44 years ago, when I first entered the industry, I asked a simple question: "What is a fume hood, and how does it work?" I approached our VP of Sales, a veteran in the field, and his response was memorable: "It's a box that sucks. And it works with smoke, mirrors, and a little black magic."
That was in 1980, and back then, this was the prevailing mindset. Fume hoods weren’t much more advanced than a kitchen vent hood, and based on what we know today, they probably didn’t function well at all.
Fast forward to today, and there’s still some confusion about the true purpose of a fume hood. Let’s clear it up: A fume hood is an *Exposure Control Device*. Its primary role is to protect users and lab occupants from harmful chemicals. In fact, the fume hood itself is a form of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), with the sash serving as a protective barrier in case of chemical splashes, runaway reactions, small fires, or even explosions.
Above all, a fume hood’s job is to safeguard the user. If it doesn’t function properly, nothing else matters. It’s not about face velocity or energy efficiency—it’s about containment and safety.
The surprising truth? Most fume hoods are designed and built by furniture manufacturers. They may look good, but how well do they perform?
That’s where we come in. We offer a Fume Hood Performance Workshop, designed to debunk myths and dive deep into how these critical safety devices should work. Our 2024 workshops sold out, so we’ve doubled the number for 2025. You can find more details at www.fumehood.academy.
Just because there’s a hood in your lab doesn’t mean it’s working safely. In fact, there’s no real connection between face velocity and containment. For more on this, check out our article, “The Myth of Face Velocity.”
We invite you to join us in our mission of “Making Labs Safer One Fume Hood at a Time.”
Warmest regards from the entire Fume Hood Certified Team,
Chip Albright
Founder and President
Fume Hood Certified, LLC.
PO Box 71477
Phoenix, AZ 85050.
Email: Chip@fumehoodcertified.com
P.S. If you missed the earlier emails, many are posted here BLOG and if you have suggested topics for future emails, please reach out.