Engineering controls are a critical component of worker protection in lab and cleanroom environments. They are used in conjunction with controlled containment pressurization to prevent harmful exposure to potentially hazardous substances. When removing the hazard from the worker’s environment via a fumehood, the equipment must adhere to California code of regulations, found below.
All ducted chemical fumehoods are certified and tested in accordance with CALOSHA, as well as executed in accordance with current standard operating procedures.
At a minimum the following primary tests must be performed annually.
Primary Tests Include
As Per CalOSHA:
All chemical fume hoods must meet the requirements of Title 8, California Code of Regulations, Section 5154.1.
(c) Ventilation Rates.
(1) Laboratory-type hood face velocities shall be sufficient to maintain an inward flow of air at all openings into the hood under operating conditions. The hood shall provide confinement of the possible hazards and protection of the employees for the work that is performed. The exhaust system shall provide an average face velocity of at least 100 feet per minute with a minimum of 70 fpm at any point, except where more stringent special requirements are prescribed in other sections of the General Industry Safety Orders, such as Section 5209. The minimum velocity requirement excludes those measurements made within 1 inch of the perimeter of the work opening.
(e) Special Requirements.
(3) In addition to being tested as required by Section 5143(a)(5), hoods shall meet the following requirements:
(A) By January 1, 2008, hoods shall be equipped with a quantitative airflow monitor that continuously indicates whether air is flowing into the exhaust system during operation. The quantitative airflow monitor shall measure either the exact rate of inward airflow or the relative amount of inward airflow. Examples of acceptable devices that measure the relative amount of inward airflow include: diaphragm pressure gauges, inclined manometers, and vane gauges. The requirement for a quantitative airflow monitor may also be met by an airflow alarm system if the system provides an audible or visual alarm when the airflow decreases to less than 80% of the airflow required by subsection (c).