When I originally responded a couple of days ago to the question about face velocities I only described our annual testing protocol, which includes measuring face velocity and performing a visual smoke test. We do not perform containment testing annually, but when a new hood is installed it is tested in accordance with ASHRAE 110 before it is put into use.
Regards,
Ben
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Ben Owens
Assistant Director, Laboratory Safety
Environmental Health and Safety Dept., MS 328
University of Nevada, Reno 89557
Office Phone: 775-327-5196
Cell Phone: 775-843-2113
Fax: 775-784-4553
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**med.cornell.edu]On Behalf Of Stanley K Lengerich
Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2016 12:20 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Standard Chemical Fume Hood Face Velocities
I have read with interest the many helpful responses to this question, but only a few have mentioned quantitative performance testing as imperative to ensuring the containment robustness of ventilated enclosures. As a former member of the ASHRAE 110 committee, and a current member of the ANSI Z9.5 committee, I would be the first to admit that tracer gas testing is not the “be all and end all” of containment assessment, but to date it is the most accurate and reliable assessment tool that I have come across.
At the company where I work we have conducted literally thousands of tracer gas tests on fume hoods and other ventilated enclosures over the last 15+ years. While the majority of those tests have been conducted at approximately 100 fpm, some have been as low as 60 fpm and as high as 150 fpm. Across this spectrum, if you plot face velocity vs. tracer gas containment, you find that the correlation coefficient is extremely low, indicating that face velocity is a poor predictor of containment capability. Per the ASHRAE 110 method we also conduct high and low volume smoke tests, and we have seen many cases where both face velocity and smoke look good, but the hood fails tracer gas testing.
The moral is that, regardless of face velocity,every fume hood and many other ventilated enclosures must be tracer gas tested after installation in order to ensure adequate containment. Just face velocity and smoke testing are not adequate, and even tracer gas testing at the factory and/or random tracer gas testing in the field is not adequate. Identical hoods in different locations will not necessarily perform the same. In fact, we have seen identical enclosures sitting side by side and one will pass and the other will fail. Yes tracer gas testing costs more money, but in the long run it is a good investment.
Stan
Stan Lengerich, CIH
Indianapolis, IN
By a quick show of hands, what face velocity do all of you consider as an acceptable velocity for certifying standard chemical fume hoods in academic and research labs? OSHA is pretty vague on the issue (must provide adequate ventilation [1910.1450(e)(3)(iii)]). Appendix A (non-mandatory) references Prudent Practices, where 80-100 is standard, up to 120 is okay for high hazard (no containment benefit proven) and 60fpm may be okay for low flow, specially designed hoods.
Before getting into too much detail, I am curious as to what all of you are considering as passing at 18in sash height, and what you are considering as failing.
Brandon S. Chance, M.S., CCHO
Associate Director of Environmental Health and Safety
Office of Risk Management
Southern Methodist University
PO Box 750231 | Dallas, TX 75275-0231
T) 214.768.2430 | M) 469-978-8664
"… our job in safety is to make the task happen, SAFELY; not to interfere with the work…” Neal Langerman
