What Are The Key Points for Equipment Inspection before Using A Fume Hood?

Fume hoods are important equipment in laboratories for discharging harmful gases, vapors and dust. Equipment inspection before use is crucial for ensuring experimental safety, normal operation of the equipment and the accuracy of experimental results. The following are the key equipment inspection points before using a fume hood:

First, inspection of appearance and structure

Cabinet integrity: Carefully inspect the cabinet of the fume hood for any cracks, deformations or damages. Any structural defect may affect the sealing and stability of the fume hood, leading to the leakage of harmful gases. For instance, if there are cracks in the cabinet, harmful gases may escape from the cracks, posing a threat to the laboratory personnel.

Glass window: Check whether the glass window is intact and undamaged, without scratches, cracks or blurriness. The glass window is an important window for laboratory personnel to observe the experimental process. If there are problems, it will not only affect the view but also may cause safety accidents due to the breakage of the glass during the experiment. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure that the glass window can be opened and closed smoothly and is well sealed to prevent harmful gases from leaking from the edge of the window.

Doors and moving parts: Check whether the doors, drawers and other moving parts of the fume hood can be opened and closed normally without any jamming or loosening. The normal operation of these components has an impact on both the convenience and safety of the experimental operation. For instance, if the door fails to close properly, it may lead to a decline in the ventilation effect of the fume hood and prevent it from effectively discharging harmful gases.

Second, ventilation system inspection

Fan operating status: Start the fan and listen to whether its operating sound is normal, and check if there are any abnormal noises or vibrations. Abnormal sounds may indicate that there is a fault with the fan, such as worn bearings or damaged blades. Meanwhile, observe whether the rotational speed of the fan is stable and whether it meets the design requirements. Unstable fan speed may affect the exhaust volume of the fume hood and cannot ensure the safety of the experimental environment.

Air volume adjustment: Check whether the air volume adjustment device of the fume hood can work properly and whether the air volume can be flexibly adjusted according to the experimental requirements. Different experiments may produce different amounts of harmful gases. The air volume needs to be adjusted according to the actual situation to ensure that the fume hood can effectively discharge the harmful gases. For example, when conducting experiments on volatile organic compounds, a relatively large air volume may be required; When conducting some experiments on trace gases, the air volume can be appropriately reduced.

Air ducts and exhaust outlets: Check whether there is any blockage, damage or air leakage in the air ducts. Blockage of the air duct will lead to poor exhaust and affect the ventilation effect of the fume hood. If the air duct is damaged or leaking air, harmful gases will leak into the laboratory environment. At the same time, check whether the exhaust port is unobstructed and whether there are any foreign objects blocking it. The blockage of the exhaust outlet will affect the discharge of gas and may even cause harmful gases to flow back into the fume hood.

Third, electrical system inspection

Power connection: Check whether the power connection of the fume hood is firm, and whether the plug and socket are loose, damaged or overheated. Poor power connection may lead to electrical faults and even cause safety accidents such as fires. For instance, a loose plug may lead to poor contact, generating electric sparks and thus causing a fire.

Lighting equipment: Turn on the lighting equipment of the fume hood and check if it is glowing normally and if the brightness is sufficient. Good lighting conditions are of great significance for the accuracy and safety of experimental operations. If the lighting is insufficient, the experimenter may not be able to observe the experimental process clearly, which can easily lead to operational errors. Meanwhile, check whether the switches of the lighting equipment can normally control the on and off of the lights.

Control panel: Check whether all the buttons and indicator lights on the control panel of the fume hood can work properly. The button should be capable of accurately controlling functions such as the start and stop of the fan and the adjustment of air volume. The indicator light should be able to accurately display the operating status of the equipment, such as the fan running and the lighting on, etc. If the control panel malfunctions, it may cause the fume hood to fail to operate normally, affecting the progress of the experiment.

Fourth, inspection of safety facilities

Alarm device: Test whether the alarm device of the fume hood is working properly. Alarm devices are typically used to detect parameters such as the concentration of harmful gases and wind speed inside fume hoods. When these parameters exceed the safe range, an alarm will be triggered to alert the laboratory personnel. For instance, when the concentration of harmful gases inside the fume hood is too high, the alarm device should promptly issue an alarm so that the laboratory personnel can take corresponding measures.

Emergency stop button: Check whether the emergency stop button can work properly. In case of emergency situations such as fan failure or leakage of harmful gases, laboratory personnel can quickly stop the operation of the fume hood by pressing the emergency stop button to prevent the expansion of the accident.

Fire prevention facilities: Check whether necessary fire prevention facilities, such as fire extinguishers, are provided around the fume hood. Although the design of the fume hood itself should have certain fireproof performance, unexpected situations such as fires may still occur during experiments. Equipping with fireproof facilities can extinguish fires in the first place and reduce losses.

Fifth, inspection of the laboratory countertop and accessories

Laboratory countertop: Check whether the laboratory countertop inside the fume hood is flat, clean, free of cracks, corrosion or damage. The laboratory countertop is the main place for conducting experimental operations. Its flatness and cleanliness will affect the accuracy and safety of the experiments. For example, an uneven countertop may cause the experimental equipment to be placed unstably, affecting the experimental operation. Corrosion or damage to the countertop may breed bacteria or affect its load-bearing capacity.

Sink and faucet: If the fume hood is equipped with a sink and a faucet, check whether the sink is leaking, whether the faucet can be turned on and off normally, and whether the water flow is smooth. The normal use of the sink and faucet is very important for cleaning and drainage during the experiment. For example, a leaking sink may lead to water accumulation, affecting the experimental environment. If the faucet cannot be turned on and off normally or the water flow is not smooth, it will affect the efficiency of the experimental operation.

Sockets and power cords: Check whether the sockets inside the fume hood can be used normally and whether the power cords are damaged or aged. During the experiment, various electrical equipment may be needed. The normal operation of sockets and power cords is the basis for ensuring the normal operation of electrical equipment. If the socket is damaged or the power cord ages, it may cause electrical faults and even lead to safety accidents.