A fume hood is a piece of equipment that creates a ventilated work space by continually drawing air through a duct that leads out of the building.
The fume hood is designed to protect personnel from chemical fumes or vapours that may cause discomfort or harm.
The air that flows through a fume hood is not filtered.
- Store as little as possible inside the fume hood – its effectiveness relies on air being able to flow through it unobstructed. Keep at least half of the work surface inside the fume hood clear if at all possible.
- Place containers and instruments at least 15cm inside the hood.
- Place containers and instruments to the sides, not directly in front of you.
- Check the airflow – many fume hoods have an airflow monitor. If there is no monitor, you can hold a piece of paper to the opening to check whether it is sucked in.
- Do not open the sash too far; there is a mark that shows how far you can open the sash whilst maintaining maximum airflow.
- Work at least 15cm from the face of the hood.
- Keep windows and doors closed in the lab. Ventilation systems are designed for spaces with closed windows. You should also minimise air disturbances, for example crosscurrents created when someone walks past the opening of the fume hood.
- Fume hoods are not biosafety cabinets. Although they may look similar, they work in very different ways. In a biosafety cabinet, the air is circulated through filters, while in a fume hood, the air flows directly through.