Performing regular safety and maintenance checks on your fume cupboard is essential. Let's not forget, it's a safety device first and foremost. Consequently, you need to make sure your unit is functioning correctly, and is clear of any potential hazards, this includes overloading the workspace with too much equipment. While it may seem obvious, this is one of the most common issues we see. Safety regulations should be adhered to at all times to reduce the risk of personal injury or contamination inside your lab, and you should visually inspect your cabinet daily.
But, before we dive into more detail, if you're looking to specify a new fume cupboard rather than maintain an existing one, you can see our full range of fume cupboards.
Your cabinets should be inspected at least once every 14 months. According to the British Standards and European, this is a legal requirement. Any inspection certificates and maintenance reports must be documented and kept on file, as well as any certificates that have been provided from the inspection. While printed certificates are the norm, at TION, we also provide digital copies.
Here are some things for you to consider when maintaining your fume hoods and their components:
The Sash – The sash must be kept well lubricated; pulley wires and alignment should be checked and any broken material should be replaced. The glass must be checked for any chemical damage or cracks.
The Fan – An essential element to the fume cupboard, the fan must be working and maintained always. The physical integrity of the fan should be inspected as well as checking for general wear and tear as well as any cabling.
The Ducting – For any cabinet that requires ducting, the duct must be inspected to ensure that it is properly sealed and remains in good physical condition. Fire dampers should be examined for any potential damage that might have been caused, as well as checking the volume control dampers to ensure they move freely.
The Controls – Both electrical and mechanical checks should be performed on controls to ensure there is no wear. The airflow alarm system should be calibrated as well as control valves.
The Enclosure – Checks should be performed to ensure there are no leakages and the structural integrity of the fume hood remains intact.
Any cleaning conducted in your unit must be conducted by a certified professional. And make sure the appropriate PPE is worn at all times when carrying out any cleaning.
When conducting any experiments inside a fume cupboard, the safety of the operator is priority, and is therefore important to keep any materials being used about 150mm inside of the hood, away from the window opening. Keep the sash closed when not in use and be sure to remove any chemicals once you are finished with your experiment, safely storing them in a chemical storage cabinet that is ideally constructed using polypropylene.
Try not to place anything in front of the glass as this has a chance to cause turbulence in the air flow, potentially causing fumes to escape into the laboratory. Be sure to place items at a minimum distance of around 150mm away from the front of the cabinet.
One of the key things to remember when installing a fume hood is that it should not be placed close to any walkways, windows, doors or air outlets. These may potentially interfere with the air flow and ventilation system. Placing the unit away from these will ensure to help minimise the risk of airborne contaminants spreading throughout the laboratory.
We really shouldn’t need to say this, but not everyone’s level of common sense is the same. Do not use the fume cupboard as a storage cupboard. It should only ever be used for its intended use of conducting experiments. Otherwise, this could lead to chemicals being exposed to the laboratory or potentially interfere with the airflow.
This isn’t like your family member setting up the latest household electronic, so it’s worth ensuring that you have the instructions nearby to show you how to deal with situations such as a power failure or fire hazard should the events arise.
Just a side note. If you ever experience a fire or power cut, be sure to close the sash quickly before you evacuate the laboratory or building. It’s also worth mentioning that the fume hood will not function without power, which means it can cause a build-up of dangerous chemicals that can be hazardous. And you’ll need to ensure all your staff are aware of any fire hazard procedures, which helps safeguard everybody, as they’ll know exactly what to do if there is a fire.
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