Laboratory Hoods
Working under the lab hood: what are laboratory hoods used for?
The goal of a laboratory hood is to safely contain and/or remove
hazardous biological and chemical contaminants before they can escape
into the lab or environment.
Spanning benchtop models to
walk-in units, hoods are used in fields ranging from chemistry to the
life sciences to forensics. Ducted hoods remove contaminants using
either constant or variable air volume. Since constant-volume hoods in
particular tend to be energy guzzlers, recent efforts have focused on
low-flow units that incorporate fume containment features to save energy
while maintaining safety.
Additional types of ventilation devices include biological safety
cabinets (HEPA filtered to Class I, II, or III levels); glove boxes,
which offer a higher level of protection against inhalation; and
dedicated units for use with perchloric acid, IVF, or PCR.
How do I choose a laboratory hood?
The first consideration should always be the application: Identify which chemicals and processes are being used.
Are they flammable, or particularly corrosive?
For less toxic
work, ductless enclosures, which use filters to control airborne
hazards, might fit the bill. Common hood sizes range from 3 to 8 feet,
so keep that in mind if any equipment needs to be housed inside the
unit. Each type of hood material, including epoxy-coated steel,
fiberglass, or poly resin, will offer specific heat resistance and
compatibility advantages.
Although face velocity, the speed at which the air flow enters the hood,
remains a prime consideration, today’s views on performance focus on
containment
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