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Science laboratory solutions
By Heather Barker Vermeer Industry Reporter
A lab that inspires learning and supports a safe environment can turn students on to the wonders of science. Design and furnishing solutions for a functional and efficient lab space not only benefit students but allow staff to flourish too. As exciting as the hands-on experiments are, the need for notetaking, textbook reading, and diagram drawing must be factored alongside sufficient desk and bench space. Students and staff need room to move, adequate seating, as well as digital or other display tools for visibility. Visualising a diagram is as important as seeing a liquid turn to gas: careful design is required to ensure presentations are visible from a distance without compromising safety.
items that will be used regularly in practical lessons, so it is important to ensure that you have enough of each item to cover every student, including additional pieces to factor for any breakages that may occur. These essential items include flasks, clamps, burners, forceps, gauze wire, teat pipettes, funnels, scissors, tripods, bench mats,
test tubes, beakers, stirring rods, thermometers, and litmus paper. For biology, for example, it is essential that you are stocking up on items such as: scalpels, petri dishes, microscopes, microscope slides and tongs. Whereas for chemistry classes, you’ll need to factor in the periodic table poster,
chemicals, and components for use in experiments (e.g., magnesium strips), spill kits and hazardous material cabinets.
Chemical Storage Safety Schools typically stock a mix of Class 3 (flammable liquids) and Class 8 (corrosives – e.g., acids) chemicals for demonstrations.
Lab Equipment
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While due care and diligence should always be taken, particularly at the design stage, students’ learning should not feel restricted by an overzealous approach to health and safety. There are general science TECHNOLOGY
Term 2, 2022 | schoolnews.co.nz
