Basic Documentation

Table Of Contents
Fume Hoods
Siemens Industry, Inc. 29
Topic Requirement(s) Commentary
Safe
Operation of
Sashes
U.S. OSHA, 29 CFR, Part 1910, Occupational Safety and Health Standards,
Subpart Z, Toxic and Hazardous Substances,1910.1450, Appendix A
Confirm adequate hood performance before use; keep hood closed at all times except
when adjustments within the hood are being made;
American National Standard for Laboratory Ventilation, ANSI/AIHA Z9.5-2003
7 Work Practices
The sash or panels shall be closed to the maximum position possible while still
allowing comfortable working conditions.
Hood users shall be trained to close the sash or panels when the hood is not in use.
National Fire Protection Association, Standard NFPA 45, 2011
8.8.3.1 Chemical fume hood sashes shall be kept closed
whenever possible.
8.8.3.2 When a fume hood is unattended, its sash shall remain
fully closed.
Scientific Equipment & Furniture Association
SEFA 12006 Recommended Practices for Laboratory Fume Hoods
6.5.3 Proper Configuration of Vertical and Horizontal Sliding Sashes
The vertically sliding sash should always be located lowered as much as possible to
protect the user and to minimize visual obstruction from sash handle. Raise the sash to
full open position for set- up purposes only.
Reducing the sash to below the user’s breathing zone provides a protective barrier
between the researcher and the experiment.
Always close the sash when not working in the hood.
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)
INDUSTRIAL VENTILATION A Manual of Recommended Practice, 27th Edition
VS-35-04
Keep the hood sash closed as much as possible.
The standards are clear and unanimous with
regard to closing sashes. For safety, lab
workers must close sashes whenever
possible.
Laboratories are advised to address sash
closure in the Chemical Hygiene Plan in terms
of:
Establishing the practice
Training the workers
Monitoring the results
Engineering options (like face velocity
setback) that accommodate work practices of
leaving sashes open directly contradict safety
standards and regulations.
Safe user practice and discipline requires call
for closing the sashes whenever possible.
Automatic sash closures tend to negate this
aspect of safety consciousness and the time
delay before automatic sash closures operate
may be reduce the overall time that the
sashes are actually closed.