Fume hoods
Fume hoods are the primary engineering control when working with hazardous materials in laboratories. A fume hood is a partially enclosed workspace intended to contain contaminants within the hood and then exhausted outside. When used properly, hazardous gases and vapors generated inside the hood are captured before they enter the breathing zone. This serves to minimize your exposure to airborne contaminants.
Before using a fume hood, ensure that it is appropriate for your work. Refer to the conditions of use, including any restrictions, noted on the fume hood label.
The three types of fume hoods on campus are: conventional hoods (the most common type); high performance hoods (found in the David Turpin Building and the Bob Wright Centre); and Variable Air Volume (VAV) hoods (found in the Medical Sciences Building). Hoods should be operated according to the fume hood guidelines, which should be posted in each lab.
Annual testing of fume hoods for air flow and compliance with WorkSafeBC Regulations is coordinated by OHSE. If you suspect a problem with air flow or require more information, please contact Paraskevi Lagaditis at plagaditis@uvic.ca or 250-721-8876.
For problems with the physical structure of fume hoods (such as damaged airfoils, jammed sashes, etc.) please report to Facilities Management at 250-721-7616.
Video demonstrations
The following videos demonstrate fume hood containment in common equipment configurations found in the laboratory. Each fume hood was tested prior to equipment installation and was found to meet the flow and containment requirements. Mechanical flow to the fume hood was constant with the variable being equipment configuration changing.