The operations in a laboratory setup require different types of furniture that range from heavy duty workbenches, utility cards and lab cabinets to laminar flow workstations and chemical fume hoods. The air has a high chance of becoming polluted as it is not unusual for different types of experiments and industrial work to release toxic chemical vapors, aerosols, and suspended particles. Thus, it is important to keep the lab environment as clean as possible, and a chemical fume hood contributes to this purpose.
A chemical fume hood is basically enclosed equipment that is designed to draw air inward for filtration purposes. The main function of the exhaust is to control the presence of hazardous substances in the air by drawing in air with the help of mechanical ventilation.
Installation Process:
When a new laboratory or chemical facility is setup, the processes are usually reviewed by concerned authorities. This is on a regular basis. It is regarding whether the construction is safe and what steps are being taken to control pollution. It also concerns poisonous gases released in the environment. The chemical fume hoods need to be installed in the right place. Thus, it will draw most of the polluted air inwards and pass it through the filtration system. One can also see a lab fume hood in places where solids are used to separate from liquids such as to determine toxicity or emissions from lab equipment are used in testing processes.
Maintenance is Necessary:
Chemical fume hoods designed for laboratories are also useful in eliminating fumes from radioisotopes and acids. This type of equipment is also used in distillation labs. A laboratory fume hood should be maintained regularly such as to maintain the efficiency of the device in drawing in air full of contaminants.
The three essential components of fume hoods are the sash, the baffle and the hood. The hoods should be positioned in such a way that the intake of air should not be hampered by any other object. Also, each lab should have enough air supply for proper functioning of the various components of the chemical fume hood.
Special Permit Necessary:
In modern day, laboratories require a special permit for testing of certain contaminants. This also includes labs where pollution is checked and samples from different residential, commercial and industrial sites are taken. These types of laboratories also need to comply by installing chemical fume hoods.
Maintenance is also important, as the main function of a fume hood is to capture emissions from various chemical and testing procedures. If the equipment is not cleaned regularly, then its ability to maintain fresh air in the lab will lessen. Fume hoods are also equipped with monitoring devices that must be calibrated to ensure accuracy. The lab equipment manufacturers do not generally allow the addition of devices on the industrial fume hood for venting purposes as they believe that they will reduce the efficiency of the hood itself.
Use of Ductless Hoods:
In the case of small work areas where the amount of contaminants is less, the ductless hoods can be used to capture emissions. This is in and around a self-contained workstation. These ductless hoods are usually installed on a utility workbench. Normally it is close to the individual such as to protect him. The ducted hoods are also used to attract and filter odor and solids in air streams. Walk-in hoods are also used in cases of high volume emissions.
With so many options available, one should choose an industrial fume hood wisely. Measuring the number of emissions per square foot and the frequency should be done quickly. This will ensure that the right size is obtained.
If you’re unsure about any aspect of purchasing a Fume Hood for your work environment, get in touch with us. We are here to answer all your concerns.