Fume hood, is widely use in the laboratory. How to use the fume hood correctly is very important, this is relate to the life safety of laboratory staffs. So how can we do?

1. Perform all work involving hazardous or volatile materials in a fume hood.

2. Check that the fume hood is operating correctly before you start to work. To check the air flow a strip of paper, tissue, or ribbon can be taped to fume hood sash.

3. Avoid cross drafts and disruptive air currents in front of the fume hood. Ensure that windows and doors near the fume-hoods are CLOSED.

4. Always keep work at least 150mm in from the opening of the fume hood.

5. Use the sash as a safety shied when boiling materials or conducting an experiment with reactive chemicals.

6. Always keep sash as low as possible. As the sash is lifted, flow is increased so that the face velocity of air over a fiven cross section of the sash opening is constant. In summer especially, this will mean that more hot make up air is drawn into the lab.

7. When the fume hood is not in use, ensure that all materials are in sealed containers.

8. Connect all electrical devices outside of the hood to avoid sparks which may ignite a flammable or explosive chemical.

9. Prepare a plan of action in case of an emergency, such as a power failure, especially when using extremely hazardous chemicals or acids.

DON’T

• DO NOT place your face or head inside the hood. Keep hands out as much as possible.

• DO NOT use a fume hood as a storage area, they should contain only working volumes of chemicals.

• DO NOT use fume hoods to vent or dispose of hazardous materials through air dilution.

• DO NOT overcrowd or clutter the fume hood. Overcrowding creates vortices and dead spots. Vortices may cause hazardous material to flow back out of the fume hood causing exposure; dead spots may allow ignitable concentrations of flammable and combustible materials to accumulate; Large bulky equipment used in the hood will cause eddies. These can be reduced by making sure there.

• DO NOT place equipment in the hood that stops the sash from closing. A safer local exhaust ventilation method may exist and should be pursued.

• DO NOT modify fume hood or erect shelves in a fume hood for chemical or equipment storage.

• DO NOT place power boards, or other spark producing sources inside the hood.