Chemical Fume Hood

Chemical Fume Hood-A Detailed Buying Guide by Sunnyda.

You have to deal with a lot of chemicals when working in sterilized environments like laboratories or research areas. There are mainly two types of chemicals the volatile and the non-volatile ones.

Volatile chemicals produce fumes when exposed to the environmental air while non-volatile chemicals don’t.

The fumes produced by volatile organic compounds can be highly damaging to your laboratory workers.

You must ensure to get rid of these harmful fumes by using a Chemical Fume Hood.

It takes out the harmful fumes from the sterilized environment, throws them outside, and makes your laboratory’s air cleaned and purified. It is compatible with different types of laboratories including medical and chemical labs.

This buying guide mentions the features, purpose, types, usage, and maintenance of a Chemical Fume Hood to enhance your experience. Let’s begin.

What is a Chemical Fume Hood?

A Chemical Fume Hood is laboratory equipment that gets rid of the harmful fumes present in the environment.

It helps clean, and purify the environment making it safer for the workers and avoiding any process inefficiency.

It is highly versatile and compatible, can be used for various labs including hospitals, pharmaceuticals, medical labs, etc.

There is a special list of chemicals that can be used in this fume hood. You should always comply with this list for ensuring chemical compatibility and avoiding any accidents.

This list mentions only the ISO-approved chemicals that are safe to be used for the workers and the application is carried out.

Various models are available having different sizes, construction materials, features, and controls. You have multiple options to choose the one that best suits your application.

You can even get your customized one to meet the exclusive demands of your laboratory.

Mild Steel Chemical Fume Hood

What are the Standard Features of a Chemical Fume Hood?

• Automatic safety controller

• Ductless design

• Thermoplastic construction

• Integral base featuring deep spill lip

• Minimal installation requirement

• Quiet operation, less than 49db

• CSA, UL, and CE listed

• Easy cleaning

• Application-specific base, sash, and enclosure material

• Requires 110Vor 220V electrical outlet connection

• Low profile models are also available

• Easy maintenance requirements

Excellent Features of Chemical Fume Hood

What are the Safety Features of a Chemical Fume Hood?

• The filter and electrical components are installed higher than the work area reducing the risk of accidental chemical spillage in the laboratory.

• A sparkless, brushless motor is a post-filter.

• Accidental spills facility is available in the deep base.

• Visual and audible alarm indicating low airflow.

• For ensuring correct filter replacement, filter safety lockout is available.

Chemical Fume Hood Airflow Indication

How is a Chemical Fume Hood Designed?

The design of a Chemical Fume Hood varies with the model being used; ducted or ductless ones.

They are designed in a way to trap and remove the contaminants produced by chemical usage in the lab.

They form a capture zone on the front side for keeping the harmful fumes trapped in them from where they are filtered and removed via the exhaust.

The ducted design features a fan or an exhaust blower with remote mounting for creating directional airflow into the fume hood when the laboratory air is pulled inside the hood.

The trapped contaminants are then sent to the outside via the duct passageway. Ductless designs share the same principle but they lack a duct.

Instead, they use a remotely mounted stack and blower, and an integrated filter having appropriate absorbing media for trapping and removing contaminants before sending the filtered air back into the lab environment.

Moveable Chemical Fume Hood Design

What is the Purpose of a Chemical Fume Hood?

When installed in a laboratory, a Chemical Fume Hood serves three main purposes:

• It collects dust, vapors, fumes, and gases produced by the processes, and throws them out by efficiently circulating air using an exhaust system.

• It also plays role in ventilation by allowing constant inflow and outflow. This prevents the build-up of chemical concentration inside the lab environment.

• Also, it protects the worker via sash (a clear sliding window), which has aerosols helpful in preventing accidents from fires, splashes, and minor explosions.

Sash of Chemical Fume Hood Protecting the Laboratory Technician

What are the Benefits of a Chemical Fume Hood for your Laboratory?

A few excellent benefits of Chemical Fume Hood that can be helpful to increase your productivity are:

Ensuring Proper Ventilation:

It ensures regular inflow and outflow of the air, helping efficient ventilation.

Manage Chemical Spills:

The spill management facility installed in it saves the user ad the surface from damages caused by chemical spills.

Control Hazardous Inhalation Exposure:

It prevents the concentration of chemicals in the lab environment and traps the harmful vapors inside. This saves workers from inhaling dangerous substances and keeping them healthy.

Ductless Chemical Fume Hood Benefits

Less Expensive:

It is less expensive than a ducted fume hood because you don’t have to pay for the duct attachment.

Easy Installation:

You can easily install it because you don’t have to fix the duct. This saves you considerable time also.

Good Mobility:

It is easy to move and relocate. For good mobility, it comes with strength and durable tiers for easy moving.

Ducted Chemical Fume Hood Advantages:

Safe for Workers:

It is safer to be used by the workers. You can run it continuously for a longer period without worrying about unit damage.

Can Handle a Wide Chemical Range:

It can handle a wide range of chemicals and shows excellent versatility and compatibility.

Exhaust Keeps Contaminants Outside:

The high-efficiency exhaust ensures that no contaminants remain inside the hood, and throws all the harmful particles outside.

The High-Efficiency Exhaust of Ducted Chemical Fume Hood Throwing Harmful Air Outside 

What are the Major Applications of a Chemical Fume Hood?

• Research Centers

• Medical Laboratories

• Pharmaceutical Cleanroom

• Chemical Laboratories

• Testing Facilities

• Microbiology Laboratories

• Clinical Laboratories

• Biochemical Laboratories

• Molecular Laboratories

• Nuclear Laboratories

Applications of Chemical Fume Hood

What are the Types of a Chemical Fume Hood?

Two main types of a Chemical Fume Hood can be used for labs, these types include:

Constant Air Volume Chemical Fume Hoods:

The CAV (Constant Air Volume) fume hoods are specialized to exhaust a constant amount of air throughout its operation. This amount does not vary even if the sash position is changed.

But the air velocity at the hood faces changes by changing the sash position. Choose the one which has marked openings for showing appropriate face velocity.

Variable Air Volume Chemical Fume Hoods:

Variable Air Volume Hoods also called VAV hoods, decide the airflow quantity based on sash height, but their face velocity remains constant throughout the operation.

Even changing the sash position will not change the face velocity. The constant face velocity in VAV hoods is 100 feet per minute.

The Variable Air Volume of Chemical Fume Hood

What Does the Proper Material Placement in a Chemical Fume Hood Include?

Placing materials correctly in a Chemical Fume Hood is important for reducing the chances of chemical exposure when working in a laboratory.

Roughly placed materials on the surface of the fume hood increase the risks of chemical exposure because the dangerous vapors are not completely removed from the hood.

The distance at which you place the material is an important factor to consider. Below are some positions discussed with the efficiency level they offer.

Too Close to the Breathing Zone:

If you place the material too close to the breathing zone, then there are high chances that the vapors leaving the chemical container will enter your air passageway when you inhale.

Halfway Inside the Hood:

This position is better than the first one, but it’s not the best. Placing the material halfway will improve the results to some extent but will not offer you the best results.

There are still minute chances that you may inhale a few hazardous particles.

¾” Inside the Fume Hood:

This is the best position for placing materials inside the Chemical Fume Hood. It helps the immediate exhaustion of the chemicals via the top and back ducts or air filters.

As a result, no harmful vapors enter your body during inhalation.

More Than ¾” Inside the Fume Hood:

You might think that this position is even better than the previous one but no, this is not the case.

Placing material more than ¾” inside the fume hood will cause blockage of airflow to the back baffles.

Properly Placed Material in Chemical Fume Hood

What are the Performance Indicators of a Chemical Fume Hood?

The main purpose of performance indicators is to monitor the activity of the Chemical Fume Hood for avoiding any mishaps. Following are some most widely used performance indicators:

Inclined Manometer:

As the name says, it features inclined mounting and can measure pressure higher or lower than atmospheric pressure.

The red gauge oil helps quantify velocity pressure by noting down the change in differential pressure from the total atmospheric pressure.

The instrument is calibrated by an annual inspection of air velocity readings, followed by noting it down along with the date.

If a change of 0.05 (less or more) is observed, then it shows that the air velocity of your fume hood has changed.

Continuing the use of the Chemical Fume Hood is dangerous for the sterile room workers and the environment especially if the chemicals are not properly exhausted.

Magnehelic Differential Pressure Gauge:

It is used for measuring the differential pressure difference across an orifice. It is installed on the outside of the fume hood and uses an aneroid pressure gauge for operation.

It is also calibrated on the annual inspection of the hood, and the pointer location is recorded along with the date. A variation of 0.05 (more or less) shows fume hood air velocity changes.

Continuing to use the Chemical Fume Hood will be dangerous for the workers and the environment.

Digital Monitoring Device:

It uses a sensor for measuring air velocity and then displays the reading in feet per minute (fpm). It also has an alarm system that is activated when airflow gets out of range.

For measuring the sash position or air velocity, electronic fume hood controllers or monitors are used.

At the sash opening area, the sash position correlates to the air velocity for determining face velocity.

Chemical Fume Hood Manometer

What are the Monitoring Protocols for your Chemical Fume Hood?

Different types of monitoring devices are used with a Chemical Fume Hood for keeping a track of the airflow, pressure changes, temperature variations, etc.

Consider the following monitoring protocols for best results and durability.

Use a Compatible Monitoring Device:

Ensure that the monitoring device that you are using is compatible with your Chemical Fume Hood.

Prefer Advanced Technology:

Monitors featuring advanced technologies show many detailed results.

Calibrate the Monitors:

Make sure to calibrate the monitors with every annual inspection of your fume hood to get accurate results.

Use it the Right Way:

See the user guide and use the monitor as written in the manual. Using it the wrong way can change the results.

Monitoring of Chemical Fume Hood Performance

How to Keep the Record of your Chemical Fume Hood?

To keep the record of your Chemical Fume Hood, consider these points:

• Record the average face velocity (in fpm).

• Note down the date of inspection.

• Record the approved working height.

• Note the appropriate sash height.

• Label the hood with a yellow operating procedures sticker displaying the specific information.

Precautionary Yellow Label of Chemical Fume Hood

How to Optimize your Chemical Fume Hood?

Lower the Sash While Conducting Experiments:

For optimizing the performance of your Chemical Fume Hood keep the sash low while conducting experiments. This will save you from chemical splashes and spillages.

Check the Baffles:

Baffles play an important role in maintaining the efficiency of the hood and to lower obstructions.

Install Catch Basins:

Catch basins are installed for holding chemicals spills and saving the worker and the working surface from damage.

Keep the Sash Closed:

Keeping the sash closed will improve safety and also save energy. It is because clean air inside the hood will not escape into the laboratory if the sash is kept closed.

It will also prevent the entry of contaminants into the hood coming through the door.

Do Not Block the Slots:

Placing bulky equipment in front of the slots will hinder the efficiency of the hood. Ensure not to block the slots with heavy equipment for best results.

Do Not Allow Air Flow Across the Face:

Fans should be positioned in a way that the airflow is not directed across the face.

Do Not Block the Airfoil:

The airfoil should not be blocked with absorbent paper to avoid hindering the performance of the hood.

Keep the Side Panels:

Keeping the side panels will maintain better filtration results.

Keep the Sash Closed While Working in Chemical Fume Hood

What is the Chemical Hygiene Plan for your Chemical Fume Hood?

There is a special chemical hygiene plan that you should follow when using a Chemical Fume Hood for your applications. The main points of this chemical hygiene plan include:

Cover the Chemicals:

Keep the chemicals covered to save them from getting contaminated by the work environment.

Segregate the Chemicals:

Separate the chemicals from each other based on their chemical properties and reactivity.

Do Not Return the Leftover Chemical in the Container:

Returning the unused chemical back into the container increases the risk of contamination and affects its chemical and reaction properties.

Avoid Putting Lab Instruments Directly into the Chemical Container:

If you have to take out the chemical using a pipette or a dropper, do not insert them directly into the chemical container.

Instead, take out some quantity of chemical in the beaker and then insert the pipette or dropper into the beaker.

A Lab Operator is Removing Leftover Material from Chemical Fume Hood

What are the Major Misconceptions About a Chemical Fume Hood?

Can it be Used as a Permanent Storage Cabinet?

You cannot use it as a storage cabinet for permanently keeping the flammable, volatile, or odoriferous materials.

But you can use it for temporary storage for easily accessing the chemicals and equipment required for your application.

Anything present on the work surface will hinder the directional airflow creating turbulences that send chemicals out of the hood.

Is the Protection Level Decided By the Face Velocity?

The protection level is not decided by the face velocity.

Other factors like the installation site within the lab, design, primary filter efficiency, work practices of the workers, and quality of the supply air distribution should be considered.

Is Higher Face Velocity Always Better?

No, a higher face velocity is not always better, especially when working with extremely hazardous materials.

A face velocity range of 85-100 fpm is highly recommended in these conditions.

Is it Good to Disconnect the Flow Monitors?

No, disconnecting the flow monitors is not a good practice.

The face velocity is displayed by the control box which keeps you informed if the Chemical Fume Hood is functioning within the recommended range.

Are Airfoils Useless?

No airfoils are not useless, they are important for the efficient operation of the hood. Airfoil functions in smooth airflow over the edges keeping the sash open.

Airfoils also work as an exhaust air source by keeping the sash closed.

Chemical Fume Hood Airflow Testing

What are the Limitations of a Chemical Fume Hood?

Extend the Experiments During the Repair:

If your Chemical Fume Hood is under repair, extend all the experiments until the repair process is completed. Also closed the chemical containers present in the hood during this time.

During the repair process, hoods do not provide enough ventilation for open chemicals.

Do Not Insert your Head Into the Hood:

It is never safe to insert your head into the hood. This results in disruption of the airflow by positioning contaminants in the breathing area.

It increases the chances of accidents and chemical spills. Only insert your hands into the Chemical Fume Hood to a safe distance as per the professionals. Set low sash height or keep the sash closed.

Do Not Use it For Spray Painting:

Always prefer using a spray booth for spray painting, do not paint in the Chemical Fume Hood.

Don’t Insert Your Head Into the Chemical Fume Hood

What is the Safety Protocol for Using your Chemical Fume Hood?

Evaluation of the Hazards:

• Make sure to read the Material Safety Data Sheet carefully before starting working with the chemical in the Chemical Fume Hood.

• Implement hazard control plans when using highly hazardous or carcinogenic materials.

Consider Risks:

• Do not pipette directly by your mouth, suckers are preferable for pipetting chemicals.

• Never smell chemicals for identification. Wafting is a practice of indirectly checking the scent of a chemical.

• Consider substances with no specific toxicity value highly toxic.

Electrical Hazard Control:

• Do not obstruct or load electrical panels.

• Keep your electrical circuits labeled for quickly de-energizing the equipment in an emergency.

• Do not use extension cords as permanent wires, always unplug them when your work is finished.

• Keep distance between the multi-plug adaptors and the floor during installation, to avoid water damage.

• Do not connect multi-plug adaptors in series.

• Change damaged wire immediately.

Food:

• Eating, drinking, and smoking are strictly prohibited.

• Do not wear makeup and keep your hair tied to avoid problems.

Safety Protocol of Chemical Fume Hood

Which Safety Equipment you Should Wear When Using your Chemical Fume Hood?

There is a proper list of recommended safety equipment that you must wear when using a Chemical Fume Hood, which includes:

Safety Glasses:

Safety glasses protect you from flying particles, caustic liquids, acids, welding, infectious body fluids, and light (UV, IR, or laser). Safety glasses also feature side shields for side protection.

Goggles:

Goggles offer more protection than safety glasses and are recommended for specialized use. They are used in processes requiring extreme pressure and temperature conditions.

Impact-protection goggles have perforations in their side frames that allow ventilation and prevent the build-up of fog on the lenses. But these perforations may allow splashes to enter.

Face Shields:

Face shields protect your face and throat from harmful chemical splashes.

When working with vacuum or explosive agents, always wear a face sheet in combination with safety glasses or goggles.

Foot Protection:

To work safely with a Chemical Fume Hood you have to protect your entire body including your feet also. Follow these guidelines for best foot protection:

• Wear puncture-resistant and steel-toed shows when handling heavy materials.

• For electrical work, rubber-soled shoes are preferred. It is because rubber is a non-conductor and breaks saves from current damage.

• If you have to work in wet environments, anti-slip shoes should be your first choice.

Hand Protection:

Different types of gloves are there to protect your hands from chemicals in a Chemical Fume Hood.

Always prefer chemical resistance and good-quality gloves to get maximum hand protection.

Use  Safety Goggles While Working in Chemical Fume Hood

What Does the Certification Testing of a Chemical Fume Hood Involve?

The certification testing of a Chemical Fume Hood involves the following practices:

• Monitor the pressure differential of the room. For non-laboratory areas, the room pressure should be negative.

• Take off previous certification stickers.

• Ensure smooth movements of the sashes.

• Check if both the visual and audio alarms are working properly or not.

• Ensure that the face velocity is according to the recommended value.

Smooth Movement of Chemical Fume Hood Sash

What is the Medical Consultation of a Chemical Fume Hood?

Knowing about the medical consultation of a Chemical Fume Hood is important for the workers for their health and safety when working in a laboratory.

It includes follow-up medical examinations for the sake of your health, see the detail below:

• In case you observe any symptoms or reactions due to the hazardous chemicals seek immediate medical help.

• In case you are affected by spillage, explosion, or leakage accidents, visit the hospital as soon as possible to get the treatment started.

• Make sure to consult a licensed physician for medical help. Tell him about the chemical you were exposed to, the background of the situation, and the symptoms occurring.

• Ask the physician for a written opinion mentioning recommendations for further follow-ups, and results of the current medical report.

• Take rest as suggested by the physician and be careful next time.

Chemical Fume Hood Operator is Seeking Dr’s Consultation

How to Conduct Risk Identification of your Chemical Fume Hood?

• Make sure that the hazardous chemicals entering the fume hood are properly labeled.

• Ensure that the Safety Data Sheets are always available to the workers.

• Keep the hazardous chemicals separated from the non-hazardous ones.

• Make sure that the chemical bottles are properly sealed. Close the lid tightly after use.

Chemical Bottles Properly Labeled and Placed in Chemical Fume Hood

Conclusion.

A Chemical Fume Hood will help you keep your lab environment clean and healthy. It can be used for pharmaceutical or research labs.

For maximum equipment benefit and process efficiency, always take care of the cleaning and maintenance of your Chemical Fume Hood. Make sure to follow proper monitoring guidelines, hazard control practices, and safety protocols for safe process completion and durability.

100% Quality Assured Chemical Fume Hood