Mary Ellen:

   Most manufacturers of fume hoods and safety enclosures use different terms for the parts of a hood. Cornell has a .pdf that lists the parts and their function ( http://sp.ehs.cornell.edu/lab-research-safety/laboratory-safety-manual/Documents/SafeHoodsUseGuide.pdf ). If you mean the baffles instead of utility panel you are very much correct. Proper containment and airflow can onlybe gotten with all of the parts that affect the airflow in place.

 

 

Hello Everyone,

When the utility panel on a chemical fume hood is missing is it safe to allow work to be preformed in the hood?

I would say work (synthesis, toxic gas use and powder decanting) should notbe preformed until the panel be replaced for the following reasons:

1. Eddyies in the hood are likely to be form which may cause loss of containment.
2. Chemicals vapors are going into areas where they are not suppose go and may cause deterioration of the plumbing and joints
3. High Performance and Low flow hoods would be especially vulnerable to the loss of work space integrity.

Would anyone have a policy on hood repairs like the above or comments? 
As always, thank you for your thoughts in advance.

Mary Ellen