Made in the USA
Laboratory Fume Hoods help protect the operator from inhaling harmful fumes and particulate during applications such as rotary evaporation.
Laboratory fume hoods provide operator and environmental protection from hazardous fumes, particulate, and other gases. Through inhalation, harmful fumes directly enter the blood stream and small particles may become embedded deep within the lungs (Ref. 1). A laboratory fume hood reduces exposure by containing the fumes and particulate dispersed during an experiment and a powerful fan diverts the airflow into a filter chamber or into external ductwork to be released outside the building. Ductless models filter the air releasing it back into the external room. By filtering the air, ductless fume hoods also provide environmental safety by removing harmful fumes before releasing the air back into the room.
Fume Hoods help provide respiratory hazard control while working with different chemicals.
When to use a fume hood?
Laboratory fume hoods must be used when conducting experiments with toxic, flammable, carcinogenic, odorous, or dusty materials. This includes chemicals or materials with at least one of the following attributes:
• Acute toxicity – short term exposure causes organ damage or fatality (Ref. 2)
• Reproductive toxins – chromosomal damage or effects on fetuses (Ref. 2)
• Flammable – health rating of 3 or 4 from National Fire Protection Association (Ref. 3)
• Carcinogenic – likely to cause cancer, regulated or listed by National Toxicology Program or International Research on Cancer (Ref. 2)
• Odorous – hazardous or nonhazardous (Ref. 2)
• Light dust producing – particularly with hazardous materials or irritating dust
Other components of the experiment should be considered for the use of a laboratory fume hood, such as the procedure, probability of release of gases, the number and complexity of manipulations, and the skill level of the operator (Ref. 4). Experiments should be designed to utilize laboratory fume hoods when necessary.
Laboratory fume hoods should not be employed for biological agents or highly toxic materials (Ref. 5). Studies with biological agents, such as low to moderate risk pathogens and harmful microorganisms, must operate under portable clean rooms to protect contamination to the process. Comparatively, experiments with highly toxic materials must be completed with glove boxes to provide extra safety to the operator (Ref. 4).
Proper usage of laboratory fume hoods protects the operator from respiratory exposure which may cause long-term harmful side effects. This chart below details the possible health effects from respiratory exposure for sample chemicals that are advised to be used under a laboratory fume hood. Please notice that many of the chemicals listed have OSHA permissible exposure limits (PELs) which OSHA legally requires employers follow for all employees.
Common Chemical Respiratory Exposure Side Effects and OSHA Regulations (Ref. 6-10)
| Chemical | Compound | OSHA PELs | Health Effects |
| Ammonia | NH3 | 50 ppm 35 mg/m3 |
Sinusitis, upper airway irritation, and eye irritation, severe injury or death. |
| Arsine | C18H14AsCl | 0.05 ppm 0.2 mg/m3 |
Confusion, drowsiness, fatigue, headache, muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting, and/or abdominal pain, rapid breathing, red or dark urine, shortness of breath, weakness, jaundice |
| Carbon Monoxide | CO | 50 ppm 55 mg/m3 |
Poisonous gas, central nervous system damage and asphyxiation |
| Chlorine | Cl2 | 1 ppm 3 mg/m3 |
Toxic by inhalation, Bronchitis or chronic lung conditions |
| Chloroform | CHCl3 | 50 ppm 240 mg/m3 |
Suspected carcinogen, impaired liver function, cardiac arrhythmia, nausea and central nervous system dysfunction |
| Fluorine | F2 | 0.1 ppm 0.2 mg/m3 |
Poisonous; may be fatal if inhaled. Vapor extremely irritating. Contact may cause burns to skin and eyes |
| Formaldehyde | H2CO | 0.75 ppm (Cal OSHA) |
Irritation eyes, nose, throat, respiratory system, lacrimation (discharge of tears), cough, wheezing, potential occupational carcinogen |
| Hydrochloric Acid | HCl | – | Coughing, choking, inflammation of the nose, throat, and upper respiratory tract, and in severe cases, pulmonary edema, circulatory system failure, and death |
| Hydrogen Selenide | H2Se | 0.05 ppm 0.2 mg/m3 |
Fatal, extremely dangerous to life |
| Hydrogen Sulfide | H2S | 20 ppm | Death, permanent injury, affects nervous system resulting in paralysis of respiratory centers |
| Isopropyl Alcohol | C3H8O | 400 ppm | Generally safe in small amounts but long term exposure can result in headache, dizziness, vomiting, nausea, and unconsciousness |
| Nickel Carbonyl | C4NiO4 | 0.001 ppm 0.007 mg/m3 |
Highly toxic, shortness of breath, chest tightness, paresthesia |
| Nitrite | NO2 | Oxide: 25 ppm, 30 mg/m3 |
Irritation to skin, eyes, and mucous membranes, severe injury, burns or death. |
| Phosgene (Carbonyl chloride) |
COCl2 | 0.1 ppm 0.4 mg/m3 |
Coughing, burning sensation in the throat and eyes, watery eyes, blurred vision, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting, skin contact can result in lesions similar to frostbite or burns |
| Silane | SiH4 | – | Skin, eye and respiratory irritant, dizziness, asphyxiation, toxic, burns, severe injury, frostbite |
| Sulfuric Acid | H2SO4 | 1 mg/m3 | Serious lung damage |
Ductless vs Ducted Laboratory Fume Hoods
Ductless (left) and Ducted Laboratory Fume Hoods (right)
Laboratory fume hoods consist of two main types: ductless and ducted. Ductless fume hoods filter the air and release it back into the outside room. However, ducted fume hoods divert the air into an external duct system and release the unfiltered air outside of the building. Ductless laboratory fume hoods offer a number of benefits over ducted including:
Environmental Protection
By filtering and removing contaminants from the air, the system prevents harmful pollutants release into the atmosphere.
No Makeup Air Required
Ductless fume hoods filter the air and release it back into the room. This recirculation pattern eliminates the need to add makeup air, which is required with ducted fume hoods.
Energy Efficient
Due to the recirculating design, ductless fume hoods save energy by not wasting climate controlled air.
Minimal Maintenance
These dependable and reliable units only need regular filter maintenance for replacing saturated filters and regular cleaning to remove spills or residue.
Simple Installation
Because of the lack of expensive external ductwork, ductless fume hoods offer “plug and play” solutions without costly installation.
High Quality Filtration
All ductless fume hoods are available in a variety of high quality filters:
• HEPA – up to 99.97% efficiency on particles as small as 0.3 microns
• ULPA – up to 99.9995% efficiency on particles as small as 0.12 microns
• ASHRAE – up to 95% efficiency on particles as small as 0.5 microns
• Activated carbon & specialty-blended filters (aldehyde, ammonia, acid gas, mercury)
Components of Laboratory Fume Hoods
See diagrams below for components of ductless and ducted laboratory fume hoods.
Ductless Fume Hoods
Magnehelic Gauge
The magnehelic gauge measures the static pressure of the filter to help monitor the filter saturation. As the filter becomes more saturated, the pressure will increase and the gauge will move up. After a certain point, the filter must be changed to ensure proper filtration and protection.
Variable Speed Control
The variable speed control allows the operator to adjust the fan speed based on parameters of the experiment.
Ducted Fume Hoods
Outlet Collar
The outlet collar connects to the external ductwork and fan system. The fan draws the fumes and particulate from under the hood through the outlet collar and external ductwork to be released outside of the building.
Both
Sash
The sash on a laboratory fume hood helps determine the airflow characteristics and controls the air velocity to adequately capture chemical vapors and particulate (Ref. 3).
Spill Tray
Spill trays help prevent the spread of chemicals when spills or accidents occur during an experiment. Spill trays are an accessory and would be placed on the work surface as needed.
How do Laboratory Fume Hoods work?
Ductless Fume Hoods
– Step 1 –
Operator performs the process or experiment within the hood behind the sash to contain harmful fumes and particulate, preventing them from emitting into the ambient air. The powerful fan, located on top of the hood, draws in the fumes and particulate along with ambient air into the filter chamber.
– Step 2 –
A pre-filter processes the air captures some of the particles.
– Step 3 –
The main filter processes the air in which the efficiency depends on the type of filter utilized (HEPA, ULPA, ASHRAE, Activated Carbon, or Specialty Blended).
– Step 4 –
The system releases the filtered air back into the room eliminating the need for duct work.
Ducted Fume Hoods
– Step 1 –
Operator conducts the process or experiment in the hood behind the sash to avoid exposure of harmful fumes and particulate.
– Step 2 –
A powerful fan draws air through the outlet collar into external ductwork.
– Step 3 –
The system exhausts air to outside the building preventing operators from breathing harmful fumes and particulate.
Proper Use and Safety Guidelines for Laboratory Fume Hoods Usage
To ensure protection from harmful chemical vapors and fumes, proper safety procedures must be implemented in the lab while using a laboratory fume hood.
• Always make sure the laboratory fume hood is operating correctly before beginning the procedure (Ref. 1).
• Proper safety gear must be worn at all times including safety goggles, lab coats, and chemical safe gloves (Ref. 11).
• Keep face and heat outside of the sash at all times and limit the amount of time that hands and arms are working inside the sash (Ref. 1).
• Only keep necessary materials within the laboratory fume hood. Never use it for storage and keep the area from overcrowding for proper use (Ref. 1).
• Keep all materials 6” (15 cm) within the hood to properly vent fumes and prevent seepage (Ref. 3).
• Minimize outside air flow by closing windows and doors as well as reducing traffic in front of the laboratory fume hood (Ref. 11).
• Only remove hazardous chemicals from the laboratory fume hood once the storage container is fully closed (Ref. 4).
Sentry Air Solutions Laboratory Fume Hoods
AirHawk – Advanced Ductless Laboratory Fume Hood
The latest in ductless fume hood technology, the AirHawk offers a user-friendly control panel complete with adjustable light and fan controls with digital displays for air pressure and runtime. The AirHawk features a 1400 LUX LED light, the brightest in the fume hood industry, providing superior visibility with an adjustable control. The adjustable fan control allows the operator to vary the fan speed and make note of settings to optimize experimental conditions. The air pressure digital display uses a precision solid-state pressure sensor to measure the static pressure on the particulate filters. Over time as the filter becomes saturated, the air pressure display will increase and once it reaches a certain pressure the filter will need to be changed. The runtime digital display shows in hours how long the hood has been in use. This feature will help with filter maintenance schedules with the ability to reset after filter replacement. The AirHawk provides both operator and environmental safety with helpful technological features to aide in everyday laboratory work. Standard sizes of the AirHawk available are 30”, 40” and 50” with in between sizes available made custom.
Ductless Laboratory Fume Hoods
The standard ductless fume hoods offer all the benefits of a ductless unit in a simple, practical and economical package. These self-contained circulating respiratory protection devices come in a wide variety of sizes: 12”, 18”, 24”, 30”, 40”, 50”, 60” and 70”. The 40” and 70” models are available with high flow capabilities. The standard ductless fume hood comes with a variable speed controller (115 V only), anti-static vinyl curtains, velometer, and bright fluorescent light. Optional components include magnehelic gage, hour counter, and spill tray.
Custom Options available including:
• Hood material and colors ( i.e. stainless steel hoods, all clear, etc)
• Custom sizes and dimensions
• Slip-hatches
• Multiple points of entry
• Anti-static material (for ESD-safe required electrical work)
• Mounting options
• Sink & Custom cutouts
• Accessories for hanging equipment
• Multiple folding hinged lids
• Varied blower configurations
Ducted Laboratory Fume Hoods
For some applications where ducted laboratory fume hoods are required, our line provides an enclosed workspace to protect the respiratory zone of the operator from inhalation of hazardous fumes and particulate. Certain universities and other laboratories require the use of ducted laboratory fume hoods. The 6” outlet collar connects to external ductwork and fan system to move fumes and particulate from under the hood, through the duct to release outside the building. The ducted laboratory fume hoods come in a wide variety of sizes including 18”, 24”, 30”, 40”, 50”, 60” and 70”. Similar to the ductless units, the duct laboratory fume hoods have an assortment of custom options including material, dimensions, cutouts for sinks and instruments, and multiple work entry configurations. Optional accessories include spill trays, velometer, cleaning products, and a blacklight. It is important to note that the duct laboratory fume hoods do not provide environmental protection and do not filter the air before releasing outdoors. SAS ducted laboratory fume hoods do not include external ductwork and fan but we can help you choose a system for this hood.
Consult our solutions experts today to help you select a fume hood for your laboratory!
Call us today at 1-800-799-4609
References
1. “Use of the Laboratory Fume-hood.” University of Wollongong. Apr 2009. https://smah.uow.edu.au/content/groups/public/@web/@sci/@chem/documents/doc/uow059174.pdf.
2. “Attachment A: Particularly Hazardous Substances Definitions.” UCLA Policy 907. https://ehs.ucsc.edu/programs/research-safety/documents/ucla_phs_defn.pdf.
3. “Fume Hood Questions and Answers.” University of Colorado at Boulder: Department of Environmental Health and Safety. Nov 2008. https://www.colorado.edu/ehs/sites/default/files/attached-files/fume-hood-qanda.pdf.
4. “Laboratory Equipment and Engineering Controls.” Princeton University: Environmental Health & Safety. https://ehs.princeton.edu/laboratory-research/laboratory-safety/laboratory-equipment-and-engineering.
5. “Chemical Fume Hoods Overview.” UC San Diego. 8 Jun 2018. https://blink.ucsd.edu/safety/research-lab/chemical/hoods/index.html#Learn-more.
6. “Arsine”, “Phosgene”. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://emergency.cdc.gov/.
7. “Ammonia”, “Chloroform”, “Fluorine”, “Formaldehyde”, “Hydrochloric Acid”, “Hydrogen Selenide”, “Hydrogen Sulfide”, “Nitrite”, “Silane”, “Sulfuric Acid”. Pub Chem: US National Library of Medicine. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ .
8. Dean BS. Krenzelok EP. Kurta DL. “Acute Nickel Carbonyl Poisoning.” Am J Erg Med. 1993. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8383493.
9. “Isopropyl Alcohol Safety Tips from MSDSonline.” MSDS online. 20 Feb 2015. https://www.msdsonline.com/2015/02/20/isopropyl-alcohol-safety-tips-from-msdsonline/.
10. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. “OSHA Annotated Table Z-1,” https://www.osha.gov/dsg/annotated-pels/tablez-1.html.
11. “Guidelines for the Safe Use of Laboratory Fume Hoods.” Florida International University: Environmental Health & Safety. Oct 2016. https://ehs.fiu.edu/_assets/docs/chemical/fume-hoods-guidelines.pdf.
Related Blogs
• Rotary Evaporator Fume Control
• Using Filtration to Help Address Common Exhaust Hood Issues – Exhaust Filter Box
• Hydrochloric acid health risks: vapor, mist, and fume inhalation