Laboratory fume hoods are designed for the protection of personnel by preventing contaminants such as vapors, dusts, mists, and fumes from being released into the laboratory and building environment. Fume hoods also provide a physical barrier from chemicals and their reactions.
Note: Laboratory fume hoods are not intended as protection from explosion. If the risk of explosion exists additional measures must be taken for protection.
A properly functioning unit will help reduce or eliminate the potential of occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals if it is used properly by laboratory personnel. Labsafety training is mandatory for all persons working in a laboratory. Supervisors supplement general EHS safety training with Hands-on or “in-lab” training.
In general, all fume hoods/ventilation equipment should be in compliance with the American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienist (ACGIH) Recommendations, The American National Standard for Laboratory Ventilation (ANSI Z 9.5) and the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) 110 testing performance for laboratory fume hoods.