Laboratory Fume Hood Safety

General

• Laboratory fume hoods are important safety devices.
• Hoods function as local exhaust ventilation that protect personnel from exposure to chemicals being handled
• Training of personnel, proper design of experiments and careful operation of equipment are equally important for lab safety
• Fume hoods cannot overcome poor work practices by users

Good Fume Hood Practices

Operation

• Before using a hood check that the air is exhausting properly
• If the hood is not working, notify EH&S, 7-2273
• Keep sash openings to a minimum
• Hoods are annually checked by EH&S - more frequently on request
• Hood sash should not be positioned higher than the line on the "Approved Use" sticker.
• If there is a need for safety/blast shields within the hood, they should be obtained separately; the sash alone should not be used as safety/blast shield.
• Sources of emission should be kept at least 5 inches inside the plane of the sash
• Users should keep their faces outside the plane of the hood sash
• Keep front air foil clear - don't block with lab bench liner
• Don't block hood exhaust openings or room air supply vents; they are essential for the proper operation and capture efficiency of the hood
• Keep hood sashes closed when not in use
• Design experiments NOT to exceed the hood's exhaust capacity with anticipated experimental emissions

Storage

• Keep storage of chemicals in a hood to a minimum
  • Stored chemicals may add to the seriousness of an incident such as a fire
  • Stored chemicals block exhaust openings
• Only necessary equipment should be placed in the hood
• Large equipment impedes air flow and causes air turbulence and poor capture efficiency
• Place large equipment on spacers to allow for air to pass underneath