Furnishing is one of the most important things to consider when furnishing a laboratory. The significance of furniture in laboratories is that it plays a vital role in enhancing efficiency in the laboratory, comfort, and safety among the occupants. Here are some of the factors that need to be considered when setting up the furniture.

1- Laboratory Type

The type of laboratory determines the kind of furniture one can use. There are a variety of laboratory types, such as aerospace laboratories, agricultural laboratories, biochemistry laboratories, biological research laboratories, chemical research laboratories, computer and information sciences laboratories, earth science and environmental laboratories, electrical engineering and electronics laboratories, environmental science and toxicology laboratories, engineering laboratories, and many others.

The laboratories come with diverse risks and safety measures. The risk of fire and explosion in laboratories is very high. Hence, the laboratory must be well designed to avoid such accidents by making the furniture fire-resistant and non-combustible. The laboratory furniture must be lightweight and easily portable to be moved when required. The furniture should also be easy to clean and disinfect so that there is no risk of infection from bacteria or viruses. Laboratory furniture should not be bulky; hence, one must avoid bulky furniture for use in laboratories.

Some laboratories are wet while others are dry, which influences the kind of furniture used. In wet laboratories, the furniture must be waterproof: laboratory tables, chairs, and cabinets should be made of plastic or rubber. The flooring is often concrete. The furniture is usually made of wood in dry laboratories, and the floors are usually linoleum. The furniture must also be lightweight as it may have to be moved when not in use.

2- Strategic Planning

The traffic flow and work zones are key when establishing furniture for a given laboratory. It is essential to consider the traffic flow when deciding on the size of the furniture. The work zones are important to consider when deciding on the furniture layout. The positioning of tables, chairs, and cabinets should allow for easy access and movement of laboratory equipment—a clear idea of the working area and traffic flow occurs when one draws up a plan.

3- Flexibility

Furniture flexibility is important due to a wide range of activities taking place in laboratories. The furniture should withstand the weight of different types of equipment being used. Furniture must be easily movable and easily accessible. It must also be easy to clean and disinfect as it is used in many different areas of the laboratory, such as worktops, floors, and walls; every surface in a lab has been contaminated at some point or another with bacteria or viruses from other areas of the laboratory or from outside. The laboratories are also expanding with time; as a result, the furniture used has to embrace change rather than remain static.

4- Design

The design of laboratory furniture should reflect its purpose and function in the laboratory. The design should also avoid unnecessary clutter and confusion by using a clear layout for the furniture. Furniture should be colorful, attractive, and easy on the eye.