A Chemical Fume Hood is an essential safety equipment in analytical &testing laboratories. If its constraints are understood, a well-designed Fume Hood can give the operator a significant degree of protection during experimental procedures.
In laboratories, Chemical Fume Hoods are the primary containment measure for eliminating and trapping dangerous airborne toxins and aerosols.
Using a Chemical Fume Hood is critical when working with highly corrosive, carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reproductively toxic substances.
So, when your work involves procedures involving substances with an NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) Health rating of 3/4, characterized as potentially hazardous, explosive, corrosive, irritating, reactive, potentially volatile, or could spew or aerosolize when heated or stirred, the use of a Chemical Fume Hood is most appropriate.
Chemical Fume Hoods: An Overview
A Chemical Fume Hood is the most typical and common exhaust ventilation system in laboratories to control any accidental release of or exposure to hazardous chemical fumes and aerosols. Fume hoods provide complete operator protection and are designed to ensure hazardous chemical substances are not released into the general laboratory.
Chemicals having incredibly lower odour thresholds, such as thiols, beta-mercaptoethanol, etc., can be controlled in a laboratory fume hood whether they are hazardous or otherwise.
Categories of Chemical Fume Hoods
There are two types of Fume Hoods – 1. Ducted Fume Hood and 2. Ductless Fume Hood.
When is a Chemical Fume Hood important?
A hazard analysis of the intended work must be the foundation for deciding if a fume hood is required for a specific experiment, including:
- A description of the physical properties, volume, and toxicity of the materials that will be employed
- The field of experiment
- The volatile materials used throughout the experiment
- The likelihood that they will be released
- The variety and level of manipulations.
Application of Chemical Fume Hoods
Chemical Fume Hoods, aka fume cupboard/fume closet, have a variety of uses in analytical and testing laboratories. This equipment is common in many analytical chemistry laboratories that conduct experiments that emit poisonous chemical gases like sulphur dioxide.
Moreover, it is perfect for research with compounds that readily spit out when heated. When used in an open area, such substances can readily cause serious burns to the lab operator and other surrounding occupants.
In fact, experiments with combustible chemicals are another type that needs to be performed in a Chemical Fume Hood since these substances can be fatal when exposed to ambient laboratory air.
Summing Up
The word “laboratory” refers to an area where experiments are carried out, particularly in chemical laboratories where specific chemical tests and experiments are performed. In such workplaces, using deadly chemicals and poisonous substances is common; as a result, extreme caution should be exercised to avoid accidents.
A Chemical Fume Hood is an enclosure designed for use during experiments that emit dangerous chemical aerosol discharge. Additionally, it stores volatile substances that could be hazardous to the environment. Alpha Linear manufactured Chemical Fume Hoods are built for purpose to handle extreme or potentially hazardous chemical releases or toxic fumes, vapours, or dust safely outside the laboratory, providing complete protection to the laboratory personnel.
Sources:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/fume-hood
https://www.purdue.edu/ehps/rem/laboratory/equipment%20safety/Lab%20Safety%20Equipment/cfh.html
https://ehs.princeton.edu/book/export/html/366
https://ehs.virginia.edu/Chemical-Safety-Fume-Hoods.html
https://www.rdm-ind.com/working-principle-uses-fume-hoods-flow-hoods/
https://www.labkafe.com/blog/fume-hood-and-its-use-in-a-chemistry-lab