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.
