Supporting Overhead Snorkel Laboratory Equipment with Unistrut

When it comes to overhead Unistrut solutions, your mind might first go to data center ceiling grids, cable and fiber trays, or surgical light supports, but our team has found that Unistrut can work in any situation that requires a dependable overhead support system. One application that is perfect for Unistrut is laboratory support systems. 

In a laboratory setting, precision and safety are of the utmost importance. You need a support solution that can withstand daily wear and tear while providing a streamlined and easy-to-use experience. Our team has been contracted for just that type of solution at many major universities across the Midwest.

Designing an Overhead Snorkel Laboratory Support System 

Over the years, our team has designed, supplied, and installed supports for laboratory snorkel exhausts many times. A snorkel exhaust is a ventilation system that eliminates dust, noxious fumes, chemicals, and other hazards from a lab station. They are especially popular in college labs because they can be installed at each station, allowing students to work at their seat instead of having to move to a larger exhaust hood elsewhere in the lab. They are a convenient tool to have, but they require an overhead support structure in order to be installed throughout a college laboratory. 

Because overhead snorkels are relatively lightweight on their own, there are other factors than snorkel weight to consider when designing their overhead support system. Like any other element that has a cantilever arm and can rotate, the snorkel support system design will need to consider both the dead load of the system and the moment when fully extended. And while this may be a lab setting, it’s still on a college campus, so it’s important to factor in safety considerations, like if a student were to attempt to hang from the support system. 

Why Use Unistrut to Support Your Overhead Snorkel Laboratory Equipment 

Unistrut framing uses a weldless connection to provide a high level of overhead support. The bolt and channel nut system means that your solution is endlessly adjustable and customizable, creating the solution you need now and in the future. This is especially helpful for college lab settings, where class formats can change and your lab layout needs to be able to adapt. 

Another benefit of the Unistrut weldless connection is that much of a lab’s overhead snorkel support structure can be prefabricated, making installation quick and cost-effective. In order to provide a truly turn-key design, our team typically asks questions like the following:

• What is the weight and moment of the snorkel extractor?
• What structure will the Unistrut support attach to?
  • Whether steel beams, joists, or concrete deck, Unistrut can work with your existing structure
• What elevation does the Unistrut support need to be relative to the finish floor or ceiling height?
• Will each snorkel be supported individually or will one support handle a row of snorkels?
  • Depending on the layout of the lab, we can construct a single support structure to handle multiple snorkels or support each individually. The Unistrut Midwest team will work with you to determine the most cost-effective layout.
• What services do you require?
  • Our team can help with design assistance, engineering (including P/E stamp), material supply, installation, or all of the above.

Unistrut can be applied in many other solutions for laboratories, including supporting casework, overhead service carriers, welding curtain supports, and shelving. To discuss which options are right for your application or design your laboratory solution, contact our team.