shipping damaged.
Larger doors over 24 inches in width or height have potential for warp and often sag.
Bigger doors require minimum of three hinges, but still can sag if large.
Base cabinets with no drawers cost less than those with drawers.
Pull-out shelves serve the same purpose as drawers, but cost less.
Pull-out shelves can be added to any base even years later to give drawer function at a fraction of the cost.
Most common base cabinet has top drawer and a door below.
Base with two top drawers over double doors is considered the most useful.
Base lab cupboards comes standard with a shelf.
Another common base cabinet is a shelf (no doors).
Base cabinet drawers should sides that are almost as high as the drawer box face is tall.
Drawer construction and material including type of laminate is important.
Want two shelves in a base, ask for and expect to pay for extra shelves.
Shelf thickness 3/4 to 1 inch in laminate units.
Shelf span over 40 inch should be 1 inch or have a stabilizer.
Shelves should be edge banded with PVC.
Shelves can have lipped edge by oversizing front PVC edge.
T-mold edge is commercial, but PVC is better as seals edges better.
All edges should be sealed and be edge banding.
PVC or aluminum makes a good edge material for front edges of shelves.
PVC or aluminum can be oversides to create the lipped edge or earthquake lip.
We offer wood laboratory casework for control rooms.
Wood veneer or plastic laminate wood look control room.
Real Wood really does not belong in real labs.While wood can handle lots of physical abuse; it emits acids and other pollutants. Oak, one of the most common materials for school lab casework is the worst; per archivalist do not allow objects to come in contact with wood. They say if items are stored in wood they need to be opened and aired out periodically. List of woods and their ph, see CCI's Technical bulletin Coatings for Display and storage in Museums and NEDCC Preservation leaflet 4.2 at http//www.nedcc.org/resources/leafletslist.php
Besides this concern, wood contributes to any fire, does absorb odor and contamination and cleaning issues it can pose other concerns. Then wood can effect sensitive test results if badly contaminated with lab chemicals plus can harbor molds if water leaks occur.
Plastic laminate looks like wood at McNary Fish Lab
Veneers even on lumber core or plywood will not last as long as laminates.
Laminate edging can look like wood or contrasting even be heavy PVC edging.
Laminate with PVC edge banding helps keep a waste process lab look good longer.
A base 12 inch wide can be called a B12, but use a description.
Part numbers can cause errors.
Part numbers with pictures, still need description to eliminate error.
Specified dimensions by width, height, depth with description is best.
B123024 needs to still have a key or schedule to say: Base=WHD.
Example plus notes (B-12w-30h-24d - R (right)
Notes: Nod-L (NOD = no drawer) Left designated door hinge.
Never abrev. without explanation.
Left or right hand swing on the door is important to access.
Easy generic information helps eliminate errors.
The swing of a door is determined by facing the base, if door open to your right it is a right.
Or the exposed hinge on the right is a right or on left is left.
* ND = no door and mark "open face".
Two Doors and One Drawer, Two Doors and Two Drawers, all combinations should have a key, a catalog part number, and description.
Specify Left or Right Hinge on all Single Door Cabinets.
Caster base units add flexibility for a small increase in cost.
All base units are available in sitting or standing height.
Note on all floor plans standing area and sitting area.
One can sit at a stool at a standing height area.
Standing height is preferred by most lab staff.
Need extra low cabinets or special drop area for top loading equipment?
Some equipment that needs access from behind must be planned for.
Plan for easy access and service needs with caster unit with locks.
Do you need locks on any other units?
Locks can be added later along with other accessories:
Accessories like pullboards, keyboards, lifts, trays, label holders, can be added to improve function.
Special bases units are needed for fume hoods to support the weight, to accommodate services (supply lines and power), and to store Acids & Flammables and Bases.
Metal Flammable cabinets should have spark arrestor kits, vent kits if venting to outdoors or into a duct system. Flammable cabinets have accessories that include grounding kits with C-clamp or alligator clips.
Grounding kits cost $35.00, and are ordered separate as an accessory.
We have polypropylene cabinets for use where corrosives are a concern or for metal free labs.
Flex-frame systems we offer are by Keur Industries.
Go to Fume hood link above for more information on these special cabinets for use with fume hoods.
Email for more information about any of your special needs.
Lab Drawers Units need to be wide and vary in depth.
Island Units
 Wastewater lab
Affordable startup Water Lab with 20 foot of lab tops supported by positioning drawer bases, a sink base, undercounter Ref/freezer and BOD unit.
 framed hinged glass doors shades of gray laminate show lab
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