What is a fume hood used for in a science lab?

The laboratory chemical fume hood is the most common local exhaust ventilation system used in laboratories and is the primary method used to control inhalation exposures to hazardous substances. When used properly, fume hoods offer a significant degree of protection for the user.

Do fume hoods need to be certified?

Fume hood certification is necessary to ensure that hoods are preforming adequately to contain hazardous chemical vapors and gases. Fume hoods must be certified annually by the Office of Research Safety Affairs.

How many CFM do I need for a fume hood?

The recognized acceptable minimum volumetric rate (CFM) of air for fume hood exhaust is typically cited from National Fire Protection Association’s NFPA 45 recommendation of 25 CFM per interior square foot of work area.

What are fume hoods used for in forensics?

A fume hood is an exhaust system designed to remove fumes from a laboratory or work area. Fume hoods can remove chemical vapors, dust, gas, mist, or aerosols that may be harmful to workers or otherwise contaminate the lab environment.

When would you use a fume hood?

Fume hoods should be used when working with toxic compounds or compounds with a boiling point below 120°C. Fume hoods, or other effective local ventilation, must be provided and used when the materials used will exceed exposure limits in the laboratory.

How does a fume hood work?

A fume hood is a ventilated enclosure in which gases, vapors and fumes are captured and removed from the work area. An exhaust fan situated on the top of the laboratory building pulls air and airborne contaminants through connected ductwork and exhausts them to the atmosphere.

How do I certify my fume hood?

Fume hood certification should be performed at least once per year. Laboratory Design and Supply can test your fume hoods to make sure they are operating at optimal airflow levels. LabDS will send a qualified professional to your location to test your hoods using state of the art airflow monitoring equipment.

How often do fume hoods need to be inspected?

For fume hoods, they are primarily concerned with airflow at the face of the hood, monitoring, maintenance, and exhaust. OSHA indicates that the quality and quantity of ventilation should be inspected at installation, then regularly monitored at least every three months.

Is 400 CFM range hood enough?

To power your range hood, you need at least 100 CFM for every 10,000 BTUs of your stovetop. For example, a 100,000 BTU stove needs at least a 1000 CFM range hood. For electric stoves, multiply the stove width by 10. So, for a 42” electric stove you want a range hood with at least 420 CFM.

How do I choose a fume hood?

7 questions to answer when choosing a fume hood

  1. What will you be doing inside the hood?
  2. What size of fume hood do you need?
  3. Do you require service fixtures or other accessories in the fume hood?
  4. What about required accessories outside of the fume hood?
  5. How will the fume hood be exhausted?

What is a fume hood and how does it work?

What are the different types of fume hoods?

Our ductless fume hoods provide energy savings, safety and convenience and are available in a variety of configurations, including mobile fume hoods and polypropylene fume hoods.

What is a ductless fume hood?

Fume hoods are designed to provide personnel protection from toxic or volatile chemicals by continuously delivering airflow away from the user to the work area. Ductless fume hoods contain filters which clean contaminated air and recirculate it directly back into the laboratory.

What are the benefits of a fume hood?

Ductless fume hoods by Air Science ® protect your personnel and the environment from toxic or volatile chemicals so that you can concentrate on what matters most: your work. Continuous airflow across the work surface draws contamination away from the user, recycling clean air back into your laboratory.

What is the purair basic series ductless fume hood?

The Purair Basic Series ductless fume hoods are compact, ideal for use in laboratory environments where space is limited or where only small volumes of harmful substances are handled. For package and mail inspection workstations, see Purair SafeSEARCH.