How Fume Hoods and Laboratory Hoods Used?

For safe operations in industrial plants and laboratories, laboratory hoods are important components along with anti vibration tables and laboratory table. Due to their box-like figure, the outside air can be kept away from the area where workers and researchers are doing experiments. According to the specific requisites, you can find fume hoods with various features.

Fume Control

This is one of the most common applications of fume hoods. With an activated carbon filter, it re-circulates the air within cabinet. Fume hoods are used to keep workers and scientists away from hazardous chemical vapors and avoid the discharge of pollutants on the atmosphere. According to contamination levels, you can adjust the specific composition of filter. At the entrance of cabinet, you can use the down-flow of air as a preventive measure in order to avoid the contaminated air.

Dust prevention

Laboratory hoods and fume hood also play a vital role to discharge proper amount of fine dust, even when it is non-toxic, on industrial processes. Even in minute concentrations, prolonged exposure to dust may lead to potter’s rot (silicosis) because lungs cannot filter tiny particles. Fume hoods can easily capture the down-flow of air and such particles.

Contention with Radioisotopes 

Special measures are required to be taken while working with radio-chemical agents. While performing your duties with radioisotopes, fume hoods are used for proper protection as they are literally lined with stainless steel and facilitate decontamination and prevent absorption. In order to handle the weight of shielding agents like lead bricks, fume hoods are also reinforced.

Biological Safety

Fume hoods’ close relative, bio-safety cabinets are used to have containment in labs where workers and scientists use infectious agents. The Class-I bio-safety cabinets actually use inflow of air in order to avoid contaminations from infectious material. In order to prevent external contamination and to control it from extremely infectious materials, most laboratories use Class III cabinets.

Explosions Prevention

 
Fume hoods are also used to prevent the accidental explosions in order to protect both users and people around. Usually, 5 out of 6 sides are closed in fume hoods. While providing a view to experiment, the sixth side is designed to protect the face of the user.