For chemical laboratories, the generally acceptable width of a laboratory bench equipped with a reagent rack is 2 feet 6 inches for a wall-mounted all-steel laboratory bench and 5 feet for a peninsula type. A width of 3 feet is recommended for physics labs and sometimes 6 feet for electronic equipment. For some laboratories, a bench width of 2 feet or 2 feet 3 inches is sufficient. When the countertop is made of thick wood, it is relatively unimportant to consider the relationship between width and cost. However, when using finished boards, the width should be considered in conjunction with the board size to minimize material loss.

        As construction prices rise,All steel experimental benchdistance will be studied more closely. Some laboratory designers argue that a 6-foot inter-station spacing is reasonable as the use of mobile equipment increases. If it were adopted, a 22-foot-long building would mean losing a two-module laboratory; conversely, going from 5 feet to 4 feet, 6 inches would mean gaining a single-module laboratory.

        The distance depends on convenience and safety considerations. It should allow one person to easily pass another person working next to the all-steel test bench without risk of collision if the latter suddenly retreats. Experience suggests that 4 feet, 6 inches to 5 inches is ideal; 4 feet is a squeeze. It must be admitted that there are laboratories where a person works with as little as 3 feet 3 inches between two pieces of furniture, but such small distances certainly should not be considered in the design of a laboratory.