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Lab Trends

2016 Fume Hoods User Survey Results

Learn the fume hood types used by survey respondents, and much more in the results of our latest survey

by Lab Manager

One of the primary safety devices in laboratories where chemicals are used is the laboratory fume hood. It allows a researcher to work with—but not be exposed to—materials that create toxic fumes or particles when it is properly installed and maintained.

Top 6 Questions You Should Ask When Buying a Fume Hood

  1. Can your lab go ductless? Ductless hoods are a viable solution for most routine laboratory applications.
  2. What is the hood constructed from and how is it constructed? Will the chemicals you use attack, degrade, or physically alter the material of the hood?
  3. What types of safety controls are included in the base cost of the unit?
  4. Has the manufacturer/distributor gone through a thorough application review process? Does the suggested filtration make sense?
  5. How hard is installation? Will there be a future/potential need to move the hood after initial installation? Should the hood be portable?
  6. What are the capital, installation, and operational costs? From the lab manager’s perspective, capital costs are but a fraction of the overall budget.

Fume hood types used by survey respondents:

Conventional ducted fume hood 70%
Laminar flow hood 38%
Benchtop ductless fume hood 21%
Canopy ducted fume hood 20%
Variable air volume ducted fume hood 11%
Portable ductless fume hood 6%
Other 2%

Fume hood related components used by survey respondents:

Base storage cabinet 62.5%
Work surface 49.1%
Airflow monitor 45.5%
Blowers 26.8%
Digital monitor 22.3%
Fume extractor arms 9.8%
Transport support cart 5.4%

48% of respondents are engaged in purchasing a new fume hood. The reasons for these purchases are as follows:

Replacement of aging fume hood
50%
Addition to existing systems, increase capacity
22%
Setting up a new lab / developing a brand new method
12%
Other
16%

Top 10 features/factors respondents look for when purchasing a fume hood:

Durability of product 87%
Performance of product 84%
Safety and health features 80%
Low maintenance / easy to clean 78%
Value for price paid 74%
Ease of use; ergonomic operation 74%
Low operating costs 62%
Total cost of ownership 56%
Warranties 52%
Service and support 45%

For more information on fume hoods, including useful articles and a list of manufacturers, visit www.labmanager.com/fume-hoods

See the most recent survey results here