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Your Vision, Managed to Perfection: New England Lab's Client-Centric Approach

For over 30 years, New England Lab has excelled at managing laboratory projects from consultation to completion. Our team's deep expertise in laboratory furniture and scientific workspaces enables us to deliver efficient results that fuel discovery and advancement.

In this blog, we're diving deeper into the nuances of designing fume hoods that are truly inclusive to both able-bodied and differently-abled individuals. We understand that there are compliance rules to follow, such as a maximum worktop height of 34”, a minimum 30” wide kneespace, a maximum height of 48” for reaching post-mounted devices, a maximum 29” deep reach for access to a cupsink, and the use of ¼ turn ball valves for plumbing fixtures. However, does meeting these requirements truly make the hood inclusive? While ADA standards provide a strong foundation, we need to go further to create fume hoods that are ergonomic, flexible, and supportive of diverse research needs.

For the past three decades, New England Lab has been a solution-based leader in the lab furniture industry, demonstrating a consistent growth trajectory by understanding the unique needs of clients. Our commitment to delivering top-tier product solutions and ensuring a gold standard of service has been instrumental in our growth.

Recognizing the escalating demand for high-quality furniture systems and dependable services within tight lead times, New England Lab launched NEL Direct. This dedicated team caters to our clients' needs with an In Stock program for standard products, which includes a wide range of common laboratory and industrial furniture items.

How much do you really understand ductless fume hoods? Are you picturing a small, portable, single-wall ductless enclosure? Or are you envisioning periodic manual sampling of the exhaust air and frequent filter changes to ensure there is no chemical breakthrough of the carbon filters? If so, don’t worry, these are common misconceptions based on older technology and designs. Read on to learn more about the important differences between full-featured ductless fume hoods (aka “filtered fume hoods”) and the basic ductless enclosures you remember.

Would you leave the front door to your home wide open?  Your car?  I didn’t think so.  Similarly, we should not leave the doors of solvent (aka “flammable”) storage cabinets open except when actively using them. Solvent cabinets are designed, tested, and constructed in compliance with several industry standards to provide a minimum amount of time before the flammables will ignite during a fire event outside the cabinet.  These few minutes are critical for both the evacuation of lab occupants and for firefighting, but this minimum time cannot be achieved if the doors are left wide open. Doors must be completely shut to expect a delay in the internal temperature rise within the cabinet.

 Are you curious about the latest innovations in cutting-edge lab design? Look no further! Throughout 2023, New England Lab has continued to support science and research with our state-of-the-art laboratory furniture and fume hoods. Whether it is a university, a government facility, or even a mobile trailer; we have aided a variety of institutions in designing their perfect lab. Compiled below are some of our favorite projects of the year!

Do you wish you could make some changes to your lab layout? Maybe you can’t even imagine making changes because the cost of shutting down the lab and relocating staff is way beyond the budget. What if you could not only adjust the furniture and equipment locations, but also move the walls and plumbing valve locations in just a few hours?  What if you could do this without reconfiguring the HVAC system at all? What if you could increase your electrical fixtures or add a new gas service without shutting down the lab?