The necessity of high-quality, reliable lab furniture is increasing day by day and the need for such furniture is on the rise. A number of laboratory furniture manufacturers now offer efficient, ergonomic lab furniture that also includes a chemical fume hood. The main objective of a chemical fume hood is to protect the occupants of the lab from hazardous fumes, particles, and vapours. The presence of chemical fume hoods can be felt in both school laboratories and industrial labs. Even though the equipment is quite expensive it is used extensively in different sectors. Chemical fume hoods safeguard from different types of threats even if they look like biosecurity cabinets.
When using a chemical fume hood one needs to follow some guidelines so as to receive the best services and protect themselves. Given below are some tips that will keep the environment safe.
What A Fume Hood Can Do:
The chemical fume hoods are designed to protect the workers from different types of gaseous pollutants and other chemical hazards. However, there are some limitations to each equipment and a chemical fume hood too has some. So, the worker must wear appropriate lab apparel when working with chemicals. Eye protection like Goggles, safety glasses, and face shield should be used as per requirement. Gloves and lab coats are also essential.
Checking On the Industrial Fume Hood:
It is better to check the equipment before starting work. The newly purchased chemical fume hood should be certified with the last 12 months and the date of certification sticker should be on the equipment. The audio and video components of the fume hood monitor should also function properly. The air flow into the hood can also be checked prior use and one can simply do that by following the instructions in the manual. The baffles present at the back of the hood should be intact and not face any obstructions.
Proper Maintenance of Chemical Fume Hoods:
For high efficiency of the chemical fume hood, the user should check that the airfoil along the bottom edge of the device is in the right place. When cleaning the airfoil it may get dislodged and this would seriously impact the flow of air into the hood. Thus, the work productivity of the fume hood will get affected. The chemical fume hoods should be cleaned regularly and not used as a storage space.
Avoiding Cross-Drafts:
Development of air currents or cross-drafts near the hood must be avoided. Otherwise, they would pull out the contaminated air from inside the hood. The contaminated air will then enter the breathing zone and affect the workers as well as the samples. Cross-drafts or air currents can be caused by air ventilation system in the room, open windows and doors, and even rapid arm or body movement near the hood.
Adjusting the Baffles:
The upper and lower baffles present in some of the models of the chemical fume hoods are usually located on the back. It can be easily adjusted with the help of a lever present in front of the hood. The process of adjusting the baffles on the fume hoods is usually mentioned in detail in the manual.
When operating the chemical fume hood, one must make sure to keep the sash closed as much as possible for safety as well as energy conservation. The sash should never be lifted beyond the arrow marking the efficient operating level. It can only be done during the setup process.