Chemical Fume Hoods
Working in Chemical Fume Hoods
Chemical fume hoods are a primary method of exposure control in the laboratory. Fume hoods are ventilated enclosures used to protect laboratory users from toxic fumes and vapors generated by various operations and laboratory procedures.
Fume hoods are engineering controls, meaning that they physically isolate people from hazards. Engineering controls are an effective method of control for work with chemicals where elimination or substitution of the hazardous chemical is unsuitable for the laboratory process or procedure.
Fume hoods provide adequate protection for most laboratory processes using hazardous chemicals when used correctly. The following are considerations for working safely in a chemical fume hood.
Before using a chemical fume hood:
- Ensure you have received hands-on training on how to use each type of chemical fume hood you will be using in the laboratory. Ensure you know all parts of your fume hood and how they work, how your airflow monitor works and what alarms or alerts mean, and how to conduct your laboratory operations within the fume hood.
- Review the EHS Annual Fume Hood Inspection sticker on your fume hood to ensure the inspection is up-to-date and the fume hood has passed inspection (green sticker) or is approved for your specific-use (indicated on a yellow sticker).
- Review the Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) for all chemicals that you will be using prior to use.
- Review the airflow monitor for the current fume hood condition prior to each use and throughout the work session. Airflow monitors provide continuous monitoring for fume hood conditions. Stay alert of the airflow monitor status and respond to any alarms or alerts. Stop work if conditions are indicated to be unsafe.
- Ensure the fume hood is turned on.
- Open the sash to the lowest, safe working height for your operations. Never open the sash above the maximum working height as indicated on the fume hood.
- Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) as indicated for the hazards you are working with. Safety Data Sheets (SDSs), the laboratory hazard and PPE assessment, laboratory-specific procedures, and the laboratory sign may all be reviewed and considered to select appropriate PPE for the materials you are working with and the processes you are conducting. If you have any questions about PPE selection, please contact EHS prior to conducting work.
Working in a fume hood:
- Always wear your personal protective equipment (PPE) selected for the materials and processes you are conducting while working in the fume hood. PPE may include eye protection, a lab coat and gloves. Long pants and closed-toe shoes should also be worn.
- Work at least 6 inches inside the fume hood from the sash opening. This allows for greater personnel protection from hazardous materials.
- Ensure that you do not block the airfoils or the baffles with materials or equipment.
- Any large equipment should be elevated off the working surface to allow airflow around and under the equipment.
- Only store the amount of materials and equipment needed for your current processes inside the fume hood. Excessive storage of materials and equipment may impact fume hood performance.
- Keep abreast of the fume hood condition when working in it. Check the airflow monitor periodically throughout the work session. If the airflow monitor indicates conditions are unsafe, or if you have any concerns about fume hood performance, close the fume hood sash. Notify any potential users of the fume hood of the fume hood status. Any out-of-order fume hood conditions or concerns should be reported to EHS at safety@ksu.edu or 785-532-5856 so the fume hood can be inspected.
You may perform a visual check of fume hood inward airflow by using a Kimwipe (or other light tissue/paper) and holding it up near the open sash and visualizing if the Kimwipe is pulled into the fume hood. Do not let go of the Kimwipe during this visual verification of airflow. - After each work session, ensure the fume hood is turned off and the sash is shut. Close all chemical containers and power off any equipment stored in the fume hood. Remove any items that do not require storage in the fume hood. Notify your department safety coordinator of any operations or processes continuing unattended or overnight.
Resources:
Chemical Fume Hood Annual Inspections
The Department of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Research and Laboratory Safety Program performs annual inspections of all chemical fume hoods at Kansas State University. Inspections verify fume hood performance by qualitatively evaluating the capture and inward pull of smoke by the fume hood, and quantitatively measuring the average face velocity (in feet per minute) of airflow into the fume hood.
Qualitative smoke testing is conducted using a SmokPoint Air Flow Indicator. This indicator provides a continuous stream of “smoke” that allows for visualization of inward airflow and capture efficiency of each chemical fume hood. The smoke is a mixture of glycerin and distilled water.
Quantitative face velocity measurements are taken using a TSI VelociCalc. The TSI VelociCalc is a hot-wire ventilation meter that calculates instantaneous flow velocity from electric voltage measurements. Measurements are taken at the face of the fume hood with the sash open to the designated maximum working height. Individual measurements are taken for each square foot at the face of the fume hood, and then measurements are averaged to result in the final reported face velocity in feet per minute (fpm). The TSI VelociCalc is factory calibrated on an annual basis.
Fume Hood Inspection Schedule
Chemical fume hoods are inspected annually by Department of Environmental Health and Safety staff. Inspections verify fume hood performance by qualitatively evaluating the capture and inward pull of smoke by the fume hood, and quantitatively measuring the average face velocity (in feet per minute) of airflow into the fume hood.
Department leadership, main offices, and safety coordinators will be notified prior to inspections with contact information available to Environmental Health and Safety.
Month of Inspection |
Departments Inspected |
January |
Veterinary Medicine |
February |
Animal Sciences, Engineering, Entomology, Grain Science, Education, Psychology, Social Anthropology, Nutrition, Interior Design, Kinesiology |
March |
Agronomy, Plant Path, Horticulture |
April |
Geology, Physics, Hale, EHS |
May |
Biology, Biochemistry |
June |
King |
July |
CBC |
September |
Garden City |
October |
Colby |
December |
Hays, Parsons |
Fume Hood Inspection Criteria and References
References
The following codes and standards inform fume hood performance criteria. These codes and standards guide fume hood inspection criteria on campus.
Citation |
Standard/ Reference |
Pertinent Language |
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1450
|
Occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals in laboratories |
1910.1450(e)(3)(iii) A requirement that fume hoods and other protective equipment are functioning properly and specific measures shall be taken to ensure proper and adequate performance of such equipment. |
ANSI/AIHA Z9.5
|
The American National Standard for Laboratory Ventilation |
Each hood shall maintain an average face velocity of 80-120 fpm with no face velocity measurement more than plus or minus 20% of average. |
SEFA 1.2-1996 |
Laboratory Fume Hoods Recommended Practices |
Face velocities of laboratory fume hoods may be established on the basis of the toxicity or hazard of the materials used or the operations conducted within the fume hood.
Note: Governmental codes rules and regulation may require specific face velocities. A fume hood face velocity of 100 fpm is considered acceptable in standard practice. In certain situations face velocity of up to 125 fpm or as low as 75 fpm may be acceptable to meet required capture velocities of the fume hood. |
National Research Council (US) Committee on Prudent Practices in the Laboratory; National Academies Press |
Prudent Practices in the Laboratory, 2nd edition, 2011 |
Laboratory chemical hoods: 60 - 100 fpm depending on hood type should be used flammable, toxic or reactive materials and products or mixtures with uncharacterized hazards. |
Fume Hood Inspection Results
EHS has new fume hood inspection labels starting in 2024. The labels are green, yellow, and red/orange corresponding to the fume hood inspection result. The following chart describes the use of the three different colored labels. A fume hood inspection label should be present on each fume hood on campus, and the past inspection date should be within the past year.
EHS Fume Hood Labels
Label Color |
Label Indication |
Green |
This fume hood has passed EHS annual inspection and is operating as intended based on cited references. |
Yellow |
This fume hood may not pass all referenced criteria cited above, but has been approved for use as described on the sticker by EHS. EHS must be contacted prior to any other use(s) to evaluate the fume hood for these uses. |
Red/Orange |
Fume hood has failed inspection. This fume hood should be taken out of service until repairs are completed and reinspection verifies that the fume hood is safe for use. |
A final report will be sent to department leadership and safety coordinators at the completion of fume hood inspections.
A work order with Facilities Customer Service should be submitted for all failed fume hoods by the responsible laboratory group or department. Facilities customer service can be reached at: 785-532-6389 or faccustomerservice@k-state.edu. The fume hood failure reason will be listed on the final report. Some common failure reasons are detailed in the table below:
Failure Reasons Noted on Report:
Failure Reason Listed |
Explanation |
Low average face velocity (FV) |
Average face velocity is below referenced ranges in industry standards or known manufacturer specified operation range. *Note: This range may vary by fume hood type and manufacturer specifications. |
High average face velocity (FV) |
Average face velocity is above referenced ranges in industry standards or known manufacturer-specified operation range. *Note: This range may vary by fume hood type and manufacturer specifications. |
Individual face velocity (FV) measurement > 20% +/- average FV |
ANSI/AIHA Z9.5 No face velocity measurement more than plus or minus 20% of average. Fume hood face velocities are inconsistent across the working surface. Some possibilities include: Fume hood may be unbalanced, have excessive storage, airflow may be blocked in or to the ducts, airfoil may be blocked, baffles may be blocked |
Out of Use/ Out of Service Fume Hoods
Fume hoods no longer in use may be removed from the EHS annual inspection schedule. To take a fume hood out of service, please notify EHS. Please share the room number and fume hood ID (listed on the EHS inspection sticker). EHS will post signage on the fume hood indicating that it is out of service, is no longer receiving annual fume hood inspections to verify performance and may not be used until it has passed EHS inspection. Contact EHS prior to use of any out of service fume hoods for inspection.
Airflow Monitors
Airflow monitors are required for fume hoods at Kansas State University on newly purchased fume hoods, remodeled and renovated laboratory spaces, and as part of major repairs.
There are many different airflow monitors that may be used for end users to verify performance of a chemical fume hood prior to each work session. The purpose of this webpage is to introduce the regulatory language surrounding airflow monitors, the function of airflow monitors for chemical fume hoods, the types of airflow monitors you may encounter at Kansas State University, and what to do in the event that your airflow monitor is not working as intended or is presenting with an alarm or language about fume hood performance.
Airflow Monitors at Kansas State University and Troubleshooting
*Section pending to provide the following information for all air flow monitors at Kansas State University. EHS is collaborating with Facilities to provide this information to all fume hood users at the university.*
Name
Picture of Monitor
Description
How to Use
Digital Display of Face Velocity |
Yes/No |
Information on what is displayed and how |
Visual Indicator |
Yes/No |
What is the visual indicator and what does it show |
Audio or Visual Alarm |
Yes/No |
What is the alarm, what does it mean |
Alarm Set Points |
Yes/No |
Ex: Specific face velocity, CFM, high or low, etc. (This is for the end user to understand when an alarm would occur) |
Alarm Silencer |
Yes/No |
How is an alarm silenced by an end user |
Please contact EHS at safety@ksu.edu or 785-532-5856 for the following conditions:
- If you are working in a chemical fume hood without an airflow monitor
- If you are unsure about the operation of the airflow monitor on your fume hood
- If your airflow monitor is in an alarm status
- If any part of your airflow monitor is not operating as intended
- If you have any concerns about the performance of your fume hood regardless of airflow monitor status
Regulatory Language for Chemical Fume Hood Airflow Monitors
Multiple standards reference the use of airflow monitors for chemical fume hoods. The table below summarizes some of these standards and the pertinent language.
CITATION |
STANDARD TITLE |
LANGUAGE |
29 CFR 1910.1450 Appendix A |
OSHA Laboratory Standard |
“... each [fume] hood shall have a continuous monitoring device to allow convenient confirmation of adequate [fume] hood performance before use. If this is not possible, work with substances of unknown toxicity should be avoided or other types of local ventilation devices should be provided... chemical hoods should be maintained, monitored, and routinely tested for proper performance.” |
NFPA 45 – 2015, 7.8.7 |
Standard on Fire Protection for Laboratories Using Chemicals |
“A measuring device for indicating that the hood airflow remains within safe design limits shall be provided on each chemical fume hood... The measuring device for hood airflow shall be a permanently installed device and shall provide continuous indication to the hood user of adequate airflow and alert inadequate hood airflow by a combination of an audible and visual alarm. Where an audible alarm could compromise the safety of the user or the research, alternative means of alarm shall be considered.” |
Prudent Practices in the Laboratory, 2nd edition, 2011
National Research Council of the National Academies
Section 9.C.2.4.
|
Prudent Practices in the Laboratory: Handling and Managment of Chemical Hazards |
“Make sure that a continuous performance monitoring device is present, and check it every time the chemical hood is used.” |
ANSI Z9.5-2012, 8.10 |
Laboratory Ventilation |
“All Hoods and exposure control devices shall be equipped with a flow indicator, flow alarm, or face velocity alarm indicator as applicable to alert users to improper exhaust flow.” |
SEFA –1, 4.1.10 |
Laboratory Fume Hoods |
“All hoods shall have some type of monitor for indicating face velocity or exhaust flow verification. The monitor can be a simple pressure gage connected to a Pitot tube in the exhaust duct, one of many electronic monitors, or a vaneometer. Regardless of the monitor installed, it should provide clear indication to the hood user whether exhaust flow or face velocity is within design parameters. A ribbon taped to the bottom of the sash is not acceptable.” |
Purchasing or Recycling a Fume Hood
If you would like to purchase a chemical fume hood for your laboratory or recycle a fume hood that is no longer in use, please contact EHS at safety@ksu.edu or 785-532-5856. We are happy to help you with these processes.
References
We referenced the following resources in creation of our webpage: Labconco Corporation, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Laboratory Safety Institute, American Society of Safety Professionals