Factors To Consider When Purchasing A Fume Hood

By Kelly Williams

The process of finding the right fume hood can be a little complicated if you don't know the right questions to ask. You can save yourself a lot of trouble if you know the answers to these questions when you start shopping.

What size of fume hood do you need?

Fume Hoods and enclosures vary in width from 2’ to over 12’. They can be from 18”  tall to over 12’ tall. Knowing what size you require will help you narrow down what type of hoods to consider.

What chemicals or particulates are going to be used in the Fume Hood?

There are general hoods, ductless hoods, powder hoods, acid hoods, explosion proof hoods and many more specialty hoods. Identifying the chemicals that will be used in the hood as well as the particulates and chemical volumes and methods that will be performed in the hood will help to determine which type of hood best fits the application. Also along these lines, will hot plates or other heat producing items be used in the hood?