Fume hoods

Fume hoods are the primary engineering control when working with hazardous materials in laboratories. A fume hood is a partially enclosed workspace intended to contain contaminants within the hood and then exhausted outside.

When used properly, hazardous gases and vapors generated inside the hood are captured before they enter the breathing zone. This serves to minimize your exposure to airborne contaminants.

The three types of fume hoods on campus are:

Conventional fume hoods High performance fume hoods Variable air volume
  • a standard fume hood that operates with a constant air volume
  • designed to operate at an economical cost
  • designed to operate at an economical cost
  • as the sash is opened, the air volume that flows through the fume hood remains constant but the air velocity decreases
  • most often equipped with dual sashes (sashes that move either horizontally or vertically)
  • as the sash is opened, the air volume that flows through the fume hood remains constant but the air velocity decreases
  • can be equipped with single or dual sashes
  • as the sash is opened, the air volume adjusts to maintain the air velocity constant

Regardless of the type of fume hood, it is important to work within these fume hoods with the sash opened at the recommended height (15 cm). Fume hoods are installed and calibrated to maintain the air velocity within regulatory requirements at the 15 cm opened sash height.

Fume hood guidelines

The following videos demonstrate fume hood containment in common equipment configurations found in the laboratory.  Each fume hood was tested prior to equipment installation and was found to meet the flow and containment requirements.  Mechanical flow to the fume hood was constant with the variable being equipment configuration changing. 

Testing & maintenance of fume hoods

WorkSafeBC Regulations mandate that the airflow and containment of fume hoods must be tested and certified:

a. after a new or relocated the fume hood is installed and before it is used
b. at least once in each 12 month period after installation
c. after any repair or maintenance that could affect the air flow of the hood
Annual testing of fume hoods for air flow and compliance with WorkSafeBC Regulations is coordinated by OHSE. If you suspect a problem with air flow or require more information, please contact Paraskevi Lagaditis at  or 250-721-8876.

For problems with the physical structure of fume hoods (such as damaged airfoils, jammed sashes, etc.) please report to Facilities Management at 250-721-7616.