Laboratories
Epoxy, phenolic or stainless: choosing a laboratory worktop
Published 6 min read
The worktop is the surface your lab touches all day, so it has to survive your chemicals, your heat and your cleaning routine. No single material wins everywhere.
This guide compares the four common options and tells you where each one fits.
How two of them are built
- Epoxy resin15 to 25 mm, the same all the way through
Illustration, not to exact scale.
- Stainless sheet1.5 to 2 mm, No. 4 or 2B
- Adhesive and dampingbonded, quiet
- Moisture-resistant boardrigid substrate
Illustration, not to exact scale.
The four options
| Material | Thickness | Strengths | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epoxy resin | 15 / 19 / 25 mm | Excellent chemical and heat resistance, withstands open flame, non-porous, solid through its thickness | Heavier and costlier; longer lead time |
| Phenolic resin | 13 / 16 / 19 / 25 mm | Strong chemical resistance, lighter, lower cost, copes well with cold | Not for open flame or sustained contact with very hot vessels |
| Compact HPL | About 20 mm | Economical and moisture resistant | Teaching and dry labs, not harsh chemicals |
| Stainless steel | 1.5 – 2 mm sheet on board | Hygienic and easy to sanitise | Scratches show; not for strong acids and chlorides on lower grades |
Typical values for guidance. Final specification is confirmed per project.
Epoxy versus phenolic
Both resist most laboratory chemicals and both are easy to clean. The practical differences are heat, weight and cost.
Epoxy tolerates open flame and hot vessels, which makes it the safer choice for benches with burners or hot-plate work. Per square metre it is also heavier: at roughly 25 mm, epoxy is about 50 to 55 kg per square metre against about 35 kg for phenolic, so it needs sturdier cabinets.
Phenolic is lighter, usually cheaper and faster to obtain. It is a strong, economical choice for mixed use at moderate temperatures. If you regularly work with strong acids such as hydrofluoric or concentrated sulphuric, check the manufacturer’s chemical resistance chart for your reagents before choosing either.
Choosing by lab type
Wet and chemical labs
Epoxy resin, especially where there is heat or harsh reagents.
Mixed-use research labs
Phenolic resin gives strong performance at lower cost and weight.
Teaching and dry labs
Compact HPL is economical and moisture resistant.
Clean rooms and pharma
Stainless steel, with a coved, sealed upstand, for a hygienic, sanitisable surface.
Standards
Laboratory workbenches are specified to EN 13150 (dimensions, safety requirements and test methods), and furniture layout to EN 14056. Confirm which apply to your project with your consultant.
Frequently asked questions
Which worktop lasts longest?
Epoxy resin is solid through its full thickness, so a scratch never exposes a different layer, and it tolerates the widest range of heat and flame. Lifetime still depends on your reagents and cleaning routine.
Can I mix materials in one lab?
Yes. It is common to use epoxy at wet and hot benches and a cheaper material at write-up or instrument benches.
Is stainless steel antibacterial?
Not by itself. A smooth, non-porous surface limits bacterial attachment, which is why it is used in clean and pharma areas.
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