What material is suitable for laboratories?

Teknomek offers a wide range of laboratory furniture consisting of mild steel powder coated workbenches and shelving as well as a full range of stand alone or under workbench cabinetry. Both cabinetry and workbench tops can be provided in a choice of various materials, including Melamine faced MDF, Sealwise and Trespa options. Each of these materials have different hygienic properties, such as antibacterial protection and chemical resistance, making them best suited to different environments and use cases which we explore below.

Benefits

Hygiene:

Our laboratory furniture offers a smooth, non-porous surface that is resistant to bacteria.

Durability:

Long-lasting materials that can withstand frequent chemical cleaning and exposure to moisture so that you can maintain a hygienic environment.

Ease of Cleaning:

Surfaces can be easily wiped down as part of a regular clean down process to maintain strict hygiene standards and comply with health regulations.

Chemical Resistance:

Resistant to many chemicals and cleaning agents used in sanitisation processes.

Anti-bacterial Protection:

They help maintain a sterile environment with protection from deadly bacteria such as e-Coli, MRSA and Listeria.

Laboratory furniture ranges:

We offer two ranges of anti-bacterial furniture: Sealwise and Trespa. While both are high-quality construction materials designed for environments where hygiene, durability and water resistance are critical, they consist of different materials and have slightly different properties.

Trespa is a high-pressure compact panel laminate (HPL) based on thermosetting resins and is homogeneously reinforced with wood-based fibres whereas Sealwise is manufactured from solid polymer board with a core consisting of recycled UPVC and a smooth top layer of virgin PVC. In addition to this, the Trespa® TopLab Plus® features a hard, fire-retardant surface based on melamine resins.

Trespa

Using a water-resistant, high-pressure laminate, Trespa offers a durable range of hygienic furniture that is also suitable for heavy-duty applications with high resistance to impact, scratches and wear. The smooth panel surface features a closed structure to ensure that dirt cannot cling making the cleaning process quicker and more effective.

We offer our Trespa furniture with the choice of TopLab Base or TopLab Plus depending on your need for chemical resistance.

Trespa TopLab Base

Providing a robust performance for general laboratory use, TopLab Base offers the same high resistance to impact, wear and moisture of the other materials in the Trespa TopLab range but with less chemical resistance. In environments handling aggressive chemicals or which undergo frequent disinfection, TopLab Plus may be more suitable.

Trespa TopLab Plus

The Trespa TopLab Plus range has antistatic properties and anti-microbial protection with proven reduction of 99.99% of bacteria after 24 hours. It also has high chemical resistance to withstand corrosive substances and aggressive disinfectants as part of the clean down process without its appearance or properties being diminished.

This durable material can safely withstand temperatures of up to 180°C thanks to its fire-retardant nature. Proven to retain its stability when exposed to high temperatures, it does not melt or drip. The panels themselves resist ignition and contribute minimally to fire spread while producing less smoke for reduced inhalation risk and increased visibility.

Sealwise

Our Sealwise range is ideal for laboratory environments thanks to its lifetime anti-bacterial protection. This is due to the Sealwise Protect (Silver Ion) coating used on each sheet of Waterproof Construction Board (WCB) and provides built-in protection from deadly bacteria including e-Coli, MRSA, Listeria and Salmonella.

It is designed to be 100% waterproof, ensuring no damage can occur during the cleaning process with no expansion of the material. By making it waterproof rather than water resistant, Sealwise have ensured that no damage can be made from water ingress, spillages, mould or bacteria.

Sealwise uses a patented W14 joining system to chemically weld its WCB boards together for a long lasting and sturdy seal. This ensures that there are no hidden dirt traps for a product that is easy to clean, minimising the duration of the clean down process.

Putting a focus on sustainability, they use 100% recycled materials to create the core but opt for a non-porous, 100% virgin material on the outer surface so that the product not only uses recycled materials but is also recyclable itself.

Why are they used in laboratories?

These hygienic furniture ranges offer significant advantages for laboratories, including superior hygiene and durability alongside enhanced water and chemical resistance. These features make them the perfect hygienic solution for laboratories, changing rooms and anywhere where there is a significant need for a maintained, sterile environment with seating benches and lockers also available.

By integrating Sealwise or Trespa into these areas, facilities can heighten their levels of cleanliness and efficiency while ensuring compliance with current hygiene regulations. By using hygienic furniture, companies can ensure that they are keeping the highest standards of cleanliness and safety.

Are you looking for a budget solution for dry environments?

For dry environments, melamine-faced MDF can provide a practical, cost-effective solution for low-risk lab areas. The decorative melamine surface is bonded to an MDF core for a clean & professional appearance. It’s important to note that MDF is not waterproof and prolonged moisture exposure at joints or edges could cause swelling leading to reduced stability.

Care would also need to be taken when cleaning MDF furniture as it offers limited chemical resistance compared to Sealwise and Trespa alternatives. Keeping this in mind, we would only recommend MDF for dry areas where stringent cleaning regimes are not required such as write-up areas, dry storage and educational labs.