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DOCUMENT N°: M38 ISSUE N°: 03 ISSUE DATE: 26/02/2019
INTRODUCTION
A fume cupboard is a local ventilation device that is designed to limit exposure to hazardous
chemical fume, vapours, gasses, dust, mist and aerosol. This type of laboratory equipment
provides a physical barriers between reactions within the fume cupboard and the operator
and laboratory, by offering a measure of protection against inhalation exposure and chemical
spills.
The fume cupboard functions by maintaining a negative pressure in the interior of the cabinet
to prevent any contaminant from escaping while drawing air in through the sash opening at
a consistent rate. A face velocity (the speed at which air is drawn into the cabinet) is of
importance to the safe and effective operation of a fume cupboard, your XP3 unit should be
set to run at 0.5m/sec.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Chemical fumes that are extracted through the fume cupboard and duct system are
exhausted to atmosphere, where they are diluted many times over in the atmosphere and
have a negligible effect on human health. Although where large volumes of chemicals are
being used, additional consideration need to be made for preventing the emission of noxious
or offensive substances into the atmosphere, which is a legal requirement under the
Environmental protection Act 1990.
