All sorts of lab work, particularly in industrial labs, require the regular handling of all manner of dangerous substances. It’s here that exhaust hoods shine and show their almost incalculable value.

Did you know… RDM Industrial Products has been manufacturing quality-designed lab furniture, tools, and laboratory equipment for more than 40 years. Laboratory exhaust fume hoods are one of the centerpieces of our business. Here, we’ll tell you a bit about what these incredible devices are. As well as what they can do, and why they are so important. We’ll also share the different types of fume hoods that we manufacture and the many benefits that you can reap from having them at your disposal.

What Do Fume Hoods Do, and Why Does Your Lab Need Them?

RDM Laboratory Fume Hoods & Casework shown with Recessed Pulls and Sliding, Frameless Glass Door Upper Wall Cabinets.

Although chemical fume hoods come in a variety of different types and styles and can have functions that differ from one another in some important ways, they all serve the same basic purpose: to remove harmful gases from the laboratory environment.

Therefore, the most basic reason to have them in your lab is to ensure lab worker safety. If you plan to conduct experiments and trigger chemical reactions in your lab that give off harmful gases as by-products, these exhaust hoods are absolutely essential.

With that, let’s have a look at some of the different types of factory-direct exhaust hoods that RDM can build for your lab.

Classifications of Laboratory Exhaust Fume Hoods, & How They Work!

In essence, a laboratory fume hood is a device that creates an enclosure around a certain work area. A chemical reaction which releases toxic fumes can then be triggered within that work area. Because the enclosure is air-tight, when properly used, the fumes don’t escape its confines. Rather, they are taken up by a ventilation or filtration system and neutralized in any of a few different ways. That is the basic way in which these devices manage and control fumes.

However, depending on the type used, the exact way in which this happens can vary. From a strictly functional perspective, here are the two basic types of chemical fume hoods:

• Ducted: A ducted hood takes air in from the front side of its enclosure and passes the air through a series of ventilation ducts. If the air is contaminated with toxic fumes, this means that those fumes will pass through the ducts until they are totally removed from the laboratory environment and expelled outside. To do this, the fume hood must be properly connected to the ventilation system that already exists in your lab. The hood can be set up to either offer filtration or not.
• Ductless: Ductless hoods, by contrast, take in contaminated air, pass it through a series of filters that remove its dangerous contaminants, and then recirculate that air right back into your lab. They don’t have to be integrated into your ventilation system and therefore are typically easier and cheaper to install.

Besides this classification based on function and fume management, hoods also vary according to a few other designs and style criteria.

Important Design Types of Fume Hoods Manufactured by RDM :

• Bench Top or Standard: As the name suggests, under this design, the hood encloses a workbench, typically with glass or a similar material. Experiments are performed through the sash and within the enclosed workstation, allowing released fumes to be filtered or otherwise removed. Below the bench is a series of chemicals where you can store important materials.
• Walk-in: Walk-in hoods encompass big enough areas that a lab worker can walk into them to do all necessary work. This style of fume hood is particularly useful in situations where cross-contamination between different workspaces must be avoided at all costs. They’re also preferred as spaces in which to trigger larger reactions in which greater volumes of toxic gases may be expelled.
• Thin Wall Economy: As the name suggests, this type of hood has especially thin walls. They serve the purpose of slightly increasing the work area that’s allowed to you. You should keep in mind, however, that their thin walls make these hoods ineffective for dealing with poisonous gases. They can still remove fumes the same way that other hoods can. However, they are not meant for totally segregating poisonous gases from the rest of the lab environment. Thus, they should not be used for that purpose. Other than that, they basically look the same as benchtop hoods. They enclose a laboratory bench and come with a set of cabinets beneath. Because of their thinner walls, however, they are typically less expensive and may therefore be useful to labs that are on a budget.
• Variable Air Volume: Variable Air Volume hoods put more power into the hands of the user. When integrated with exhaust control systems, they give you the power to control the exact rate at which the hood expels and/or filters the air. They also allow you to adjust the volume of air that the hood exhausts. Depending on the position of the sash, which can make the hood more efficient.

To see the full selection of laboratory exhaust fume hoods that RDM manufactures to help you with your airflow and exhaust needs, as well as some of their accessories and specialize features, click here.

Industries That Use Exhaust Fume Hoods:

Lastly, let us give you a brief survey of some of the many different kinds of industries that have found uses for exhaust fume hoods. Just some include:

• industrial labs and engineering firms or factories where combustible elements may be common
• scientific and university laboratories specializing in pure chemical research
• medical and pharmaceutical labs – especially where gases can be expelled as a result of chemical synthesis

Conclusion

All of RDM’s fume hoods are proudly manufactured in the USA. We are also happy to custom design them to suit your specific needs. Let RDM put its manufacturing expertise to work for you. They’ll help you keep your lab workers safe and your projects chugging along smoothly.

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Laboratory fume hoods:

Are enclosed, ventilated workbenches that provide protection from harmful substances by directing air away from the worker and up into the hood. No filters are used and air is diluted as it travels through ductwork before being released outside the laboratory.

Chemical fume hoods provide protection to the worker and laboratory environment but do not provide a sterile workspace to protect samples from contamination. Fume hoods are suitable for tasks that involve hazardous drugs or chemicals, hazardous chemical fumes, volatile toxic vapors, odorous or reactive materials, toxic gases, aerosols, flammable materials, carcinogens, or hazardous chemicals that can easily spatter.

Laminar flow hoods:  

Are primarily designed to protect lab samples and products from contamination by directing air through High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters within an enclosed and sterile workspace. Different types of laminar flow hoods are available depending on the level of protection required for the worker and laboratory environment as well as the types of tasks being performed.

Horizontal laminar flow workbenches direct HEPA-filtered air horizontally, from back to front, across the worktable surface. Workers are positioned downstream from the airflow and can be potentially exposed to contaminants. Horizontal laminar flow hoods should not be used when working with infectious biological materials, pathogens, or highly toxic chemicals.

The horizontal airflow ensures a higher level of protection for lab samples from airborne particulates since the worker’s hands and gloves are positioned downstream from the air current. A horizontal flow also reduces turbulence on the work surface and is best suited to tasks that involve small utensils and equipment since larger objects can disrupt the airflow.

Vertical laminar flow workbenches direct HEPA-filtered air down towards the workbench and then out through holes in the surface or through an opening in the front of the enclosure. The downward airflow provides extra protection for the worker and laboratory environment and is commonly used for assembling parts, inspecting electronic devices, drug preparation, or preparing media.

Since the filter is located on the top of the hood, vertical laminar flow workbenches provide a taller workspace that is suitable for working with larger equipment. The vertical airflow also results in less turbulence from large objects.  

Biological Safety Cabinets: also referred to as biosafety cabinets, go beyond laminar flow workbenches by offering additional protection for laboratory workers and the environment. Biosafety cabinets must be used when working with infectious microorganisms, pathogens, as well as other toxic materials and the cabinets are available in three basic classes depending on the level of protection required.

• Class I Biosafety Cabinets provide protection for laboratory workers and the lab environment but do not provide a sterile workspace. Class I Biosafety Cabinets work in a similar way as fume hoods by drawing air in and away from the worker, up into a HEPA filter, and then out into the environment.
• Class II Biosafety Cabinets provide protection for laboratory workers, products and          samples, as well as the environment. HEPA-filtered air is drawn in from the front to provide operator protection and also flows downward onto the work surface to protect products from contamination. Air also passes through an additional HEPA filter before being released into the environment.
•  Class III Biosafety Cabinets consist of air-tight enclosures with non-opening front windows and multiple HEPA filters that are designed to provide maximum protection for both the laboratory worker and environment. Class III biosafety cabinets are sometimes referred to as glove boxes since workers access the sealed internal space through attached arm-length rubber gloves. This type of cabinet is suitable for working with biosafety level 4 highly infectious agents and other dangerous materials.

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Why?

The lab furniture and equipment you use will actually play a major role on how effective your laboratory will be. Hence, you should choose your pieces carefully and objectively. And by asking the right and proper questions, you get to make that possible.

Interested?

Here are some questions that you might want to ask yourself before investing in lab fume hoods (or other laboratory furniture pieces for that matter):

Q1: What Specific Furniture Pieces Do I Need?

Chances are we have different needs and requirements for our lab tasks and operations. So, in order to make the right choices, we need to make a careful assessment of what we need. Accordingly, this can help us prioritize on the things that need urgent attention—and eventually reap more benefits in the end.

For example: Do you need chemical fume hoods to maintain safety in your lab? Or do you need new chemical safety cabinets for storage? How about a new lab table? What specific laboratory task needs to be improved on (or need new furniture)? Note: By knowing which is which, you get to make the proper moves later on. Accordingly, this will help you avoid unwanted issues as well.

Q2: Does The Furniture Comply with the Needed Standards?

Fume hoods and other related furniture pieces need to be safe for use. There’s no denying that. After all, lab tasks require the handling of sensitive chemicals and items—and you shouldn’t be taking unnecessary risks.

With that in mind, you should ensure that the furniture or equipment you’re using is actually safe. Does it comply with OSHA or ASHRAE standards? Can it actually withstand the chemicals or elements that you are handling in your lab?

Remember: Safety and efficiency must go together. So, you should only invest in pieces that can bring these for you.

Q3: Am I Dealing with the Right Manufacturer / Supplier?

In order to find the right lab furniture or equipment—you need to deal only with companies who actually know what to do. As much as possible, only deal with professionals that have already been tried and tested for efficiency. Incidentally, RDM is the name to trust in this arena.

For over 37 years, RDM has been providing clients with efficient, durable and safe industrial and lab furniture. All our products meet the needed standards and qualifications—and we intend to maintain that same level of excellence and quality.

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