Which Type of Stainless Steel Table is Best for Your Cleanroom or Lab

Check out our large selection of stainless steel tables available for cleanrooms, labs and manufacturing facilities including type 316 stainless steel tables.

Which type of stainless steel table is right for you? That depends on your cleanroom environment, your budget, and your uses for the stainless steel tables. Let’s look at some of the top configurations and options….

Options In Stainless Steel Tables For Cleanrooms, Labs, and Manufacturing Facilities
Here is a checklist of criteria you can apply when choosing a stainless steel table:

_____ which type of stainless steel grade do you need (304, 316, or 430)

_____ which gauge or thickness of stainless steel table do you need

_____ would you prefer a table that has a stainless steel top, a laminated top, or an ESD top

_____ if the table has overhead shelves, do you want them to be made of chrome or stainless steel

_____ does the base of the table need to be stainless steel, or can it be galvanized steel or painted metal

_____ which style of stainless steel table base would you prefer (C-frame, H-frame, or a table with lower shelves)

Stainless Steel Cleanroom Tables
Stainless steel tables in cleanrooms should be made from grade 304 or 316, which are higher grades. Both of these grades of stainless steel resist corrosion and stand up to rigorous cleanings. Grade 316 stainless steel tables are more expensive, but thanks to the molybdenum in them, they’re resistant to chlorine, which is found in most industrial cleaners and solvents. If you’re choosing between 14 gauge stainless steel and 16 gauge stainless steel, pick 16 gauge if the table will hold heavy objects.

Stainless Steel Cleanroom Workstations
A stainless steel workstation with 12-inch wide shelves (cantilevered above the table) is a great choice if you need storage space in your work area. You can choose stainless steel or chrome (a more affordable option) for the overhead shelves. For the table base, you can select a lower shelf, a C-frame, or an H-frame. With its open design, the H-frame workstation allows people to sit at the workstation.

Electropolished Cleanroom Tables
If you need a clean, microscopically smooth table with a mirror-like finish, an electropolished stainless steel table is the best choice for your cleanroom, lab, or sterile environment. The electropolishing process helps prevent corrosion from chlorine by remove metal ions from the stainless steel. This means that you can safely use most cleanroom cleaners and sterile disinfectants on an electropolished table, without risk of harm.

Perforated Cleanroom Tables
In the semiconductor industry, one criteria of cleanrooms is that they need to be critically clean environments. Because of this, a perforated stainless steel table is often required. The perforation on the work surface of the stainless steel table allows the filtered air in the cleanroom to pass through the holes. Because of this, the work surfaces don’t accumulate airborne particles. You can choose a perforated stainless steel table with a brushed or electropolished finish, depending on your needs.

Class 10,000 Stainless Steel Tables / Class 100,000 Stainless Steel Tables
If your cleanroom is set up to meet ISO 4 standards (10,000 particles per cubic meter) or ISO 5 standards (100,000 particles per cubic meter), a type 304 stainless steel table should meet that standard. An alternative would be a formica table top with a stainless steel base. As a note of caution, if you choose formica, be sure that the underside of the table top is sealed (with a backer or formica), so that none of the wood core is exposed.

Lab Tables / Controlled Environment Tables
In most labs, there’s less concern about particles than in cleanrooms and sterile environments, which means less cleaning. As a result, a standard stainless steel table with a lower shelf made from galvanized steel or a C-frame table will work well. Be aware, though, that the galvanized steel will rust if it’s exposed to chemicals or water. If you plan to use the lab table in a relatively dry area, you can choose a grade 430 stainless steel, which is a more affordable option than grade 304 stainless steel or grade 316 stainless steel. Type 430 stainless steel tables also work well in staging areas or assembly areas outside of the cleanroom. 

ESD Workstations
ESD workstations typically have a static dissipative laminate work surface, with a painted steel base. We have adjustable-height ESD workstations, as well as upright options (for overhead shelf space, bin rails, lights, ion blowers, and electrical strips). If you intend to use the ESD workstation in a cleanroom, make sure that the underside of the work surface has a phenolic backer that covers the wood core.

If you have any questions about which type of stainless steel table would work best for your applications and environment contact us at (303) 752-0056 or info@cleanroomworld.com. 

Related Articles On Stainless Steel In Cleanrooms And Labs:
Electropolished Stainless Steel For Cleanrooms And Labs
Stainless Steel Grades For Cleanrooms And Labs: 304, 316, and 430
How To Clean Stainless Steel In Cleanrooms And Labs

We have 316 stainless steel tables (all welded construction, in custom sizes) that are ideal for pharmaceutical manufacturing, cleanrooms, labs, and other sterile environments.