Fume Hood Selection Guide: How to Choose the Right Hood for Your Laboratory

Why Fume Hood Selection Matters

A fume hood isn't just another piece of laboratory equipment—it's often the most important safety device in the entire facility. When chemicals become airborne, the fume hood is the first and sometimes only line of defense between hazardous vapors and the people working in the lab.

Choosing the wrong fume hood can result in inadequate protection, excessive energy costs, or equipment that simply doesn't fit the work being performed. The right choice, on the other hand, delivers reliable containment, efficient operation, and decades of dependable service.

This guide walks through the key considerations for selecting fume hoods, from understanding different types to evaluating critical features and certifications.

Understanding Fume Hood Types

Not all fume hoods are created equal. Different laboratory applications require different containment solutions. Here's what you need to know about the primary fume hood categories:

Ducted Fume Hoods

Ducted fume hoods remain the gold standard for most laboratory applications. They capture contaminated air at the hood face and exhaust it through ductwork to the building exterior.

Best for: High-volume chemical work, hazardous materials handling, and laboratories using a wide variety of chemicals.

Key advantages: Handles virtually any chemical type, provides consistent protection regardless of filter saturation, and integrates with building HVAC systems for balanced airflow.

Considerations: Requires ductwork installation and ongoing HVAC coordination. Higher installation cost but lower long-term operational complexity.

Ductless Fume Hoods

Ductless hoods use carbon or HEPA filtration to clean air before recirculating it back into the laboratory space.

Best for: Low-volume work with well-defined chemical profiles, temporary installations, or spaces where ductwork installation isn't feasible.

Key advantages: No ductwork required, portable installation options, and potentially lower installation costs.

Considerations: Filters must be matched to specific chemicals and replaced regularly. Not suitable for unknown chemical mixtures or high-volume applications.

High-Performance Fume Hoods

High-performance designs operate safely at lower face velocities while maintaining excellent containment. These hoods use advanced baffle systems and aerodynamic design to achieve superior performance with reduced energy consumption.

Best for: Facilities prioritizing energy efficiency, high-throughput research environments, and laboratories seeking to reduce operating costs without compromising safety.

Key advantages: Lower energy consumption, reduced HVAC load, and often quieter operation due to lower airflow requirements.

Specialty Fume Hoods

Some applications require purpose-built solutions. Perchloric acid hoods feature wash-down systems to prevent dangerous residue buildup. Radioisotope hoods incorporate specialized shielding and filtration. Walk-in hoods accommodate large equipment or apparatus that won't fit in standard bench-top units.

Best for: Specific hazards or equipment requirements that standard hoods can't address.

Critical Features to Evaluate

When comparing fume hood options, certain features separate exceptional hoods from merely adequate ones. Here's what to look for:

Frame Construction

The underlying structure of a fume hood determines its durability, serviceability, and safety under stress. ICI uses structural pan ends and 6-inch straps to erect the fume hood superstructure, which allows liners to be replaced without deconstructing the entire hood. This design also enables the hood to be knocked down for transport through restricted areas.

Many competing hoods use metal channel frame construction where the liner becomes a structural element. Any fire or stress event that weakens the liner can lead to containment failure.

Sash System

The sash is the moving barrier between the user and the containment area. Its reliability directly impacts daily safety.

Sash Drive: ICI uses a chain and sprocket sash drive that comes with a lifetime warranty. These drives have been tested in excess of 1 million cycles without failure—far more reliable than cable and pulley systems that can stretch, slip, or break.

Sash Glass: ICI uses tempered glass as standard, which is seven times more resilient to impact than laminated safety glass. Tempered glass won't crack or discolor under heat, maintaining visibility and safety throughout the hood's life.

Visibility and Ergonomics

Users shouldn't have to stoop or strain to see their work. ICI provides a view panel at the top of the hood, allowing users to observe processes inside the entire containment area without uncomfortable positioning. This additional sight line also allows more natural light into the work area, improving safety and reducing eye strain.

Airfoil Design

The shape of the hood's entry edges significantly affects airflow patterns and containment performance. ICI's posts feature flat construction with an integral airfoil edge, creating a shallower exterior frame. At just 5 inches thick, these posts maximize usable workspace inside the hood while freeing up valuable floor space in the laboratory.

Containment Performance

The ultimate measure of a fume hood is how well it contains hazardous materials. The ACGIH recommends a 0.1 PPM tracer gas static containment rating. The standard 6-foot ICI Isolator averages 0.002 PPM—exceeding the recommended level by a factor of 50.

This exceptional performance comes from ICI's high-efficiency baffle system, which delivers uniform face velocity across the entire hood opening.

Certifications and Standards

Third-party certification provides independent verification that a fume hood performs as claimed. Look for these key certifications:

UL/CSA 1805: Covers electrical safety and basic construction requirements for laboratory fume hoods.

ASHRAE 110: The standard test method for evaluating fume hood containment performance. This protocol includes static containment testing, rapid sash movement testing, and perimeter containment evaluation.

SEFA 1: Covers recommended practices for laboratory fume hoods, including construction, performance, and installation requirements.

SEFA 8: Addresses chemical resistance standards for laboratory furniture and equipment.

ICI Isolator fume hoods are UL/CSA 1805 listed, ASHRAE 110 certified, SEFA 1 certified, and meet or exceed SEFA 8 chemical resistance standards.

Matching Hood Type to Application

Selecting the right fume hood starts with understanding your specific needs:

Educational Laboratories

Teaching environments need hoods that are durable, easy to use, and forgiving of inexperienced operators. Clear sight lines and intuitive controls help students learn proper technique while staying safe.

Research Laboratories

Research facilities often work with diverse and changing chemical profiles. Flexibility, reliability, and excellent containment performance are essential. Consider hoods that can accommodate various equipment configurations and work styles.

Pharmaceutical and Biotech

These environments often require the highest levels of containment along with easy cleaning and decontamination. Stainless steel construction, smooth surfaces, and superior sealing become critical factors.

Industrial and Quality Control

High-throughput environments need hoods that can handle continuous operation without maintenance interruptions. Durability, serviceability, and long-term reliability take priority.

Installation and Integration Considerations

A fume hood doesn't exist in isolation—it's part of a larger laboratory system. Consider these factors during the selection process:

HVAC Coordination: Ducted hoods must integrate with building exhaust systems. Work with your mechanical engineer early to ensure adequate exhaust capacity and proper makeup air.

Utility Connections: Determine what services are needed inside the hood—gas, water, vacuum, electrical—and ensure the hood can accommodate them safely.

Casework Integration: Fume hoods should coordinate with surrounding laboratory casework for a cohesive, functional workspace. ICI manufactures both fume hoods and casework, ensuring seamless integration.

Space Planning: Consider traffic patterns, equipment access, and emergency egress when positioning hoods in the laboratory layout.

The ICI Isolator Advantage

The ICI Isolator represents decades of innovation in fume hood design. Manufactured by Jamestown Metal Products, a division of Institutional Casework Inc., the Isolator combines cutting-edge engineering with practical features that matter in daily use.

Standard features that set the Isolator apart include structural pan construction for field-serviceable liners, chain and sprocket sash drives with lifetime warranty, tempered glass sash, top-mounted view panels for enhanced visibility, stainless steel top and bottom airfoils for superior chemical resistance, and containment performance that exceeds industry recommendations by a factor of 50.

The Isolator Gen5 builds on this foundation with additional features for modern laboratory environments, including enhanced sight lines through 17.25-inch clear observation panels and knock-down capability for installation in confined spaces.

Making the Right Choice

Fume hood selection isn't a decision to make quickly. The hood you choose today will protect laboratory workers for decades. Take time to evaluate your specific needs, understand the options available, and work with manufacturers who can provide technical guidance throughout the process.

ICI Scientific offers comprehensive support from initial planning through installation and beyond, including design assistance, specification support, and ongoing training resources. Contact our team to discuss your laboratory's fume hood requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should fume hoods be tested?

ASHRAE 110 testing should be performed as manufactured, as installed, and whenever changes are made to the laboratory's HVAC system. Many facilities also conduct annual or semi-annual performance verification.

What face velocity should a fume hood maintain?

Traditional recommendations call for 100 FPM face velocity, but high-performance hoods like the ICI Isolator can achieve superior containment at 60 FPM through advanced baffle design. Lower face velocities reduce energy consumption while maintaining safety.

Can fume hood liners be replaced?

With proper frame construction like ICI's structural pan design, liners can be replaced in the field without deconstructing the entire hood. Hoods where liners are structural elements may require complete replacement.

What's the difference between a fume hood and a biosafety cabinet?

Fume hoods protect users from chemical hazards by exhausting contaminated air. Biosafety cabinets protect users, the environment, and the work product from biological contamination using filtered recirculating air. Different hazards require different equipment.

How long do fume hoods typically last?

Quality fume hoods with proper maintenance can provide 20-30 years of service. Key factors affecting longevity include construction quality, chemical exposure, maintenance practices, and environmental conditions.