Free laboratory layout blocks for AutoCAD (DWG): benches, fume cupboards, safety cabinets, equipment, science rooms

About the sizes

There is no single standard for how a laboratory is laid out. The sizes are typical working sizes, for example a 750 mm deep wall bench, a 1500 x 800 mm fume cupboard or a 1100 x 600 mm flammable liquids cabinet, and they differ by manufacturer and country. Fume cupboards (EN 14175 is the usual reference) and microbiological safety cabinets (EN 12469) are specified by their data sheets, and the clearances around them, the distance to showers, the number of exits and the storage limits are set by the rules that apply to your laboratory, so take them from those rules and not from the block sizes.

The blocks are our own drawings, simplified to what matters on a plan, and the library is not certified. It is meant to lay out a laboratory, not to prove that a layout meets safety, ventilation or building rules. Check the data sheet of the equipment you choose and the regulations that apply in your country, and have the final layout reviewed by a competent person.

Frequently asked questions

Which items are in the library?

Benches and tables, fume cupboards and cabinets, safety equipment and gas, cabinets and storage, laboratory equipment, teaching laboratory furniture, laboratory layouts, room modules, service points and 3 markers. The page above lists every group with its count.

Do the blocks follow a laboratory design standard?

No. They are typical sizes. Fume cupboard performance, clearances, escape routes and storage limits are set by the rules in your country and by the data sheet of the product, so check them before you fix a layout, then move or copy the blocks to fit.

Can I use the symbols in commercial projects?

Yes. They are free to use and modify in your own projects, including commercial ones. They are provided as is, without warranty.

Where are classroom desks, doors and stairs?

Student desks, chairs and classroom layouts are in the school and classroom library, general doors, windows, stairs and walls are in the architectural plan library, and the room modules here only give a simple shell with a door and windows.

Can I change a symbol or add attributes?

Yes. Open the DWG, edit a block with BEDIT to change it or add attributes, and save. To update drawings that already contain the block, run ATTSYNC or replace the block. Make a backup first: attribute values can be lost if ATTSYNC is used carelessly.

Where do I find a ready-made set of these symbols for AutoCAD?

AutoCAD itself ships only a small set of sample blocks, so a full symbol set has to come from a library. Download the ZIP on this page and open the DWG: every symbol is a block. Insert one with INSERT (Blocks palette, Libraries tab, then pick the DWG) or drag it from DesignCenter (ADCENTER). You can also download a single symbol on its own.