Safety
1. The laminated safety glass is to be used as a safety shield. Continue to wear gloves (that are resistant to the chemicals being used) and goggles.
2. Only perform experiments in the hood that can be done safely. Hoods are not a substitute for glove boxes and safety cabinets.
3. Hazardous waste and chemicals should not be stored in fume hoods.
4. All equipment that is left in the fume hoods should be placed towards the back but not laid across the back wall. Blocking the baffles reduces airflow.
5. The fume hood is safety device. If airflow stops, lower the safety glass all the way to prevent fumes from flowing into the laboratory. Call Operations and Maintenance if there is a problem. If there is an airflow on your hood, leave it in the ON position.
6. Specialized fume hoods are needed to heat perchloric acid due to the acid's combination of its acidic, reactive and explosive properties in an aqueous solution. Perchloric acid hoods have a cold water sprays for the washing down of the interior surfaces. Perchloric acid hoods should never be used in experiments not dealing with perchloric acid. Consult the MSDS for perchloric acid before dealing with the chemicals. Organics, oils, and gas flames should neither be permitted in the hood nor stored with bottles of perchloric acid. A regular schedule should be set up for perchloric hood wash down and inspection.
7. Note: No hood will work if cross-drafts in the room are significant (e.g. =20% of the throughput of the hood itself).
Operations
1. Turn on all interior lights to allow for good illumination.
2. If there are multiple baffle setting in you fume hood, make sure the correct one is set. Heavier-than-air gases need the baffles to draw in the most air from the bottom (if not the gases may low out of the fume hood since the safety shielding is not airtight).
3. Install set-up as far back as you can to insure maximum airflow past the equipment.
Maintenance
1. Airflow is inspected annually by SUMC Operations and Maintenance along with all the safety components (baffles, alarm, etc.) Call Operations and Maintenance at 3-5555 if fume hood does not operate.
2. Perchloric hoods should be washed down weekly for low usage up to after every experiment for high usage. All components of the hood should be inspected for acid damage periodically.
3. If the safety glass gets fogged up by experiment vapors, promptly wash the glass with water and detergent to prevent the etching of the glass.
4. The glass, guides, pulleys, cables, etc. need to be lubricated occasionally. This should be done as needed (at lease once a year).
5. See specific manuals for cleaning and servicing of fume hood components.
See Disclaimer
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