Countertops are essential for work-surfaces. They are commonly used in food kitchens, laboratories, offices, school, and medical facilities. One main concern in any workplace environment should be keeping countertops clean and bacteria free, however, there are places where chemical resistant countertops are important too. If you work with chemicals, it is important to have a surface to work on that can take the abuse of chemical spills without getting damaged. This will ensure the longevity of the countertop and promote proper functioning of your workspace.

Lab countertops are used often by school students in chemistry or other science subjects. Medical facility countertops also need to be durable as they are used by lab personnel and medical

 research every day. Accidents are always prone in these facilities and their countertops need to be prepared for anything the user puts on it. Chemical spills are a big risk for damages, especially with inexperienced students handling corrosive chemicals. Using a chemical resistant countertop will prevent any damage to its surface or structure and lengthen the life of the countertop. It’s important that the countertop is not only resistant to chemicals but fire and heat as well. Fire and heat are direct consequences of reactive chemicals, bunsen burners, and dropped equipment which poses real dangers to anyone around. Whether its education, research, or testing, labs are being used for many applications for different businesses. Businesses are always changing but your countertop should not have to. If your facility is in need of chemical resistant countertops, you should consider phenolic resin countertops or epoxy resin countertops.  

Advantages of Phenolic Resin Countertops

Phenolic resin countertops are extremely durable and highly chemical resistant. It is manufactured by layering craft paper saturated in resin. These layers are processed under high heat and combine to form one solid piece of countertop. These are great for facilities with labs that have continuous heat exposure of up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. It has additional advantages besides being chemical and heat resistant. It can hold up very well against impacts and stress cracking and is also resistant to oil, water, bacteria, and fungus. Phenolic resin countertops meet the requirements of most laboratories and are an excellent choice where lab experiments must be performed in an environment free of contamination.

Advantages of Epoxy Resin Countertops

Epoxy resin countertops are resistant to heat, moisture, impacts, and chemicals. It is considered the standard for most lab environments because of its heat resistance and ability to handle exposure to corrosive chemicals. It is made with a mixture of resin, silica, a hardener, and filler which is then molded into a specific cut and oven cured as a solid slab. It is a durable choice for many kinds of labs because of its non-porous nature of the material and is often used around sinks or drains and other areas prone to moisture. Epoxy resin countertops are extremely hard material and the durability of the product is built in. It can take a beating and still look new for years.