When the word laboratory or lab for short is mentioned, the mind usually conjures up the image of a medical lab, however there are many different labs out there serving many different purposes. Besides the medical labs in abundance for the average citizen to see publicly there are many labs that no typical citizen knows about. This is not because they are secret underground places that no one is supposed to know about, on the contrary these labs test items ranging from fabrics to petroleum that are used for different energy purposes, just to name a few.

In the academic world the lab space will include computer, wet, and scientific laboratories with ranging degrees of chemical use and dangers. Wet chemical areas must be protected with some type of dividers or walls while computer labs are low hazard areas in themselves but are often adjacent to high-risk venues so their workers must wear protective equipment such as eye protection. The professionals working in computer offices should not walk through the researchers’ offices especially if they are not wearing the proper protective gear.

Beginning in the 1990’s researchers such as engineers, physicists, biologists, chemists have been working closely together to reach their common goal with open communication between professionals in their unique fields. This is called open laboratory design.

A lubrication testing laboratory has some similarities and many differences to a medical lab. A broad variety of lubricants must be tested repeatedly to figure out their exclusive qualities. For example, the gas that goes into our cars is graded by regular, special and premium. What makes these differentiations is how pure and highly efficient are the specific company’s petroleum tests. Is there a remarkable difference between oil companies and are brand names necessarily superior to organic names? The average consumer will not know these answers but it is vital that the oil company does and it will pay lots of money to find out.

Petro-Lubricant Testing Lab

Let’s consider an innovative testing lab located in Lafayette, New Jersey. Two brothers, John and Josiah Wintermute purchased a five-acre industrial lot and constructed a climate controlled building specifically suited to their company needs. The company offers a large variety of testing services for various types of lubricants such as greases and oils. The two brothers worked hand in hand to personally create their laboratory which did require lots of work on their part and also saving them money while doing it. The scope of testing of this lab has opened up to include a wide range of commercial, industrial and specialty petroleum.

There are different types of labs and specifically some are independent labs and others are located in the corporate headquarters of the oil companies themselves. Sometimes, consumer advocate companies such as Consumer Reports will hire independent contractors to test products ranging from petroleum to actual home or industrial appliances and then give their evaluation online or in their magazines. Each testing lab has its own benefits. If the oil company for example is testing their own oil this evaluation helps them to see which wholesaler is giving them the purest oil for the cheapest price.

Quality control labs are one of the most common types of laboratories. Making sure that the products that will be sold to the consumers last for an acceptable amount of time costs companies millions of dollars in testing. If they have their own testing facilities, they will be designed to be able to change furnishings and services quickly as the company’s products shift.

Clothing companies will test their products to see how well they wash and under which conditions. The labels that are placed on garments with instructions of how to wash or dry clean are written after the garments are tested numerous times. It could be that you might be able to wash a garment that states dry clean only, however, the company cannot guarantee the wear when cleaned this way. It’s possible that just one of the same garments that was washed didn’t come out satisfactory and the company will not take a chance recommending home washing for that reason.

Labs must be designed to be practical and long lasting no matter what type they are. From cabinets to room temperature and to flooring, each company thoroughly researches the types of products with which to design a new lab. Sometimes a laboratory’s use changes, and it is advantageous to have furniture and equipment racks that are adaptable quickly. Other elements such as flooring are very important to take into consideration.

When it comes to flooring in a lab, lots of thought and ingenuity must be utilized to ensure the maximum quality for the best price. PVC vinyl flooring is practical and durable for all labs whether chemical, medical, lubricant or retail industry testing. One of the trending flooring options for industrial settings and specifically in all types of lab venues are interlocking plastic floor tiles. This is because not only it is of PVC origin, but the varying elements of interlocking floor tiles makes it a superior choice because of its flexibility and ease of installation.

The chemical structure of PVC interlocking floor tiles makes it ideal in surroundings where dangerous chemicals are used since it does not react molecularly with most substances. For example, if a worker mistakenly drops a glass vial and it hits the interlocking floor tiles there is a good chance that it won’t shatter and if it does cleanup will be quick and easy. The worker may be wearing protective goggles, but the tiles will be sparkling clean with little work and substances such as fats, salts, oils, inorganic acids, and alcohols will do zero to harm these ultra-durable tiles. Since there is a strong bond in the chemical bonding, PVC tiles do not shatter.

In case of a lab fire, the PVC makeup of interlocking floor tiles can stop the quick spread of flames since it has a chemical makeup of chlorine, but without much oxygen which is potentially fire causing. Although some people think of typical labs as cold minimally decorated areas, colorful tiles can easily make these stark rooms or warehouses livelier. Yes, even your most intellectual scientist could use a lift when he or she walks into the lab. Think of it, gray walls and floors are enough to put even the greatest thinker to sleep and many professionals must spend long hours in the lab especially if they are at an economic deadline or a medical breakthrough.

Yes, mood is a very important component for creativity. Even when a professional makes a major error if his inventive hat is on tight, he can make his mistake into an object of perfection. Many of our go to products were developed through blunders. Many know the famous story of how sticky notes came into being. After working for months on a super glue, scientists began testing the glue when the vat was ready. To their dismay and complete disappointment, the glue was no way sticky enough to be ready for sales.

I’m sure the chemists were quite upset with this fiasco but one of them discovered a silver lining in the glue failure. Sticky notes cannot be too sticky since they need to be removed easily and so they require a low-grade glue and magically a new industry was created from a total calamity.

A smart lab designer will want to add some color to the floors of that said lab. Now no one is forcing a red, white, and blue color scheme on any designer but interlocking floor tiles come in so many color combos that each designer will find what they are searching for. And if for some reason the variety comes short, interlocking floor tiles can be custom made for each particular customer including the company’s logo in the company’s colors.

Another extremely important factor as mentioned in relation to Petro-Lubricant Testing Labs is the climate control factor. Flooring such as interlocking floor tiles are famous for their adaptability to different temperature environments. Companies must be quite careful to use tiles in their labs that adjust to various extremes in temperatures. A testing lab might have to have close to freezing temperatures at certain times and other labs might have to reach heights in heat.

Final Words

Each and every industry expects to achieve a quality control environment no matter what field they are in, whether it’s the fashion, medical or petroleum industry. Each laboratory is designed specifically for the products that it tests with equipment such as storage cabinets, shelving, and safety cabinets for chemicals. In some instances, a lab must have safety showers or eyewash stations, sprinkler systems and fire extinguishers and even fire blankets. When a lab is being laid out for design a good draftsman must be detail oriented to take these accessories into account. Most importantly, any good craftsman knows that you start from the bottom up meaning the flooring. Any person who is involved in the design and implementation of any type of laboratory should keep in mind the importance of PVC interlocking floor tiles if they need an environment that is climate controlled and change oriented. These types of tiles will easily fill the bill.