Fume Hood

Fume Hood

Fume hoods are a type of local exhaust that removes the contaminant at the source of generation. It is the most common type of engineering control used on campus.

For a fume hood to be efficient, it must be used properly. The fume hood velocity should be checked at least annually to verify proper flow rate across the face. There should be a sticker on the side of the fume hood that indicates the maximum operating sash height with a date of the last inspection. Environmental Health, Safety, and Risk Management (EHS&RM) makes an effort to check the fume hoods annually but we need your help. Please call Tracey Martinson (474-6771) if the fume hood in your lab has not been inspected within the last 12 months.

Some rules of thumb when using fume hoods:

Do not store chemicals in the fume hood

Keep objects at least 6” inside the hood

Larger objects should be up on blocks or feet to allow air flow to travel underneath

Too much air flow is not necessarily a good thing. Eddies can occur which will force the contaminant back on to the user. Call EHS&RM if you suspect the fume hood is pulling too much air

If your fume hood is loud, it may indicate that mechanical attention is needed. Call EHS&RM for a hood evaluation

Perchloric acid must be used in a dedicate fume hood. Call EHS&RM if you plan to use perchloric acid