Acid & Alkali Resistant Heat Resistant Chemistry Ventilation Laboratory Explosion Proof Chemical Fume Hood

Acid digestion is one of the more common procedures performed in fume hoods that causes premature rusting and corrosion. All-metal fume hoods, standard in most labs, will rust over time and need to be replaced, but specialty labs working with acids to break down organic and inorganic materials often make the mistake of not using metal-free fume hoods. Hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrofluoric acid and nitric acid are common in any digestion experimentation and analysis, all of which will immediately rust and corrode any exposed metal it touches, resulting in contamination to samples.

The fume hood is an important safety staple in chemistry classrooms and research labs. Getting the most out of a fume hood begins with selecting the right one for your application. That means knowing precisely what type of work will be performed in the fume hood and making the choice between constant air volume and variable air volume, choosing between a ducted and a ductless fume hood, and selecting the appropriate material of construction.

1. All operations that may generate hazardous air contaminants must be done inside a laboratory fume hood.
2. Fume hoods do not prevent accidents or chemical splashes. 3. Hood users must be trained in the proper operation and use of laboratory fume hoods.
4. The hood should not be operated unless it is verified that it is working correctly.
5. Safety glasses (goggles), lab coats, and appropriate chemical gloves must be worn when working in, on, or around the fume hood.
6. Do not put your head in the hood, beyond the sash opening.
7. Do not use the hood for storage of equipment, containers, or chemicals which are not going to be used during the day.
8. Equipment and materials placed in the hood must not block hood slots, airfoils, or otherwise interfere with the smooth flow of air into the hood.
9. Never place or use equipment that protrudes beyond the face of the hood (sash opening). This configuration will disrupt air flow of air into the hood and reduce its efficiency.
10. Keep all equipment and materials at least 6 inches behind the plane of the sash (hood face), this will improve containment capture. A stripe (tape) on the hood working surface is a good reminder.
11. Place all bulky equipment away from the sidewalls to allow air flow around the equipment.

Labs should consider whether a ducted or a ductless fume hood is right for them. Traditional ducted fume hoods are required in certain situations: to accommodate heavy volumes of acids, such as an acid digestion process, when dealing with noble gases, or in cases in which an unknown quantity of evaporation is occurring in the hood. Though filtered fume hoods are a viable solution for 90 percent of the chemistry performed in today's labs, there is a still a place for ducted fume hoods at this time.