Laboratory fume hoods are an integral part of the laboratory. To prevent laboratory personnel from inhaling some toxic, pathogenic, or unknown toxic chemicals, the laboratory should maintain good ventilation. To avoid absorption of some vapors, gases, and particulates (smoke, soot, dust, etc.), contaminating substances must be removed using fume hoods, or local ventilation. Today, this article will introduce you to how to use laboratory fume hoods correctly.
What to Do before Using Laboratory Fume Hoods?
1. Check whether the power supply, water supply and drainage, gas, and other switches and pipelines of fume hoods are normal.
2. Turn on the lighting equipment and check whether the light source and the interior of the laboratory fume hoods are normal.
3. Turn on the exhaust fan, and within about 3 minutes, listen to whether the operation of the fume hoods is normal.
4. If there is any problem with the above, immediately suspend use and notify the maintenance unit to deal with laboratory fume hoods.
5. Before the experiment, the laboratory fume hoods are in operation, and the experimenters need to wear protective equipment.
What to Do when Using Laboratory Fume Hoods
1. The operating area of laboratory fume hoods should be kept unobstructed, and objects should not be piled up around the fume hood.
2. When the experiment is in progress, the glass window of the laboratory fume hoods should be opened to a suitable position, generally, 10-15cm away from the table.
3. When moving the upper and lower windows, the operation should be done slowly and lightly, so as not to crush your hands by the door of laboratory fume hoods.
4. Make up air for 10 minutes every 2 hours (that is, open the window for ventilation), and open the window for more than 5 hours of use.
What to Do after Using Laboratory Fume Hoods?
1. After the operation is completed, the fan of fume hoods should not be turned off immediately, and the fan can only be turned off after the toxic gas remaining in the laboratory fume hood has been cleaned.
2. After the experiment, the power supply of the equipment in the fume hood should be turned off, and the adjustment door should be lowered to the lowest position before leaving.
3. The glass window of laboratory fume hoods should keep the transparent plate clean to ensure a clear view.
Incorrect Use of Laboratory Fume Hoods
During the experiment, the sliding door of the laboratory fume hood is pulled too high, and it is not pulled down after the experiment.
Messy countertops, experimental supplies, water pipes, air pipes, and wires are messy.
Laboratory fume hoods are used for storage purposes (old obsolete chemicals, chemical waste, and instruments).
Put the upper body including the head into the laboratory fume hood.
Use of laboratory fume hoods that do not meet design and safety standards or are faulty (easily compromised).
The plug-in board is used in the fume hood.
Large equipment should be used in a fume hood.
After you read this post, you must can use laboratory fume hoods correctly. If you want to know more about lab fume hoods, you can contact the manufacturer of lab fume hoods.
