“Safe, user-friendly and energy efficient labs start with high quality furniture”

When visiting customers somewhere across South, Central or North America to provide maintenance services or assist in planning a new laboratory, WNA Labs Senior Systems Engineer Louis Paiva ensures that every detail is thoroughly addressed. From fume hoods and work benches to lab door pressure, each element is carefully inspected, offering critical insights into the safety measures implemented by the management team.

We spoke with WNA Labs seasoned engineer to understand the importance of adopting premium laboratory furniture — not only to enhance safety but also to improve energy efficiency while creating a comfortable and user-friendly environment for lab professionals.

WNA Labs: How long have you been in the lab industry and what does your job as a senior systems engineer entail?

Louis Paiva: I’ve been in the lab industry for about 20 years now — eight of them with Waldner. My role involves working closely with customers on product design specifications, ensuring each solution is custom-tailored to their laboratory's unique requirements. In an initial consultation, for example, a customer might inform us that they will be using numerous electrical instruments on the bench and conducting experiments that produce some toxic vapors or gases. With this information, we can recommend the appropriate number of outlets, maybe suggesting 220V instead of the standard 120V. We might also recommend installing exhaust snorkels, to eliminate the harmful fumes from those experiments. This support is very important because choosing the right furniture sizes and materials is crucial for optimizing lab functionality.

Additionally, I provide ongoing technical support for Waldner labs that are already operational and also make recommendations to enhance safety, reliability and efficiency.

What are some key factors managers should consider when selecting new furniture for their labs?

The key factors are lab safety and ergonomics. This is especially important because, in many cases, the person ordering the lab won’t be the one using it. With my lab experience, I can advise managers on how to ensure their lab is safe, reliable, long-lasting and comfortable for the end user. It’s important to remind managers that lab products, if misused, can have significant unintended consequences, impacting all lab users.

What do you focus on when installing and/or maintaining lab furniture?

We focus primarily on lab safety — for users and the environment — and its user-friendliness. During installation, we make sure that the product specifications are correct, and the lab layout is optimal for the end user. And of course, the ease of operation and maintenance are big factors as well.

What role does lab furniture play in improving lab efficiency and safety?

High quality, reliable furniture is crucial to creating a safe, user-friendly and energy-efficient laboratory. For example, a well-designed fume hood can significantly improve energy efficiency without compromising safety by maintaining containment while in use at a low air volume exchange rate. Additionally, when not in use, the fume hood can further reduce energy consumption by automatically closing the sash and allowing the extraction motor to run at reduced speed to maintain the much lower required air exchange rate. This feature doubles or even triples energy savings while ensuring the containment of hazardous substances.

How does WNA Labs distinguish itself from its competitors

We don’t only sell the products — we provide complete lab solutions. This includes everything from planning and project designing to furniture installation, commissioning, testing in accordance with ASHRAE 110 (American) or EN (European Norms) 14175 certification standards and maintenance services. In some cases, we even offer training. Most other companies in the market don’t provide such a comprehensive service, which can be critical to the success of a new lab space. I’ve seen instances where miscommunication among multiple sub-contractors led to furniture not meeting the required specifications or type of material. This can cause all sorts of issues, from project delays to safety concerns.

What are the most common issues that hind lab efficiency and how can WNA Labs’ Laboratory Enhancement Advisory Program (LEAP) help?

I’d say the lack of personnel trained in containing toxic substances and operating in an energy-efficient way. We see labs running non-stop, 24/7 air exchange, without an efficient laboratory air balance. With LEAP, we provide our customers with the support they need to eliminate lab users’ exposure to toxic gases while making the lab more energy efficient.

What critical maintenance tasks lab managers should prioritize to extend the lifespan of their lab furniture?

Annual preventative maintenance of fume hoods is essential. A comprehensive program should not only verify air exchange rates but also ensure that every critical component is functioning properly.

What is the most exciting part about your job?

I truly enjoy seeing the impact of my work on the laboratory operations — whether it’s improving safety or increasing energy savings. I find it rewarding to see the positive results from simple adjustments, like optimizing fume hood air exchange rates to enhance safety or adjusting sash settings to maximize energy efficiency.