Creating a clean environment that functions well and safely already presents several difficulties.
It’s crucial to recognize the crucial impact furniture plays in the efficiency of a tidy room. After all, even if a clean room is appropriately constructed, a project may still be jeopardized if the furnishings and practices that take place inside the space are not in line with its intended use.
The good news is that you can create and customize the ideal clean room furniture for your space by working with manufacturers of industrial furniture.
Both your present and future demands should be taken into account when picking the materials for your cleanroom furniture. For your peace of mind and to ensure that your space is working as efficiently as possible, here are some additional dos and don’ts when creating clean room furniture and casework.
Do Take Into Account Your Application
You should take into account the material’s resilience to the compounds you operate with as well as any environmental elements like heat and moisture when selecting it for your modular cleanroom furniture.
While analyzing countertops, for instance, take note of how resistant the materials are to problems that are frequently encountered in a clean room environment.
Phenolic resin tops, which are frequently used in laboratories, are created as a single sturdy, lightweight countertop that is long-lasting. It has a high level of resistance to fungi, bacteria, chemicals, and dampness.
Together with corrosion, epoxy resin is also very resistant to bacteria, chemicals, fungi, and dampness. They stand up well to tough situations like extreme heat because they are resilient and non-porous.
ESD laminate tops are the best choice for applications requiring protection for materials and parts that are static-sensitive.
Chemical-resistant laminate tops are extremely durable in harsh environments. These are among the less expensive options.
Butcher block, high-pressure composite, and stainless steel are additional choices. Our article, Top 5 Materials To Consider For Your Lab Countertops, further explores some of these options outlined above.
The most comfortable material is usually fabric, but it frequently breaks down in clean environments. In areas where there are chemicals present, vinyl and polyurethane hold up better. Polyurethane is suitable for work in challenging environments whereas vinyl is more stain resistant and easy to clean.
Finally, the load of the workbench you select can also be affected by your application. Determine the amount of performance you require from any workbench before purchasing your clean room. This includes the workbench’s strength and weight load capabilities.
Don’t Overlook ESD Factors
In many clean areas, static electricity can be a significant issue. If this applies to your clean area, it’s crucial to make sure that electrostatic dissipative (ESD) standards are implemented. These specifications also apply to the tools and supplies kept in the clean area.
Static electricity can affect precision weighing and create safety risks if ESD standards are disregarded.
ESD laminate surfaces are perfect for applications that have these requirements, as was previously stated. ESD seats can also be used in a location. These chairs frequently have cloth or vinyl upholstery that blocks the charge produced by friction.
Do Consider Placement
The location of a piece of furniture in a tidy room should be taken into account when designing it.
In a clean room, every piece of furniture and piece of apparatus related to crucial processes ought to be put away from doors, high-traffic areas, and other potential obstructions. As a result, your furniture’s design may need to change to suit a particular space.
One more significant observation: Fume hoods are common in clean areas. Air disruptions must be kept to a minimum for a fume hood to operate effectively. To achieve this, there should be furnishings with appropriate storage for materials, preventing the placement of chemicals or lab equipment underneath the hood.
Don’t Forget Storage
When designing furniture for clean rooms, storage is a part that is frequently neglected. Since it can be made to meet both present and future requirements, it might even rank among the most crucial industrial furniture design considerations.
Working with a business that specializes in custom industrial furniture is a fantastic way to add storage options to a workspace while boosting productivity and conserving space.
When creating an industrial workbench with storage, keep the following choices in mind to save space:
- Utility drawers
- Shelving
- Upper storage cabinets
- Articulating monitor arms for flat screens and laptops
- Keyboard trays
- CPU holders and pegboards
- Bin rails or panels
Do Encourage Good Health
Numerous studies have shown that reclining at work can be bad for one’s health. Some even claimed that reclining was the new smoking.
Your top concern should be your employees’ well-being. Medical problems can have a significant financial impact on both workers and employers.
The design of furniture for clean rooms and other industrial and laboratory settings has advanced significantly, and many pieces now offer ergonomically sound choices. To address this increasing issue, new developments like hydraulically adjustable workstations and benches offer a potential solution.
Numerous pieces of clean room furnishings are extremely adaptable, enabling employees to modify their workstations to suit their height and body types. These modifications can increase worker satisfaction while lowering the risk of overexertion- or prolonged sitting-related injuries or health problems.
Don’t Underestimate The Importance Of Quality
Finally, never undervalue the significance of quality when designing cleanroom lab furniture for your area.
Industrial furniture is a sizable investment, particularly if you are upgrading several new workstations and have a large business. A high-quality product is essential if you want to safeguard your long-term investment.
You can safeguard your money by looking for third-party certifications like:
- Underwriters Laboratory (UL)
- American National Standards Institute/Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (ANSI/BIFMA)
- Scientific Equipment and Furniture Association (SEFA)
These groups certify that a piece of furniture’s parts and the entire item have complied with a specific set of quality and safety standards.
Your investment will be a sound and long-term solution to meet the requirements of your space if the clean room furniture you buy complies with these standards and you keep in mind the design dos and don’ts mentioned above.