Whether it’s a food testing or medical research laboratory, every lab should have some basic equipment. If you’re starting a lab, learn the essentials every scientific workshop needs in our handy guide.
Lab Benches
Every lab needs space for scientists and researchers to work, so one of the first things on the lab equipment list should be work benches. Today, lab benches range from advanced equipment with multi-faceted tools and accessories to simple tables and benches.
Consider your number of lab staff and how much workspace they will need to conduct their work comfortably. Lab benches come in all sorts of configurations, so whatever type of lab you’re building, there are workbenches available ideally suited to the setting and application.
Safety Equipment
No matter what kind of science lab it is, safety is always the priority. A lab must have numerous systems to ensure the safety of the staff and the building:
- Safety glasses
- Lab coats
- Nitrile gloves
- Emergency eye wash station
- Emergency shower station
- Chemical fume hoods
- First aid kids
- Fire extinguisher
Depending on the work conducted, a lab should have much more, but those are the basic safety equipment items every laboratory needs.
Glassware
After acquiring safety equipment and work benches, glassware are other essential items every lab needs. After all, what’s a science lab without glass beakers and cylinders? Labs will often purchase initial glassware kits that come with all the basic glassware items that labs need:
- Test tubes
- Beakers
- Flasks
- Reagent bottles
- Funnels
- Cylinders
- And more
At GenTech Scientific, our used scientific equipment inventory includes glassware sets, so labs can get the basic supplies they need at affordable prices.
Ovens
Every lab also needs an oven for heating and drying samples. The basic oven choices for labs are typically a gravity convection oven or a forced fan-blown air circulation dryer; often, labs have both.
These simple ovens rapidly heat and dry samples without altering or damaging them, helping labs be more efficient and productive. Consider an oven with multiple shelving options for heating and drying many samples simultaneously for maximum flexibility.
Refrigerators
Let’s move to the other end of the sample handling spectrum. Labs must also keep their samples chilled with a convenient refrigerator. A general-purpose fridge can usually do the job for new labs trying to save money until there are more funds for refrigerators and chillers specifically suited for lab settings.
Labs handling flammable or explosive substances should consider a high-quality fridge that is explosion-proof for the safety of the staff and the equipment. Whatever type of equipment you need to get your lab started, you can find high-quality and affordable supplies and tools at GenTech Scientific.
