When a glass thermometer breaks in a laboratory environment, two hazards occur simultaneously: sharp glass fragments and chemical fill contamination. The VEE GEE Scientific FEP Encapsulated Armored Glass Thermometer addresses both in a single instrument. The nickel-plated brass armor absorbs impact and protects the thermometer from rough handling and shock. The FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene) encapsulation layer surrounds the glass — if the thermometer breaks despite the armor, the FEP coating contains the glass fragments and mercury-free blue liquid fill, preventing injury and contamination of the work environment.
Filled with VEE GEE's Safety Blue organic liquid — biodegradable, non-toxic, and mercury-free — these thermometers deliver the accuracy and reliability of traditional liquid-in-glass instruments without the environmental and safety liabilities of mercury. Available in Fahrenheit (°F) scales across multiple temperature ranges, in Total and Partial Immersion configurations. Each thermometer is individually serialized for calibration traceability.
Features and Benefits
Dual Protection: FEP Encapsulation + Nickel-Plated Brass Armor: The outer brass armor absorbs mechanical impact and shock during handling and transport. The inner FEP encapsulation layer contains glass and liquid fill in the event of breakage — providing two independent safety barriers in one thermometer.
Mercury-Free Safety Blue Fill: Organic, biodegradable, and non-toxic liquid fill delivers performance equivalent to mercury-filled thermometers without hazardous material liabilities — compliant with mercury-free lab policies and disposal regulations.
Individually Serialized: Each thermometer carries a unique serial number for calibration tracking, chain-of-custody documentation, and audit trail compliance in GLP, ISO, and regulated research environments.
Borosilicate Glass Construction: Premium borosilicate glass provides thermal expansion stability and chemical resistance — maintains accurate readings across the full temperature range without glass deformation.
Permanently Etched Scale: Temperature graduations are etched directly into the glass and filled with white enamel — the scale cannot wear away, smear, or peel during cleaning or repeated use.
Safety Blue Fill Against White Background: High-contrast blue liquid column against a white enamel background provides excellent readability in typical lab lighting conditions without magnification.
Total and Partial Immersion Options: Choose Total Immersion for highest accuracy when the entire thermometer is submerged; choose Partial Immersion for applications where only part of the thermometer enters the measured medium.
Multiple Temperature Ranges: Available across 4 temperature ranges in Fahrenheit (°F) scale — select the range that best matches your specific application requirements.
Specifications by Temperature Range
| Temperature Range | Immersion Type | Resolution | Length | SKU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -30 to 120°F | Total/Partial Immersion | 2°F | 12 in (30.5 cm) | 80701E-A (Total) / 80901E-A (Partial) |
| -4 to 230°F | Total/Partial Immersion | 2°F | 12 in (30.5 cm) | 80702E-A (Total) / 80902E-A (Partial) |
| 0 to 300°F | Total/Partial Immersion | 2°F | 12 in (30.5 cm) | 80703E-A (Total) / 80903E-A (Partial) |
| 30 to 220°F | Total/Partial Immersion | 2°F | 16 in (40.6 cm) | 80704E-A (Total) / 80904E-A (Partial) |
VEE GEE Thermometer Protection Level Guide
| Level | Protection | Breakage Containment | Impact Protection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | None | No | No |
| FEP Encapsulated | FEP sleeve | Yes — glass and fill contained | No |
| Armored | Nickel-plated brass armor | No | Yes |
| FEP + Armored | FEP + Brass Armor | Yes | Yes |
Laboratory Applications
Laboratory water bath and heating block temperature verification where liquid-in-glass accuracy and mercury-free certification are both required
Food and beverage processing where temperature compliance monitoring requires traceable, serialized thermometers meeting mercury-free standards
Environmental monitoring, wastewater treatment, and field sampling where general-purpose Fahrenheit (°F) measurement is required with minimal calibration overhead
University teaching labs requiring affordable, accurate thermometers with serialized traceability for student experiment documentation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Safety Blue fill and is it safe if the thermometer breaks?
Safety Blue is VEE GEE's organic, biodegradable blue liquid that replaces mercury in liquid-in-glass thermometers. It is non-toxic and non-hazardous — unlike mercury, a broken Safety Blue thermometer does not require mercury spill response procedures. The liquid is safe to handle and the instrument can be disposed of in standard laboratory glass waste rather than as hazardous waste.
What is the difference between Total and Partial Immersion?
Total Immersion thermometers are calibrated for use when the entire thermometer (bulb and liquid column) is submerged in the measured medium — this provides maximum accuracy. Partial Immersion thermometers are calibrated for use when only the lower portion (typically 3 inches) is immersed, with the upper portion in air. Choose Total for water baths and enclosed temperature measurement; Partial for applications where full immersion is not possible.
What does "serialized" mean for these thermometers?
Each thermometer is individually marked with a unique serial number during manufacturing. The serial number ties the instrument to production lot records and enables calibration documentation — important for GLP compliance, ISO 17025 requirements, and any laboratory quality system requiring instrument-level traceability.
This listing shows FEP Encapsulated + Armored protection. What other options are available?
This is the highest protection level. No upgrade available.
How do I select the right temperature range?
Choose a range where your target temperature falls in the middle third of the scale — this provides the most accurate readings and the longest usable column length for interpolation. Avoid using thermometers at the extreme ends of their rated range, where accuracy and resolution are reduced.
Quality Assurance
VEE GEE Scientific manufactures these thermometers from premium borosilicate glass with permanently etched scales and individually serialized markings. Each thermometer is filled with Safety Blue organic liquid verified for consistent performance across the full rated temperature range. FEP encapsulation is applied and tested for complete glass and liquid containment integrity. Nickel-plated brass armor is fitted and inspected for secure engagement and impact resistance. VEE GEE backs these thermometers with a 1-year warranty.
Academic and Institutional Pricing
LabSupplies.com offers tiered quantity pricing for academic and research institutions. As an authorized dealer, we ship directly from USA inventory.