Selecting and Using Laboratory Hoods Safely

7 hours

This course provides working knowledge of how laboratory hoods operate, available hood options, relevant codes, and how hood selection impacts hood operation. A brief discussion of ventilated enclosures and local exhaust is included to highlight their differences. This course is designed for anyone who works in a laboratory or those new to the laboratory environment.

1. Code Requirements
   a. OSHA
   b. NFPA-45 Fire Protection for Laboratories Using Chemicals
   c. AIHI Z9.5 Laboratory Ventilation
2. Basic Ventilation Systems
   a. Fixed volume
   b. Variable volume
3. Hoods
   a. Hood components
   b. Airfoils
   c. Bypass grills
   d. Sash types and their advantages and disadvantages
   e. Auxiliary air systems and their issues
4. Hood Alarms
   a. Code requirements
   b. Common problems and their solutions
5. Hood Testing and Certification
   a. ASHRAE 110 Methods of Testing Performance of Laboratory Hoods
   b. Review of the testing methods
   c. Issues with each methods
6. Using Hoods Safely
   a. Limiting hood openings
   b. Overcrowding
   c. Storage
   d. Depth of hood
   e. Fire and explosion potential
   f. Blast resistance
7. Hood Alternatives and Their Issues
   a. Ventilated enclosures
   b. Local exhaust
   c. Ductless hoods
   d. Laminar flow hoods