Furniture, laboratory cabinets

At NSF, a great deal of work is done on the development and implementation of NSF standards and criteria for health-related equipment. The majority of NSF standards relate to water treatment and purification equipment, products for swimming pool applications, plastic pipe for potable water as well as drain, waste, and vent (DWV) uses, plumbing components for mobil homes and recreational vehicles, laboratory furniture, hospital cabinets, polyethylene refuse bags and containers, aerobic waste treatment plants, and other products related to environmental quality. 

Chemical spills in the laboratory may be hazardous, damaging to flooring and furniture finishes, or simply messy to clean up. Laboratory equipment houses and distributors of safety equipment carry a variety of clean-up kits made for specific types of spills, depending on the types of chemicals handled. Generally, the kits contain absorbents or neutralizers, or a combination of the two, plus instructions for use. Kits should be stored as close as possible to where spills are likely to occur and not in a remote storeroom. Instructions must be kept with the kits, not in a file cabinet. Quick action in case of a spill is important in reducing both hazards and damage. 

When comparing different cabinets, there are a few clues as to which ones provide the best value. First of all, a manufacturer of laboratory furniture should have data on the chemical resistance of finishes used. Even though nobody expects to splash reagents over the fronts of the cabinets, accidents do happen. Resistance data should be compared to a list of chemicals to be handled in the laboratory. A costly finish with outstanding resistance may not be needed in all cases. 

Laboratory furniture should be sturdy and incorporate as few seams and cracks as possible. Spaces between benches, cabinets, and equipment should be easily cleaned. 

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