Methods of Testing Performance of Laboratory Fume Hoods

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 110-2016: Methods of Testing Performance of Laboratory Fume Hoods

Laboratory fume hoods are essential safety devices, forming a critical barrier between hazardous substances and laboratory personnel. Ensuring their effective performance is paramount for maintaining a safe working environment. ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 110-2016 provides the industry-leading, comprehensive methodology for objectively testing and verifying the containment capabilities of these vital pieces of equipment.

What is ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 110-2016?

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 110-2016, "Methods of Testing Performance of Laboratory Fume Hoods," establishes a standardized, reproducible procedure for evaluating how well a laboratory fume hood contains airborne contaminants. Developed by ASHRAE, this authoritative standard supersedes previous editions and ensures consistent performance assessment across different testing environments and hood designs. Its primary purpose is to provide engineers and safety professionals with a proven method to confirm a fume hood's ability to protect users.

Scope & Purpose

This standard governs the systematic testing of laboratory fume hoods to assess their containment effectiveness under defined operating conditions. It specifies procedures for measuring face velocity, visualizing airflow patterns, and conducting tracer gas tests to quantify contaminant escape. The scope focuses on the fume hood itself and its immediate aerodynamic performance, but it does not prescribe specific safety protocols or dictatethe ideal laboratory environment, which are influenced by numerous external factors like cross-drafts or user work practices.

Who Must Comply?

• • Primary audience: HVAC Engineers, Industrial Hygienists, Safety Officers, Laboratory Managers, and Facility Managers involved in the design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of laboratory ventilation systems.
• • Industries affected: Research Laboratories, Educational Institutions, Pharmaceutical, Chemical, Biotechnology, Healthcare, and any industry utilizing hazardous materials in a laboratory setting.
• • Compliance nature: Compliance is typically voluntary unless mandated by jurisdictional regulations, specific project specifications, or internal organizational safety policies.
• • Enforcement: Compliance is generally verified by third-party testing agencies, internal safety departments, or regulatory bodies during inspections or audits.

Key Requirements Overview

• • The standard requires the use of specific, calibrated instrumentation for accurate data collection.
• • Professionals must ensure that testing is conducted under controlled environmental conditions to achieve reproducible results.
• • Key provisions include detailed procedures for measuring face velocity at multiple points to assess uniformity.
• • It mandates flow visualization techniques to identify potential points of contaminant escape.
• • A critical requirement involves conducting tracer gas tests to quantitatively measure the fume hood's containment efficiency, often expressed as an index.

Related Standards & References

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 110-2016 is often used in conjunction with other standards that address broader laboratory ventilation design and safety. For instance, ASHRAE Standard 62.1, "Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality," provides general requirements for laboratory ventilation rates, while standards from organizations like NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) may cover broader laboratory safety practices. Together, these standards form a comprehensive framework for designing and operating safe and effective laboratory environments.