Can Laboratory Glassware Be Repaired?

Because laboratory staff frequently handle dangerous chemicals during their experiments and procedures, following safety protocols is of the utmost importance. Therefore, any damages noticed in laboratory glassware should not be ignored and must be reported immediately..

However, it can be difficult to determine whether laboratory glass should be fixed or replaced. While repairs are possible in some circumstances, waiting for an expert to mend the glass can halt progress in your facility. Conversely, purchasing brand new glassware as a replacement can be incredibly expensive.

Broken lab glass can lead to a multitude of budget and time concerns for a facility. To learn more, here are some of the circumstances where lab glassware repair is and isn’t an option.

Circumstances When Lab Glassware Repair Is Possible

As paying for glass repairs is less expensive than the cost of a replacement, fixing broken equipment will save your lab more money in the long run. But in what situations is lab glassware repair an option?

Professional repair services can fix a variety of general glass items, including spray chambers. More specifically, cracks in flasks can be repaired provided they aren’t too big. For example, star cracks, which appear as stars and spread outward, are fixable with the right equipment. Thermal strain is another repairable problem your glassware can encounter. This issue occurs when the glass is heated unevenly on its strain point.

Many of the damages sustained by laboratory glass can be fixed by professional glassblowers. However, you must ensure that the glassware given to them is clean. Otherwise, lingering chemicals or substances can become gasses when heated during the repair process and become a danger. An expert glass repair company can also help identify whether or not glassware is salvageable if you are unsure.

Situations When Laboratory Glass Must Be Replaced

Because broken glassware can jeopardize the safety of your laboratory, knowing when it should be thrown out is essential. There are multiple factors that can determine whether it should be partially or completely replaced. For example, if a complex piece of glass equipment breaks, then it may be possible to replace the broken component rather than throw away the entire device. Performing maintenance and upgrades like this will help ensure your glass equipment is still safe to use and increase its longevity. 

In some cases, whether or not lab glassware repair can be an option is dependent on what part of the equipment was damaged. Certain glass funnels can be fixed if their stem is broken off, while any cracks in other areas can ruin it for good. Some varieties of glass beakers and flasks are considered consumable and are disposable if cracks occur. Also, it is important to take the age of glass equipment into consideration, as years of wear and tear may warrant throwing it away.

Above all, being familiar with what kinds of equipment you own, their unique properties, and their condition is important for knowing whether lab glassware repair or a replacement is the right option.

If your facility is searching for high-quality glassware to replace unrepairable equipment, reach out to At-Mar Glass today. We offer a variety of professional laboratory products, including Nitrogen manifolds, reactor and reactor lids, flasks with multiple necks, stopcocks for vacuum manifolds, and much more. Call us today for further information.