University Labs: Fume Hoods, Lab Furniture, and Lab Design

LabDS delivers educational and university lab design services, high-quality fume hoods, and vital lab furniture.

At Laboratory Design & Supply (LabDS), we work with educational facilities, colleges, and universities across the United States to design and implement laboratories, custom-design fume hoods, and identify and install the correct lab furniture. Our constant goals in lab design and implementation are adherence to federal, state, and county rules and regulations, safety, and quality. From epoxy countertops to modular fume hoods and casework that allow scaling up or down, the LabDS team delivers a flexible, sustainable, safe university lab design.

All laboratories must be designed with safety and functionality in mind. Scalability is also a vital concern to meet changing needs. However, university labs face unique requirements, including government and industry standards and regulations. For instance, university lab designs must comply with the Federal Code of Regulations, Title 29, Labor, the National Fire Protection Association Handbook 70: National Electric Code, the American National Standard for Laboratory Ventilation (ANSI/AIHA Z9.5-2012), and more.

In addition, state and county regulations must also be understood and followed at all times. At LabDS, we adhere to all regulations, standards, and references while simultaneously understanding the goals, budgetary constraints, and scalability requirements of each university partner.

While each laboratory design will be unique, several common steps must be followed during the initial ideation sequence and the subsequent design process.

  • Type: What type of university lab is required? Teaching laboratories and research laboratories have vastly different requirements.
  • (Note that if the laboratory will be used for teaching students, it is important to establish what subject will be taught and how that will impact the fume hoods, table/bench design, and other requirements.)
  • Use: Will the laboratory be dedicated to a specific use need or will it need to be flexible and accommodate different uses?
  • Chemicals: What types of chemicals will be used in the laboratory? How will they be used? What precautions are necessary for use and storage? What are the specific dangers/risks of those chemicals?
  • Equipment: What equipment will be used? Will it be bench-mounted? Floor-standing? How will electricity, water, or gas be routed to that equipment?
  • Size: What is the baseline for class size? How many teachers/instructors will be present? Will there be a central instruction bench/table?
  • Storage: How much storage is required? What must be stored? Will storage need to be fixed or movable?
  • Services/Features: How will gas, electricity, and water be routed throughout the space? What type of water will be needed? How many safety showers are required? How will ventilation be run? How will humidity and temperature be controlled?
At LabDS, we’ve found that most university labs are best designed with flexibility and scalability in mind. This allows the same space to serve multiple uses without incurring additional costs, which is good news for a school’s budget. We’ve also found that the right university lab design also maximizes visual management and student/instructor safety while being durable enough for daily use.

We’ve worked with universities across the US to design and install the appropriate laboratories. While each laboratory is unique in terms of design, scope, purpose, and scalability, most require similar types of laboratory equipment. At LabDS, we can provide a variety of lab furniture and equipment, from fume hoods to casework, and everything in between.

Fume hoods play a vital role in the usability and safety of any university laboratory. They are designed to limit student/instructor exposure to toxic fumes and vapors by providing a protected space with air moving capabilities and other forms of protection, such as shielding. At LabDS, we offer a wide range of fume hoods, from walk-in designs to ADA-fume hoods, and even advanced ductless designs that help maximize flexibility within the laboratory. We can also offer university biosafety cabinets including Level 1, 2, and 3 containment, as well as full recirculation designs, partial exhaust systems, and full exhaust setups. However, it is important to make an informed decision regarding the fume hoods chosen for each laboratory. Learn more about the various fume hoods we offer and which are appropriate for different use and safety needs.

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Designed for the needs of today’s university labs, we offer laboratory casework designed in a range of materials, from wood to phenolic resin and stainless steel. Whether you need mobile cabinets or stationary casework, workstations with drawers, or storage cabinets for chemicals and equipment, we can provide for virtually any requirement. At LabDS, we have experience designing and installing lab furniture for use in many different laboratory types, as well. These include university research labs, but also teaching laboratories, and we understand the subtle yet important differences each use scenario presents when it comes to material choices, usability, durability, and other critical factors. We invite you to explore our lab furniture and casework options to learn more about the various materials, types, and form factors we can offer.

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Most university labs require tables and benches. These provide stable, non-reactive work surfaces while providing students with places to sit during class. At LabDS, we can offer lab tables and benches designed for virtually any need, from wood to base metals to full stainless steel. Tabletop materials and work surfaces include nonreactive epoxy, stainless steel, polypropylene, and other options. In addition to fixed-height tables and benches, we also offer an industry-leading adjustable lab bench designed to deliver flexibility to any situation. This is an ideal option for university labs that must pull double or triple duty for different use requirements. Explore our lab table and bench design options, construction materials, and other factors to make an accurate, informed decision.

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