Laboratories use a wide variety of chemicals, some of which can be toxic and/or volatile. Because of this, protecting lab employees and students is extremely important.
So, how do you do that?
One of the best ways to do that is through the use of a fume hood.
A fume hood is basically an enclosed industrial workbench with an exhaust system that is designed to limit the person doing work on the workbench from exposure to hazardous or toxic fumes, vapors or dusts. It has an enclosure on three sides, with the fourth side open for the lab worker to operate.
Fume hoods have a fan that creates a positive airflow to pull contaminants into the filtration system. The major difference in fume hood design occurs in the manner used for venting the contaminated air.
There are two types of fume hoods...Ducted and ductless. The major difference between the two is the method through which the fumes are vented away from the worker.
Because they have ductwork that is attached to the building, ducted fume hoods are stationery with a fixed position in the lab. This ensures that there is always adequate egress from the lab in case of fire or chemical dispersion.
Ducted fume hoods are usually manufactured in standard sizes, however, a quality fume hood manufacturer can usually make a custom size that works best in your lab layout.
If you need to connect your fume hood to gas lines, ducted fume hoods often have the connections built-in, so you can plumb them directly to the gas lines. This reduces the risk of improper or incorrect connections, helping to ensure the safety of your lab procedures and personnel.
Advantages of ducted fume hoods include:
Disadvantages of ducted fume hoods include:
Ducted fume hoods can be manufactured to include sinks and electrical outlets. You can also get a variety of countertop options that can stand up to any range of chemicals or temperatures.
You can read more about which countertop is best for your application in our article, Top 5 Materials To Consider For Your Lab Countertops.
A Ductless fume hood also known as a portable fume hood, is great for use in existing buildings where the ductwork is inaccessible, where mobility is necessary or cost is an issue.
Unlike ducted fume hoods, ductless hoods are self-contained and work well for laboratories where mobility is necessary. Laboratories that handle light to moderate chemical loads (no more than 10 chemicals per application, with a volume of approximately 500 mls or less) also may find ductless fume hoods to be a better choice operationally.
Advantages of ductless fume hoods include:
Disadvantages of ductless fume hoods include:
Now that you know more about the two types of fume hoods available for laboratory use, as well as their advantages and disadvantages, it’s time to take a closer look at your workspace.
Before you purchase a laboratory fume hood, it’s important to understand the needs of your work space. Here are 11 questions to ask yourself before buying a fume hood:
Answering these questions before your purchase a fume hood will help you weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each, and how they apply to your particular lab’s needs.
Fume hoods are an important piece of equipment for any laboratory environment. When used properly, they help protect lab employees and students working with toxic or volatile chemicals and compounds.
Regardless of whether you are leaning toward a ducted or ductless fume hood, fume hood safety should be your first consideration. Be sure the fume hood you are considering is rated for the temperature, volume and chemicals you will use.
Our fume hood safety checklist also offers a blueprint for what elements should be part of your laboratory’s training and other safety procedures that promote everyday best practices.