LabSpace is now an Official SEFA Member

LabSpace is now an official member of the Scientific Equipment and Furniture Association (SEFA). SEFA is a pioneering organisation of lab equipment manufacturers working towards creating global standards for laboratory design, safety, and performance.   

The organisation has already developed and published standards for equipment such as fume hoods, work surfaces, liquid chemical storage, and even laboratory-grade seating.  

By becoming a member of SEFA, LabSpace joins industry leaders worldwide working together to ensure that laboratories are safe, efficient work environments that deliver consistent and reliable results.  

What Is SEFA and Why It Matters 

Scientific Equipment and Furniture Association, or SEFA, is an association of companies involved in designing labs and manufacturing lab furniture. The organisation has a professional management staff, a board of directors elected by members, and an advisory board.  

It works closely with laboratory owners, architects, contractors, and other stakeholders to develop specific standards and define what qualifies as ‘Laboratory Grade’ for every aspect of lab design.  

These include 

• The different types of equipment used in the lab 

• Storage, seating, and other amenities in the lab 

• Laboratory work surfaces 

• Design, materials, and build quality of the lab environment 

These standards are based on best practices, expectations from lab users and lab owners, safety standards, as well as inputs from architects and engineers involved in building labs, as well as all SEFA members. SEFA also regularly monitors these standards and modifies them based on advances in technology and changing industry demands.  

The Importance of SEFA Certification in Laboratory Design  

SEFA’s standards are highly detailed specifications, often for individual components of a piece of lab furniture.  

For instance, in the latest 5th Edition Desk Reference, SEFA has specified seven tests for cabinet surface finish, including a chemical spot test, boiling water resistance test, ball impact resistance test, and more. The document specifies testing procedures and acceptance criteria for each of these tests.  

These tests are designed to simulate the conditions equipment or furniture may encounter in a lab setting.  

Besides the quality of materials, SEFA also has performance standards and best practices for using equipment such as fume hoods vertical exhausting laminar flow hoods.  

In many instances, instead of creating its own standards, SEFA refers to specifications defined by other organisations or regulatory bodies. For example, in the case of equipment handling flammable or hazardous materials, SEFA often refers to OSHA and NFPA standards.  

This approach benefits lab owners and users as well as equipment manufacturers.  

For equipment manufacturers, this means they can source materials to these pre-existing standards and deliver them to their clientele without having to perform additional tests on them.  

For lab owners, designers, operators, and ultimately users, they don’t have to worry about compliance if they’re getting SEFA-certified laboratory furniture and equipment.  

With the SEFA membership, LabSpace is reiterating its commitment to quality and global standards  

Ever since its inception, LabSpace has been committed to creating and delivering laboratory environments that prioritise safety, durability, and productivity. LabSpace works closely with clients to understand their unique needs and challenges and create innovative solutions for them.  

By joining SEFA, LabSpace will now shape standards for laboratory equipment and furniture used across the world. LabSpace will work alongside industry leaders to ensure researchers, students, analysts, and other lab users have access to robust, durable, and safe lab environments.