Laboratory furniture standards and certificates
Laboratory furniture standards define how benches, fume hoods and cabinets are tested before they are installed in a laboratory: EN 13150 covers laboratory benches, EN 14175 the laboratory fume hood and EN 14470-1 safety cabinets for flammable liquids. On this page we have gathered the standards that appear in requests for quotation and tenders, together with the Renggli products each one applies to.
Standards at a glance
Standard | Scope | Renggli products |
|---|---|---|
EN 13150 | Workbenches for laboratories | |
EN 14175 (parts 1 to 8) | Laboratory fume cupboards (fume hoods) | |
EN 14470-1 | Fire safety storage cabinets, Part 1: safety storage cabinets for flammable liquids | |
EN 16121 and EN 16122 | Non-domestic storage furniture: requirements and test methods for strength, durability and stability | |
EN 14727 | Laboratory storage furniture: requirements and test methods | |
EN 13792 | Colour coding of valves for use in laboratories | |
EN 14056 | Laboratory furniture: recommendations for design and installation | laboratory design and installation |
ISO 9001:2015 | Quality management system | manufacturing at our factory in Białystok |
EN 13150: laboratory benches
EN 13150 specifies the dimensions, safety requirements and test methods for laboratory benches. Renggli laboratory furniture complies with it. Our benches stand on steel frames powder-coated with epoxy resin. The catalogue of the Polish Committee for Standardization (PKN) also lists EN 13150:2020-07 "Workbenches for laboratories in educational institutions", which covers benches in schools; find out more on the school laboratories page. What testing a bench to this standard involves is explained in our article EN 13150: laboratory benches.
EN 14175: fume hoods
In Europe, fume hoods (fume cupboards in British usage) are covered by EN 14175, and our units meet it. The standard has eight parts:
Part | Title in the Polish (PKN) catalogue |
|---|---|
EN 14175-1 | Vocabulary |
EN 14175-2 | Safety and performance requirements |
EN 14175-3 | Type test methods |
EN 14175-4 | On-site test methods |
CEN/TS 14175-5 | Recommendations for installation and maintenance (technical specification, English edition) |
EN 14175-6 | Variable air volume fume cupboards |
EN 14175-7 | Fume cupboards for high heat and acidic load |
EN 14175-8 | Fume cupboards for work with radioactive materials |
The standard specifies construction, airflow stability, containment of the work chamber and test methods. The type test in Part 3 includes, among other things, a tracer gas containment test inside the chamber. A safe inflow velocity at the sash opening is 0.3 to 0.5 m/s. LabAirTec fume hoods operate in a VAV system, i.e. with variable air volume, which is covered by Part 6. We discuss post-installation inspections in our article on fume hood maintenance and inspections.
EN 14470-1 and EN 14470-2: safety storage cabinets
Flammable liquids are stored in a fire-resistant safety storage cabinet compliant with EN 14470-1. The cabinet's class is its fire resistance time in minutes. Our range includes both lines, 30-minute and 90-minute. The cabinet has double walls, a spill sump at the base and self-closing doors. How to read the markings on the rating plate is explained in our article on cabinet markings and fire resistance class.
Technical gas cylinders require a separate cabinet under EN 14470-2 "Safety cabinets for pressurised gas cylinders". The ventilation requirements for such a cabinet are described in our article on technical gas cylinder cabinets.
EN 16121 and EN 16122: cabinets for acids and alkalis
Acids, alkalis and other non-flammable chemicals are stored in cabinets without fire resistance but with proven strength and stability. Our chemical storage cabinets comply with EN 16121 and EN 16122.
EN 14727: storage furniture
EN 14727 covers laboratory storage furniture, i.e. cupboards and storage units, and sets out requirements and test methods. We manufacture our medical furniture line in accordance with it and with ISO 13485. The line has a CE declaration of conformity and is entered in the Polish register of medical devices kept by URPL (the Polish Office for Registration of Medicinal Products, Medical Devices and Biocidal Products).
EN 13792: colour coding of valves
EN 13792 sets out a colour code for valves so that the medium can be identified by colour: water, flammable gas, compressed air, vacuum. Our valves for flammable gases carry 3-zone media marking in line with this standard. The colours and marking rules are summarised in our article on labelling media for laboratory taps and valves.
EN 14056: design and installation
EN 14056 brings together recommendations for the design and installation of laboratory furniture. It applies not to a single product but to the laboratory as a whole, from the layout of workstations to installation. Our step-by-step process is described on the laboratory design page.
ISO 9001 in manufacturing
Our laboratory and medical furniture is made at our factory in Białystok in accordance with ISO 9001:2015. The standard concerns the repeatability of the manufacturing process itself, not an individual piece of furniture, so it complements, rather than replaces, testing to product standards. How equipment affects laboratory accreditation is covered in our article on ISO standards for laboratories.
How to cite standards in a tender specification
The contracting authority usually states a standard for each furniture group and asks for a document confirming compliance:
- laboratory benches compliant with EN 13150,
- fume hoods compliant with EN 14175,
- flammable liquid cabinets compliant with EN 14470-1, with a fire resistance class of 30 or 90 minutes,
- acid and alkali cabinets compliant with EN 16121 and EN 16122,
- a manufacturer with an ISO 9001 quality management system.
The protective performance of a fume hood is confirmed by tests carried out by an independent body, so it is worth asking for the test report rather than just a declaration. Other bid evaluation criteria are covered in our article laboratory furniture tenders: what to score beyond price.
Frequently asked questions
In Europe, fume hoods are covered by EN 14175: Part 2 sets out the safety and performance requirements, Part 3 the type test methods and Part 4 the on-site test methods. In potentially explosive atmospheres, the ATEX directive also applies, together with an Ex-rated design. Renggli fume hoods meet EN 14175.
The number is the cabinet's fire resistance time in minutes according to EN 14470-1. A 30-minute cabinet is sufficient where smaller quantities of flammable liquids are stored; a 90-minute cabinet gives the longest protection for its contents. Renggli offers both classes.
EN 13150 specifies the dimensions, safety requirements and test methods for laboratory benches. Renggli laboratory furniture complies with it.
EN 14727 sets out requirements and test methods for laboratory storage furniture, i.e. cupboards and storage units. Renggli medical furniture complies with it.
Eight: vocabulary, safety and performance requirements, type test methods, on-site test methods, recommendations for installation and maintenance, variable air volume fume hoods, fume hoods for high heat and acidic loads, and fume hoods for radioactive materials.
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