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How to Select the Best Lab Fume Hood

how to select fume hood

When it comes to designing your lab projects, the crucial step is to select the right furniture and Fume Hood for your requirements. A chemical fume hood is a must in laboratories to prevent the release of hazardous substances into lab space by controlling and exhausting hazardous or odorous waste. The important functions of a Fume hood include preventing contamination of the lab, filtering chemical vapors outside by using a certified filter, and protecting lab personnel from exposure to toxic fumes and vapors. When properly installed, fume hoods are the most reliable engineering controls in laboratories.

Every lab’s requirements are different, you need to consider the options and select the right ones for your situation. Fume Hoods are the pillars of every lab project.

Flexible sizes and Constructions

There is a wide range of options in Fume Hoods. Most Fume Hoods are large, box-shaped units that allow ease of use while standing. If your lab is designed to be ADA-compliant, then custom-made fume hoods manufactured using regulatory regimes will meet the standards. If your lab makes use of large objects that give off toxic fumes then a walk-in fume cupboard is the best option. So Fume-hoods are customizable, including the drainage option and ability to meet your lab requirements.

Different Fume Hoods for Different Materials

Fume Hoods are categorized by the materials they are built of. Fume Hood Chemistry is crucial when selecting the unit for your lab. Some fume hoods are designed to handle the properties of perchloric acid by reducing the chances of deposition of perchlorate crystals. Shock-sensitive perchlorates are known to detonate on contact, causing serious injuries to lab personnel. So Perchloric acid hoods work best in such cases. Polypropylene fume hoods are engineered to resist acidic environments like sulphuric and hydrochloric acids.

Biosafety cabinets have a fume hood chamber that works best while dealing with harmful organisms. This model is available with total recirculation, and partial or full exhaust. These units are extremely crucial for the safety of working personnel dealing with communicable diseases like HIV and Hepatitis B. Laboratory Fume Hoods specialized for work involving radioisotopes are also available. This specialized fume hood is built with stainless steel internal and work surfaces with seamless welded corners for easy cleaning and maintenance.

Fume Hoods for Nontoxic Materials

For less hazardous situations, a wall-mounted or ceiling-suspended canopy works well. They are meant for nontoxic fumes like steam, heat, or odors. For local fumes, the extractor arm fume hood can be mounted on a bench or ceiling, or wall. They are a good solution for a fume-free workplace

Choosing the Best Laboratory Fume Hood

Contact fume hood manufacturers to supply you with top-notch fume hoods designed with precision to minimize inhalation of toxic vapors and safeguard the health of working personnel.

When it comes to selecting fume hoods you will be confused with the kinds of fume hoods available in the market. The important factors to keep in mind are the size of your lab and the materials you handle. Fume Hoods can be custom-built to meet your specifications. With this flexibility available, understand the needs of your faculty and accordingly make a wise decision to keep your lab safe.

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What Is a Fume Hood? Importance in Laboratories

What Is a Fume Hood? Importance in Laboratories

A Fume Hood is a ventilated enclosure used to trap and exhaust vapors, gases, and nanoparticles An exhaust fan situated on top of the laboratory building pulls air, and airborne contaminants through connected ductwork and exhausts them into the atmosphere. A fume hood keeps a secure work environment for both the experiments and the experimenters.

Every fume hood has general components. A fume hood has a hood body. The Baffles which are partitions used to create slotted openings along the back of the hood.The airfoils to streamline airflow into the hood, the work surface, an exhaust plenum which helps to distribute airflow evenly across the hood face.,the face and the sash.

Importance of Fume Hood in Laboratory

It is mandatory to use fumeHood in a laboratory while working with hazardous Substances. In a laboratory, there will be a discharge of waste air, including harmful gas. There will be moisture, flammable, explosive, and corrosive substances during chemical operations. An efficient fume hood will protect the operators and keep the surroundings clean by preventing the spread of pollutants. The purpose of chemical fume hoods is to prevent the spread of toxic substances into the laboratory space by controlling and then exhausting hazardous and/or odorous chemicals. 

There are other functions of the hood like:

  • Act as physical barriers between experiments and the lab.
  • Preventing inhalation of chemical fumes.
  • Prevent chemical spills.
  • Prevent run-away reactions.

To prevent contaminants from escaping the hood, it maintains a relatively negative pressure inside while drawing air through the hood opening at a constant rate. A suitable hood face velocity is crucial to achieving safe and effective fume hood operation.

Fume hood manufacturers will provide highly customized fume hoods to meet your requirements.

Main Types of Fume Hoods

Distillation Fume Hood

 It is unique from others because of its low worktop height, which aids the operator to operate from a highly elevated position. This makes it easier to install and mounting of tall distillation equipment in the work chamber. The remaining characteristics of this kind of hood are similar to the typical fumeHood.

Acid Digestion Fume Hood 

Special liners composed of materials such as unplasticized PVC are used in fume hoods because of their ability to withstand acid.  For acid digestion applications that require high temperatures while being in service, it is possible to employ different types of materials such as PVDF.

Non-Fume Hoods

It is common for chemical fume hoods such as biological safety cabinets, laminar flow clean benches, pharmacy isolators, and glove boxes to be mistaken for biological safety cabinets. As a result of particulate filters, these devices cannot eliminate chemical vapors from the air

Ductless Fume Hood 

The purpose of ductless fume hoods is to adsorb chemical vapors and fumes with the help of activated carbon filtration. This type of hood uses recirculation to deliver air to the laboratory.

Points to Keep in Mind When Using a Laboratory Fume Hood

  • Put a stop  to operations if a problem is detected or if the airflow alert is triggered
  • Avoid obstructing the movement of air via the baffles or slats. 
  • Place the equipment as far back as possible in the hood. At the hood’s front, airflow is less effective than at the rear.
  • A fume hood isn’t a disposal, so chemicals and waste should not be kept under hoods.
  • Before and during usage, make sure to monitor the airflow.
  • The fume hood is not a storage cabinet. Numerous mishaps can occur due to the improper storage of incompatible materials in fumeHood.
  • The sash should be closed to conserve energy.
  • While fume hoods are effective in controlling flames, and explosions, a secondary blast shield should also be used if available.

We are a leading lab furniture manufacturer with years of experience in this industryWe have ISO certification and adhere to best industrial practices. We offer a wide range of fume hoods to choose from. We incorporate the latest in Fume Hood technology. We supply, install and service our products all over India.

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