Every laboratory should have a fume hood in place, protecting researchers from contamination during research. A fume hood provides a layer of protection from chemical fumes, burns, etc. A quality fume hood can help to mitigate the risks associated with lab work. While you may have heard of a fume hood and even worked with one, do you know how it is constructed and how it operates? Learning more about fume hoods will help you to better understand why this piece of equipment is a must within a laboratory setting.
Basic Fume Hood Construction
A fume hood has several components that come together to create shelter for lab workers as well as ventilation. A fume hood consists of the body, sash, exhaust duct, baffles, and airfoil. The main components of the fume hood are the body and sash. The hood is the work surface and is enclosed on three of four sides. The lab researcher can use this area to do research. The sash portion is a window of sorts where the hood can be opened or closed to restrict the airflow.
The baffles portion is usually located at the back of a fume hood and is a slotted panel that will bring air in. The air is brought towards the back of the unit. Workers can adjust the baffles to control the amount of airflow into the fume hood. The exhaust duct is the portion of the unit that releases the contaminated air out of the space.
How Does a Fume Hood Work?
A properly installed fume hood will work to ventilate the space within a laboratory by pulling in polluted air. The air is pulled away from the worker and then moved up the exhaust duct and out of the room. The contaminated air is diluted with a mix of fresh air. This is where the design of the lab is important. There must be enough air to remove the contaminated air and mix with fresh air. When you have too many fume hoods in a small space, there will not be enough air to clean the space.
Basic Fume Hood Construction
A fume hood has several components that come together to create shelter for lab workers as well as ventilation. A fume hood consists of the body, sash, exhaust duct, baffles, and airfoil. The main components of the fume hood are the body and sash. The hood is the work surface and is enclosed on three of four sides. The lab researcher can use this area to do research. The sash portion is a window of sorts where the hood can be opened or closed to restrict the airflow.
The baffles portion is usually located at the back of a fume hood and is a slotted panel that will bring air in. The air is brought towards the back of the unit. Workers can adjust the baffles to control the amount of airflow into the fume hood. The exhaust duct is the portion of the unit that releases the contaminated air out of the space.
How Does a Fume Hood Work?
A properly installed fume hood will work to ventilate the space within a laboratory by pulling in polluted air. The air is pulled away from the worker and then moved up the exhaust duct and out of the room. The contaminated air is diluted with a mix of fresh air. This is where the design of the lab is important. There must be enough air to remove the contaminated air and mix with fresh air. When you have too many fume hoods in a small space, there will not be enough air to clean the space.
The laboratory must be designed in a way that any fume hoods installed will work at maximum efficiency. lab fume hood will provide proper protection if installed correctly. The hood construction should be considered during installation as well as a thought-out plan for the layout of the laboratory. A fume hood should not be placed near doors or emergency exits.
Hoods should also be tested on a regular basis and maintained. Filters need to be replaced at regular intervals so that the system can work as needed. Employees should also be trained efficiently on how to use the equipment as well as understand safety procedures. This will ensure no accidents occur in the workplace.
There are different types of fume hoods available, such as portables, workstation, double-faced and walk-in. Know which type you need and install the appropriate option to ensure a safe working environment.
Contact us today to learn more about fume hood options for your laboratory.
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