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Questions to Ask Before Buying a Fume Hood

The addition or replacement of a fume hood in a laboratory should not be undertaken without consideration of many variables. Questions to ask include:

• Is this the proper hood for my application(s)? Should I consider upgraded fixtures or special features?
• What will be the effect on the operation of the HVAC system in the building?
• Is there sufficient air available to replace that which is being exhausted?
• What will be the effects of adding the exhaust ductwork to the building?
• What will be the cost of operation of the fume hood system?
• Where and how will the blower be mounted?
• Will a roof penetration be necessary? How will that affect my roof warranty?
• How do I size the ductwork and blower/motor system?
• Who will install the system?

We see far too many fume hoods ordered from catalog suppliers or rep firms without these questions being asked and the answers carefully considered. The resulting costs to compensate for this lack of due diligence are often staggering. Worse, hoods are installed that don’t work properly exposing personnel to hazardous working condi-tions and exposing owners to huge liability risk.

Fume Hood Systems and Applications-driven Design Strategy

STX scientists routinely design and install labs, and they can help you determine the answers to these and other questions. In this way, we can work together to ensure your fume hood system operates properly after installation. Following our applications-driven, form-follows-function mentality in lab design, we start with these questions.

Partnering to Develop your Fume Hood System

At STX, we’ll help you select the proper hood, design the system components to work together, determine the effects of your system on your environment (and vice versa), and even calculate operating costs. Of course, we’ll consider and manage the acquisition and installation costs during this process, because we understand that cost does not necessarily reflect performance. Finally, we’ll manage the project and handle the installation. You’ll have one partner throughout the process. There’s no finger-pointing or risk with our comprehensive support program.