When it comes to finding the right lab equipment for your field, you’ll find several different pieces to choose from. WIthout the right knowledge, you may get overwhelmed or are unsure about the differences between them. For this blog, we’re going to break down one of the most common types of equipment you’ll find in a lab – the clean bench.
What’s a Clean Bench?
To begin, let’s explain what a clean bench is. A clean bench is a laminar flow work cabinet that provides protection against contamination through filtered air across the work surface. Today it is used across several industries including research, manufacturing, bioscience, pharmaceutical production, and more. In fact, many medical preparations take place on a clean bench, which is why they are often seen in hospitals and labs.
What Does it Do?
Clean benches are typically used for work with non-hazardous materials where clean air is necessary to avoid contamination. A common component with these benches is that they are equipped with HEPA filters (High Efficiency Particulate Air). These filters remove particulates such as micro-organisms from the air, but don’t remove vapors or gases however. This means that although the clean bench is made to protect the work on the surface, it doesn’t provide protection for the personnel or the environment. They are also not designed to contain any aerosols generated by the procedure, making the user exposed to these aerosols.
Types of Clean Benches
There are two main types of clean benches that you can consider for your lab. There is the vertical flow bench and the horizontal flow bench. While there are a few differences between the two that we discuss in another blog (link to What is Laminar Flow blog), the biggest difference is that the vertical flow bench is optimal for smaller labs, while the horizontal bench makes it easier for objects to stand still and not fall over. Depending on your preferences and the space you have, you can choose the type of bench that works perfectly for your situation.
Conclusion
Now that you have a more thorough understanding of what a clean bench is, don’t forget that keeping it up-to-date and running smoothly will be another huge undertaking for it. At AirSafe, we specialize in cleaning and repairs of your equipment, to keep it running smoothly so you spend less time fixing it and more time working.
To learn more, contact our office and we’ll talk to you about the next step for your cleaning care process.
