Regular Inspection And Maintenance of The Electrical Circuits in Fume Hoods?

Inspection cycle: It is recommended to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the electrical circuits of the fume hood once a month. If the fume hood is used frequently or in a relatively harsh environment, the inspection frequency can be appropriately increased.

Inspection contents

Wires and cables: Check whether the wires and cables have any damage, aging, exposure or other phenomena. Check whether the insulation layer of the wires and cables is intact and whether there are any cracks, peeling or other conditions. If any damage to the wires and cables is found, the use of the fume hood should be stopped immediately and new wires and cables should be replaced in time to prevent safety accidents such as leakage and short circuit.

Interface: Carefully check whether the interfaces of the electrical circuits are loose. Loose interfaces may lead to poor contact, affecting the normal operation of the fume hood and even causing a fire. If a loose interface is found, it should be tightened with an appropriate tool.

Grounding condition: Regularly check the grounding condition of electrical equipment. Good grounding can ensure that in the event of leakage, the current can be quickly conducted into the ground, guaranteeing the safety of the laboratory personnel. A ground resistance tester can be used to test whether the ground resistance meets the requirements. Generally, the ground resistance should be less than 4Ω.

Electrical installations: Check whether the electrical installations inside the fume hood, such as lighting equipment and fan control switches, are working properly. Check whether the lighting equipment can be turned on and off normally, and whether the fan control switch can flexibly control the start and stop of the fan. If any malfunction of the electrical device is found, it should be repaired or replaced in time.

Maintenance measures

Cleaning and maintenance

Cleaning frequency: Clean the electrical circuits and electrical installations inside the fume hood once a week.

Cleaning method: Use a clean damp cloth to gently wipe the surface of electrical circuits and electrical devices to remove dust and stains. For some hard-to-clean areas, a small brush or cotton swab can be used for cleaning. Be careful not to directly rinse electrical components with overly damp cloths or water to avoid damaging electrical circuits and electrical devices.

Prevent random wiring: It is strictly prohibited to randomly connect cables inside the fume hood. Privately and randomly connecting cables not only affects the appearance of the fume hood but also may lead to confusion in the electrical circuit, increasing safety hazards. If it is necessary to add electrical equipment or circuits, they should be installed and wired by professional electricians.

Avoid storing hazardous chemicals: As there are electrical circuits inside the fume hood, it is strictly prohibited to store corrosive, volatile, flammable and explosive hazardous chemicals in the cabinet beneath it. These chemicals may cause corrosion to electrical circuits or lead to accidents such as fires and explosions.

Proper storage of items: A fume hood is not a storage cabinet. Besides necessary instruments, consumables and a small amount of commonly used reagents, it is advisable to avoid storing too many items inside the cabinet. Too many items may affect the ventilation effect of the fume hood and may also cause compression or damage to the electrical circuits.

Record and Tracking: Establish a record file for the inspection and maintenance of electrical circuits, detailing the time, content, identified issues, and handling situations of each inspection and maintenance. Through the analysis of the records, potential problems existing in the electrical circuits can be discovered in a timely manner, and corresponding measures can be taken for prevention and handling. Meanwhile, the record archives can also provide a reference basis for subsequent maintenance and repair work.