Archi-take on Laboratory Furniture

Transcription

1 Archi-take n Labratry Furniture Published In: Express Pharma, July 1-15, 2011 Link: Archi-take n labratry furniture - Express Pharma The labratry envirnment is the place where creative and practical wrk takes place. Functinality and safety are the prime cncerns t bth the user and the facility by itself. The design f the labratry envirnment must take int accunt the purpse f setting a lab, the specific needs f the lab, anticipate future needs and in the end create an envirnment that is cnducive t supprt the facility s missin. A well-designed labratry mdule crdinates all architectural and engineering systems and allws flexibility and expansin. Flexibility can mean several things, including the ability t expand easily, t readily accmmdate recnfiguratins and ther changes, and t permit a variety f uses. In this cntext, the article here will fcus mainly n Labratry Furniture. The selectin f labratry furniture depends mainly n the type and functin f the lab and thus the material f case wrk and wrktp has t be classified accrdingly. Fr example-the furniture requirements f a pharma lab are different than thse frm micr lab. The frmer has a chice f epxy, ceramic r granite wrktps while later has an ptin f epxy r SS wrktps. Material f cnstructin (MOC) The case wrk is cmmnly metallic r wd finish. GI pwder cated C frame structure having castrs give mbility and flexibility t the furniture. These are finished with wrk tps which can be f any desired material. Beneath these are the strage cabinets which can be either metallic r wd finish. Factrs influencing the wrktp selectin are: chemical resistance, impact resistance, heat resistance, nature f applicatin, durability, aesthetics and cst effectiveness. There are 7 t 8 different materials that can be used fr wrktps. Thse are Epxy resin, Phenlic resin, Cmpact laminate, Melamine laminated plywd, Stainless steel, Ceramic tiles, Glass & Natural Stne. In India, it is mst cmmnly seen that the user has a preference t natural stne viz; black granite. acrylic resin phenlic resin epxy stainless steel stneware melamine cmpact laminated laminate

2 Mdules-the latest trend in Labratry furniture Mbile base cabinets r mdules n castrs make excellent equipment strage units. They add n t the flexibility by way f future expansin r replacing the same space with flr munted equipments. This is the biggest advantage f mbile cabinets as against fixed furniture. Mbile Base Cabinets Cantilevered Base Cabinets-adjustable Fixed Base Cabinets Alternatively the base cabinets can als be cantilevered just under the wrktp and placed n track. The advantage here is yu get a clear space abve the flr, s it becmes easy in cleaning and maintenance. The strage cabinet can slide n either side f the wrking length f the wrktp again giving flexibility. These base cabinets have multiple strage ptins such as drawers and shutters and the user can select the best based n the usage f the system. Standard Sizes f the lab furniture: The size f bench tps & island tables shuld be such that it is ergnmically suitable t the user as well as the general lk f the lab is nt cngested. The depth and height f a table varies depending upn the usage f lab. Analytical labs typically have varius equipments and instruments placed n table tps and require calibratin, mnitring and dcumentatin as a part f n-ging prcess. These equipments are electrnically cnnected and hence the wrking height required here is 750/800 mm s that the scientist can cmfrtably be seated and carry ut his wrk. Due t requirement f electrical pints fr these instruments truncking has t be prvided n the table tp fr which table depth f 900mm is a must. On the ther hand, wrk tps in chemical labs require 900 mm as the height since the user has t carry ut experiments in a standing psitin. The depth f these tables fllw a mdule f mm ttaling t 1500 mm in case f an island table and 750 mm depth in case f wall alignment. These tables require reagent racks abve, t stre small chemical bttles, as such the verall height f the table alng with reagent rack ges t 1500mm. These racks need t have a prvisin f electrical and utility pints at intermediate lcatins.

3 Layut and Psitining f furniture inside the lab The layut f a lab can have any shape r frm. It can be linear, square r rectangular. Typically a lab has a width varying frm 3000mm t 6000 mm and depth which may vary frm 6000 mm t 9000 mm. The depth depends upn the individual requirement f a labratry. A labratry shuld have clearly defined aisles. It is mandatry t have a clear circulatin space f 1500 mm between lab tables and ther furniture t avid accidents and als fr easy mvements and peratins. It is als very critical t maintain a clearance f 1500 mm frm the main dr f the lab. Psitining & flexibility are inter related since mdules n castrs can be mved anywhere in the lab and thus psitining des nt becme an issue. Extended Lab furniture: Other than the lab tables, there are elements like chemical strage cabinets, slvent strage cabinets specifically designed fr flammable & cmbustible liquids, acid/ alkali strage cabinets, persnal strage cabinets, anti-vibratin tables that frm part f lab furniture. Often prvisin f fire resistant cabinets is als required fr strage f samples and vital dcuments. These may be in the frm f cmpressible racks fr maximum utilizatin f space. Fume hds may r may nt be cnsidered as lab furniture but are definitely the mst imprtant part f lab furniture. Painted carbn steel sheet metal case, fire-resistant interir cnstructin, airfil design, sash f laminated safety glass, vertical mving sashes cunterweighted fr easy mvement, cup sink n each side wall and shutff valves in each side wall fr plant air, nitrgen, water are the basic characteristics that a fume hd needs t have. Hds must be prvided with exhaust ventilatin t minimize expsure f lab persnnel t the chemicals used within these hds. Cnventinal labratry hds are either f the "bench-tp" type r the flr munted "walk-in" r lattice type. Hwever with technlgy there are ther ptins as well, such as lw cnstant vlume and VAV fume hds which are designed fr lw energy and high perfrmance.

4 Fittings & fixtures in lab and n lab tables Sinks are available in varius materials like mulded epxy resin, plyprpylene, stainless steel and ceramic. Of these PP sinks are mst suitable fr chemical labs and ss fr micr labs. These shuld generally be placed at the centre f the table, having easy accessibility. Sinks shuld be supplied with peg bards fr drying f tubes and small tubular glassware s. Safety shwer & eye wash are amng the must have in any lab space. They shuld never be farther than 75 ft. away frm any researcher and shuld be placed alng a clear and unbstructed path and as far as pssible in the lab area itself. It shuld have prper drain and shuld be visible frm any crner f the lab. Hwever care shuld be taken that they are placed away frm any surces f electricity, especially electric panel bxes. These fittings are available with eye wash as well, and shuld be designed in such a way that they flw at the rate f 30 gallns f water per minute in case f emergency. Alternatively nly eye wash can als be accmmdated n sinks in case f larger size f lab. Spt extractrs can be prvided n island tables r wall tables t take care f small vlume f exhaust say 80 t 120 cfm. These have flexible arms cvering a diameter f 1000 mm, are circular in shape and available in transparent and attractive clur thus adding as a feature in the lab. Hwever these have t be cnnected t a duct and eventually a blwer. Utility valves supplying services- varius gas and water lines t varius equipments shuld be well secured and sealed t avid leakages. It is recmmended t have acid resistant plastic cating t these fittings and shw fllw universal clur cdes fr easy and immediate identificatin. Sink with pegbard eye wash-safety shwer spt extractr service valves & electrical sckets Impact f lab furniture n lab design The chice f casewrk (metal, wd r plastic) and the clr f casewrk finishes have a significant impact n the quality f the design. Integrating aesthetics with lab furniture will make r destry the verall lk f the lab. Any persn entering the lab will be impressed and mtivated by his/ her first visual cntact with the lab interirs. Hence the selectin f clur and finishes f the furniture has t be thughtfully dne. Standards that shuld be checked at the time f selectin f lab furniture: SEFA-8 (Scientific Equipment & Furniture Assciatin) benchmarks the characteristics required in lab furniture such as chemical resistance, sturdiness, life cycle and quality f surface finish. Alng with this it shuld be ensured that NFPA (Natinal Fire Prtectin Assciatin) cdes are fllwed. Fume hds shuld cmply ASHRAE 110:1995 & EN 14175:2003 certificatin t ensure internatinal quality standards and best practices in lab industry.

5 Safety in lab furniture Hw safe are ur labs ergnmically & in terms f fire? This is determined by the material used in the making f lab furniture. It shuld be seen that the furniture withstands a minimum fire rating f an hur. Metallic furniture GI pwder cated is ne f the best fr such usage. At the same time care shuld be taken that the accessries used als pssess these qualities r there is a high pssibility f things falling & leading t majr accidents. The truncking n tables shuld ensure prper grunding against each equipment t prevent electrical shcks and wherever required rubber matting may be prvided as an extra precautin. The shape f furniture shuld be devid f sharp edges and sufficient circulatin space shuld be maintained internally. Simple steps t be fllwed while selecting yur furniture Define the purpse f setting the labratry Specify the chemicals /slvents etc that will be used in the lab Verify the perfrmance f wrktp material as against the usage f chemicals/ slvents Check whether the lab furniture cmply the standards published by ASTM r SEFA 8 & NFPA. Till date these are the nly standards available in India and ensure quality Carefully review all specificatins prepared by yur lab planner r architect. Get clarificatin n any pints that yu d nt understand cmpletely. Avid using the terms r equal and r equivalent t prevent pssible misunderstandings and d nt cmprmise n the specificatins. T summarize, a lab shuld have a spacius lk, clear circulatin paths and uninterrupted visual flw when entered. A well designed and gd quality furniture, by material and aesthetics enhances sustainability, is easy t maintain and ensures lab persnnel safety.