Continued table

Department Instrument
Pathology department Slide printer
Tissue embedding station
Constant-temperature incubator
Oven
Autoclave
Automatic immunohistochemistry stainer
Fax machine
Staining cabinet
Slide preparation machine
Centrifuge
Drying oven
TCT reporting system
Specimen storage cabinet
Fluorescence microscope imaging analysis system
In situ hybridization instrument
Bench-top high-speed refrigerated centrifuge
Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR
Microscope
Image and text software
Computer
Refrigerator

Section 2 Medical Laboratory Benches and Cabinets

Laboratory benches and cabinets can be divided by function into laboratory benches and laboratory cabinets.

Laboratory benches include physical/chemical benches, instrument benches, balance tables, washing benches, dissection tables, grossing stations, and high-temperature benches.

Laboratory cabinets include safety storage cabinets, reagent (chemical) cabinets, poison cabinets, vessel cabinets, fire-resistant cabinets, filing cabinets, lockers (wardrobes), specimen cabinets, sample cabinets, gas cylinder cabinets, etc.

I. Laboratory Benches

1. Classification by Material

Laboratory benches can be divided by material into wood structures, steel-wood structures, and all-steel structures.

1.1 Wood furniture mainly uses engineered board, with rich colors and strong personalization, suitable for users seeking individuality. However, its moisture resistance and load-bearing capacity are slightly weak, so it is unsuitable for humid laboratories and environments with high load-bearing requirements.

1.2 Steel-wood structure furniture consists of a metal frame and wooden cabinet bodies; the laboratory bench can be fitted with a mobile under-bench cabinet or a fixed cabinet. It offers high cost performance, but the styles are limited—suitable for users seeking economic benefits. See Fig. 7-11.

[Figure: Product photo of a steel-wood structure laboratory bench — black worktop with a sink and gooseneck faucet, a double-layer metal reagent rack supported by uprights above, light-colored wooden cabinet doors/drawers and a dark steel frame below the bench, with leveling feet/casters at the bottom]

Fig. 7-11 Steel-Wood Structure Laboratory Bench

1.3 Steel furniture is made from cold-rolled steel plate that is phosphated and pickled, then baked with an epoxy resin coating on the surface; it has good load-bearing performance, is strong and durable, and has strong overall performance—suitable for users with ample budgets and high requirements. See Fig. 7-12.

[Figure: Black-and-white photo of steel furniture laboratory benches — a row of floor-standing cabinets supporting a continuous worktop, with cabinet doors and drawers; racks/piping visible above]

Fig. 7-12 Steel Furniture Laboratory Bench

2. Classification by Structure

Laboratory benches can be divided by structural form into fixed benches, suspended benches, split (modular) benches, and mobile benches.

2.1 Fixed Laboratory Bench

The fixed laboratory bench is a traditional arrangement in which floor-standing cabinets support the worktop; flexibility is limited.

2.2 Suspended Laboratory Bench

The cabinet bodies of a suspended laboratory bench hang on a floor-standing metal frame; moisture resistance is good and flexibility somewhat greater—the cabinet bodies can be rearranged without affecting the rest of the workbench system.

2.3 Split (Modular) Laboratory Bench

In a split workbench, the water/electricity/gas service system and the bench itself are two separate parts that can be separated or organically combined; the bench can be moved easily and rearranged without reinstalling the water/electricity/gas systems, offering the greatest flexibility. It suits phased purchasing or reserving room for future development, and is one of the mainstream products for future development.

2.4 Mobile Laboratory Bench

Mobile laboratory benches are fitted with wheels, giving users some flexibility to create and change their own laboratory space. Items on mobile workbenches can be moved easily from one place to another. Many tables,

carts, and workbench items can be vertically height-adjusted for better ergonomics.

The initial cost of mobile benches is higher than that of fixed benches. Combining fixed and mobile workbenches according to experimental needs can reduce costs while retaining flexibility. See Fig. 7-13.

[Figure: Fixed laboratory bench in situ — an island bench with a black worktop, white cabinet body with drawers, a double-layer reagent rack and faucet above the bench]

(A) Fixed laboratory bench

[Figure: Suspended laboratory bench in situ — an island bench with a black worktop and light-colored suspended cabinet bodies; fume hoods and windows visible in the background]

(B) Suspended laboratory bench

[Figure: Close-up photo of a light-colored laboratory bench cabinet body/panel]

(C) Split laboratory bench

[Figure: Photo of a mobile laboratory bench with casters at the bottom]

(D) Mobile laboratory bench

Fig. 7-13 Fixed Laboratory Bench and Mobile Laboratory Bench

3. Classification by Bench Layout

Laboratory benches can be divided by their layout in the laboratory into: straight (single-run), L-shaped, peninsula, and island types.

3.1 Straight (single-run): the bench is arranged in a straight line, suitable for small laboratories or as wall benches in large laboratories. See Fig. 7-14.

3.2 L-shaped: the bench is arranged parallel to two adjacent walls of the laboratory with a maintenance aisle left behind, suitable for precision instrument rooms. See Fig. 7-15.

3.3 Peninsula: one end of the bench abuts a wall; suitable for large laboratories and physical/chemistry rooms, with high space utilization. See Fig. 7-16.

3.4 Island: the bench is arranged in the middle of the laboratory, convenient for laboratory personnel to work and evacuate, with the highest efficiency and safety; suitable for laboratories with larger areas. See Fig. 7-17.

[Figure: Straight bench — laboratory benches arranged in a straight line, with a reagent rack above and a sink at one end]

Fig. 7-14 Straight Layout

[Figure: L-shaped corner bench — a dark worktop, cabinet body, and sink forming an L-shaped arrangement]

Fig. 7-15 L-Shaped Layout

[Figure: Peninsula bench — peninsula-type bench arrangement in a laboratory, with overhead service fixtures above]

Fig. 7-16 Peninsula Layout

[Figure: Island bench — a freestanding island bench arranged in the center of a spacious laboratory]

Fig. 7-17 Island Layout

4. Laboratory Bench Dimensions

4.1 Depth

The depth of a standard laboratory bench is 750 mm;

the depth of a standard central bench is 1500 mm;

the depth of a precision instrument bench varies with the instrument type, generally 800–1000 mm.

4.2 Height

Laboratory benches generally come in two heights, 760 mm and 840 mm; the 760 mm bench is suitable for seated operation, and the 840 mm bench for standing operation.

4.3 Length

The bench length is determined by experimental needs; it is generally a multiple of 750 mm, preferably not exceeding 4500 mm.

5. Classification and Characteristics of Laboratory Bench Worktops

5.1 Laminated Physical-Chemical Board (Compact Laminate Veneer) Worktop

Made by pressing surface paper, colored paper, and kraft paper together. Using a non-structural material, the thickness is generally 0.9 mm, and it must be bonded to a substrate for use.

Characteristics: poor high-temperature resistance; once the surface is damaged, the interior is not corrosion-resistant and cannot be repaired.

[The upper half of this page (worktop materials 5.2–5.4 and Fig. 7-18) timed out during recognition; to be supplemented]

Characteristics: no capillary pores, no bacterial residue, good tensile strength, easy to clean, inhibits bacterial growth; can be fabricated into various worktop styles on request. Poor corrosion resistance; not suitable for chemistry laboratories.

5.5 Laboratory Ceramic Worktop

Made by combining blue porcelain clay, kaolin, and feldspar with various special materials, then firing at high temperatures above 1250°C for a long time in an industrial furnace.

Characteristics: corrosion-resistant, easy to clean, impact-, scratch-, fire-, and high-temperature-resistant, good load-bearing, and aging-resistant. However, on-site fabrication is poor; once broken it cannot be repaired; pieces are small, so there are many joints when used on large benches.

5.6 Epoxy Resin Worktop

Made by pouring quartz sand (emery), glass fiber, epoxy resin powder, talc powder, catalyst, curing agent, and pigment under high temperature and vacuum into a flat mold, mixing uniformly in a high-temperature vacuum bubble-free environment, then vacuum-treating and curing at high temperature for 8 hours.

Characteristics: resistant to chemical reagents, antibacterial, impact-resistant,

[Figure: Modern laboratory in situ — a long island bench in the center with a dark epoxy resin worktop and light-colored cabinet bodies (with drawers and doors); multi-layer reagent racks above the bench holding bottles, jars, and utensils; wall benches, windows, and a smooth floor visible in the background]

Fig. 7-19 Epoxy Resin Laboratory Bench

electrically non-conductive, easy to clean, wear-resistant, moisture-proof, UV-resistant, self-extinguishing, integrally molded, non-delaminating, non-swelling, asbestos-free, high-temperature-resistant, refinishable, and seamlessly splicable—excellent appearance and overall performance. See Fig. 7-19.

II. Laboratory Cabinets

1. Safety Storage Cabinets

According to the items stored, they can be divided into poison cabinets, explosion-proof cabinets, acid cabinets, volatile reagent cabinets, etc.; they also come in different sizes for different purposes, including freestanding cabinets and cabinets placed under fume hoods.

Poison cabinets are used to store toxic substances; they require double locks and adjustable temperature and humidity.

Explosion-proof cabinets are used to store flammable and explosive items; they are equipped with automatic door closers and explosion-proof doors, and come in ratings of 30, 60, 90, etc.—meaning that even if a fire breaks out in the laboratory, the contents of the cabinet will not explode within 30, 60, or 90 minutes, buying time for firefighting or evacuation, protecting personnel safety, and reducing the risk of damage to the laboratory.

Acid cabinets are used to store acidic reagents and are generally made of polymer materials, most commonly polypropylene.

Volatile reagent cabinets are used to store volatile reagents; a filter and small fan are generally fitted at the top of the cabinet to periodically extract volatile gases, which are discharged outside the cabinet after filtration, preventing long-term accumulation of volatile gases inside the cabinet that could corrode the cabinet or cause other hazards. Different filters can be selected according to the items stored.

2. Reagent (Chemical) Cabinets

The reagent cabinet is an indispensable storage cabinet in a chemistry laboratory, mainly for storing chemical reagents; reagents must be stored separately as solids, liquids, organics, inorganics, acids, alkalis, salts, etc., for easy retrieval and safety. Reagent cabinets may have glass doors, and the cabinet body should have a certain load-bearing capacity and corrosion resistance. Reagent cabinets come in drawer type, as shown in Fig. 7-20, and stepped-shelf or lift-shelf types, as shown in Fig. 7-21. Dimensions are generally 900 mm (W) × 500 mm (D) × 2000 mm (H).

[Figure: Drawer-type reagent cabinet — a tall cabinet with multiple drawers pulled out layer by layer, connected beside to a storage cabinet with doors and a laboratory bench]

Fig. 7-20 Drawer-Type Reagent Cabinet

[Figure: Stepped-shelf reagent cabinet — a row of reagent cabinets along the wall, light-colored bodies with glass doors, divided into multiple upper and lower compartments]

Fig. 7-21 Stepped-Shelf Reagent Cabinet

3. Sample Cabinets

Sample cabinets for storing various test samples may have dividers that can be compartmentalized and labeled, facilitating sample storage and retrieval; some samples need to be stored in desiccators. The compartments can be large or small to store different samples. Dimensions are generally 900 mm (W) × 500 mm (D) × 2000 mm (H).

[Figure: Two tall laboratory cabinets; the left cabinet is closed, with a glass upper door, drawers, and solid lower doors; the right cabinet is open, with a black base and multiple adjustable perforated shelves inside]

Fig. 7-22 Vessel (Glassware) Cabinet

4. Vessel (Glassware) Cabinets

Vessel cabinets are used to store cleaned glassware; the shelves are either stainless steel or compact laminate (Trespa). Stainless-steel shelves are higher grade and more expensive; the shelves are fixed to the cabinet body with rails and can be pulled out freely for easy glassware access; the shelves have holes whose positions can be adjusted according to vessel size. Vessel cabinets are well ventilated and easy to clean and dry. Dimensions are generally 900 mm (W) × 500 (D) × 2000 (H). See Fig. 7-22.

5. Gas Cylinder Cabinets

[Figure: Two steel gas cylinder cabinets; the left cabinet has both doors open, showing the internal cylinder fixing devices and the top control/alarm panel; the right cabinet has both doors closed, with two circular viewing windows and gauges on top]

Fig. 7-23 Gas Cylinder Cabinet

Gas cylinder cabinets are used to hold gas cylinders. Because gas cylinders are high-pressure vessels with certain dangers, gas cylinder cabinets are generally made of steel for safety, equipped with alarms—divided into combustible gas alarms and non-combustible gas alarms according to the gas—and should preferably have explosion-proof features with an explosion vent at the top of the cabinet. Gas cylinder cabinets generally come in single-cylinder and double-cylinder specifications, with dimensions of 450 mm (W) × 500 mm (D) × 2000 mm (H) and 900 mm (W) × 500 mm (D) × 2000 mm (H) respectively. See Fig. 7-23.