Regardless of types or the fume hood price Malaysia, it is undeniable that this equipment is an important feature for your lab. You will likely deal with fumes emitted from the chemicals you are experimenting with, and a gas mask or protective clothing may not be enough. Your lab needs to be cleared of spreading fumes, and the fume hood is your answer.
There are different types that you can browse, each bearing their own features and appearances. But all share a universal purpose: to capture, filter and release the poisonous fumes away from your workspace. This removes the possibility of contamination and irritating odors. You can simply observe and experiment under or inside the hood to use it in maximum effect.
Bench top
A bench top fume hood cannot be placed on the floor as it has no mounts or support system, instead it must be placed on your workspace above the floor. You may also need an exhaust blower and supporting base cabinet. This is an excellent choice if you are running low on floor space but still need a sizable fume hood to work with.
Floor mounted
Unlike the bench top, a floor mounted fume hood follows its namesake. Large and freestanding, it is installed from the floor up and resembles a small room, allowing you to work inside it. This is ideal when your lab handles large volumes of chemical substances and big equipment or tools, such as drums or robots.
The floor mounted fume hood can also support more materials and tools than a conventional fume hood, in addition to enabling extensive, large-scale experiments.
Portable hood
A portable fume hood allows you to move it around your lab thanks to its smaller size or being on wheels. An eco-friendly device, this fume hood requires no ductwork or wall penetration, and is generally cheaper and easier to install. It is great for working with less than 10 chemicals or in small amounts.
Despite their advantages, its method to filter toxic fumes can put you at a higher risk of exposure, and the filters must be regularly maintained. The chemicals must also be able to filter through the hood’s carbon filter system.
Biosafety Cabinet
Designed for use when experimenting with viral microbes or infectious pathogens to avoid accidental exposure and illness. All materials containing these should be tested and examined inside a fume hood, especially a biosafety cabinet.
Canopy hood
A canopy fume hood is typically suspended or wall mounted for easy accessibility and does not have an enclosed chamber. It is a perfect option if your lab handles non-toxic but smelly chemicals and materials. The canopy hood removes fumes, steam and smoke, eliminating foul odor and regulates temperature and humidity.
It is not designed to filter fumes like a typical fume hood, so this is only used to reduce odor.
Demonstration hood
A demonstration fume hood, or educational hood, has four transparent sides to allow students to see from every angle no matter where the teacher is standing. Its sightlines are optimized for easy teaching demos. The fume protection is similar to a normal fume hood with the only difference lies in its appearance.