There’s nothing arcane about furniture modularity, in fact it’s intrinsic to plans for creating a science superpower, insists Michelle Locke.
Much has been written in the last few years about the UK’s ambition to become a science superpower. In a 2022 report, the Government talked of its vision “of a digitally enabled and pro-innovation clinical research environment, with research delivery embedded within the NHS”.
The report continues: “We have one of the most amenable business environments in the world, and our ambition is to capitalise on this and to make the UK the most attractive place in Europe and to build a dynamic environment to enable life sciences businesses to thrive in the UK.”
And it’s fair to say that the UK has long been seen as a leader in the life sciences sector and a number of recent initiatives developed by the new Department for Science, Innovation and Technology have been launched to enable the country to think more globally and collaborate more effectively with the world’s leading economies, as well as increasing investment in its own R&D.
But, despite this ambition and claims of imminent superpower status, there is a core issue that impacts on this: ‘amenability’. The plan to make the UK a genuine science superpower will require a massive increase in laboratory space.
According to Knight Frank estate agency, businesses are seeking 2.2 million sq ft of lab space in the life science ‘Golden Triangle’ between Oxford, Cambridge and London, yet there is only 385,000 sq ft available. That’s a huge discrepancy.
There’s no instant solution to this shortage of specialist laboratory space, so how do we make the best of the area we already have?
The use of free-standing or modular furniture allows the laboratory space we have to be used more effectively. The configuration of the room can be adapted, or added to, to meet all needs of a new project, ensuring that workflow is always seamless, space is optimised, and cleaning and hygiene standards are never compromised. Selecting a modular workstation means you can adapt it with different shelves or storage solutions to suit the particular needs of a project or contr act.
When opting for modular or mobile furniture there are several considerations:
Is it designed with cleaning and hygiene in mind?
When it comes to maintaining the appropriate ISO standard for your lab space, your furniture plays a much bigger part than you may think.
All furniture and equipment specified for use in a laboratory needs to be able to withstand even the harshest of cleaning regimes and regular maintenance. Because hygiene is the overriding concern in any laboratory, you need to consider what method of sterilisation will be used before you specify your furniture to ensure it is perfect for purpose.
Seemingly innocuous shelves and edges can form potentially dangerous harbourage points for organisms which, in the right conditions, can quickly multiply.
And these danger zones are even more of an issue if your furniture is not designed with effective cleaning in mind. Every piece of furniture in your cleanroom should allow for easy access by your cleaning team.
The configuration of the room can be adapted, or added to, to meet all needs of a new project, ensuring that workflow is always seamless, space is optimised, and cleaning and hygiene standards are never compromised
To make labs easier to keep clean, opt for storage with sloping ledges where possible. This way, cleaning fluids can less easily pool on the surface, not only making them easier to clean but also reducing the likelihood of corrosion. If you need storage space within the laboratory, consider closed cupboards to reduce the risk of dust gathering.
It’s 304 grade stainless steel that is overwhelmingly the standard material of choice for use in laboratories because it is so robust. It is also flexible enough for bespok e designs. However, it goes one step further. With the addition of molybdenum, it can withstand the most vigorous cleaning routines and sterilisation processes without corroding.
Is it easily movable?
Just because furniture isn’t fixed to the wall, it may not be easy to move for cleaning or reconfiguring of space. Stainless steel furniture, whilst being the ultimate choice for aseptic environments such as cleanrooms, can be heavy to reposition.
Lab furniture made from construction materials such as Sealwise WCB, which has a PVC core, offer extreme flexibility in terms of the products available and ability to produce bespoke items. Sealwise WCB is completely waterproof as well as being anti-bacterial, anti-static, resistant to chemicals and fireresistant, making it an ideal material for furniture designed for laboratories, where extensive and often harsh cleaning regimes are the norm. Due to the PVC core, furniture is much lighter than comparable products, making it better suited to being moved around or relocated to another site.
If your cleaning regime means that stainless steel is the most appropriate option, ensure your modular furniture has castors to make it easier and safer to move around.
Is it robust?
When working with hypersensitive weights you cannot afford any movement or ‘judder’ from your furniture. So it’s vital to check your modular furniture offers the same stability you would expect from equipment that is fixed in place. Good quality castors and brakes should be employed to ensure you have a firm platform from which to work.
Does it enhance air flow?
Proper ventilation is essential for the safety and health of laboratory workers and the integrity of experiments. It ensures that hazardous materials and chemicals are removed from the laboratory and that fresh air is brought in. They way that furniture is designed and positioned can have a significant influence on air circulation, hindering or assisting the flow and impacting on the safety of your team. While your HVAC system might be doing its job, a workbench or storage unit with a solid back panel immediately creates a barrier for ventilation. However, by switching from solid to perforated or slatted materials at the back of the workbench, dirt particles can be dispersed safely to mitigate risk. Ensuring that there is sufficient space around equipment so that air does not stagnate is something that should always be considered.
Humans present another risk in terms of their impact on airflow. A person working in the wrong place for an extended period can cause air flow blockages. So, when reconfiguring your laboratory for a new project, consider how both your furniture and your people may impact airflow.
Developing the UK into a scientific superpower is an exciting ambition. While looking at a modular approach to lab furniture might seem a long way from the ultimate goal, it could help to ensure that essential, well-equipped lab space is available for the next big scientific discovery.
Michelle Locke is Product and Marketing Manager at hygienic furniture specialists Teknomek
