When setting up a lab, there are many types of equipment that are important to include. Some of these types of equipment are safety equipment, such as lab hoods. A lab fume hood is one of the most important pieces of equipment if you are conducting advanced experiments in your laboratory. Here are a few reasons why this equipment is so important.
Fume Hoods Prevent Poisoning
The most important reason why you need a lab fume hood is that you want everyone in your lab to survive their experiments. Fume hoods have ventilation systems that extract fumes from chemicals. That way, instead of the fumes spreading around the laboratory environment, they get absorbed into the fume hood.
Without fume hoods, there could be serious health consequences to working in the laboratory. Some common chemicals used in laboratories, even in educational settings, can cause serious illness and even permanent damage if someone inhales them.
Besides absorbing fumes, fume hoods also absorb dust and other forms of debris.
Fume Hoods Are Required by Law
Depending on the chemicals your lab is working with, you may be required by law to install fume hoods. Chemicals that are classified as toxic by inhalation or not recommended to inhale need a lab fume hood for experiments to take place. If you are using toxic chemicals, you need a fume hood that is certified by law to protect users.
Fume hoods are also required when working with carcinogenic chemicals or radioisotopes.
