There are many test standards worldwide. When selling fume hoods, every company will tell you that their fume hoods meet ASHRAE 110, en 14175 or other test standards, but the reality is that these tests are usually carried out under near perfect conditions. This test only confirms that the design of the fume hood is reasonable, but it does not mean that the fume hood operates normally in your laboratory, because the ventilation system of each laboratory is different.

Your lab is different. Laboratory ventilation system is very complex and dynamic, and the conditions are changing all the time. What you actually test is not only the fume hood, but the performance of the fume hood in your laboratory. Global research shows that 50% to 70% of installed fume hoods cannot operate safely when tested.

This means that the fume hood is losing its pollutant control performance and allowing pollutants to escape to the laboratory. This will pollute the air and affect the health of workers.

But not only will users be affected, these pollutants will damage laboratory equipment, but also damage ongoing tests.

The only way to know if your fume hoods are safe is to test them.