Fume hood testing and certification
A fume hood only protects the person in front of it if it pulls enough air. We test each hood’s airflow and alarms, and certify the ones that pass.
When you need it
- Annual certification is due under your lab safety program.
- A new hood has been installed or an existing one moved.
- The exhaust fan, ductwork or the room’s supply air has been changed.
- The hood’s airflow alarm is sounding, or users notice odours escaping.
What we do
Inspect
We check the sash, baffles, airflow monitor and work surface, and note clutter or equipment that blocks airflow.
Measure face velocity
We take a grid of air velocity readings across the hood opening at the working sash height.
Visualize airflow
We use smoke to confirm air is drawn into the hood without rolling back toward the user.
Check alarms and certify
We verify the airflow monitor and alarm, then label the hoods that pass and tag any that fail.
What you receive
- Face velocity readings and average for each hood
- Smoke visualization results
- Alarm and monitor verification
- Certification labels, and a list of failed hoods with the reasons
Questions
How often should fume hoods be certified?
Most lab safety programs require certification at least once a year, and again after any change to the hood or its exhaust system.
What face velocity should a hood have?
It depends on the hood design and your organization’s standard. Many programs specify an average of about 0.4 to 0.5 m/s (80 to 100 fpm) at the working sash height.
What happens if a hood fails?
It’s tagged out of service and we tell you why it failed, whether that’s the exhaust fan, a blocked baffle, the room’s supply air or how the hood is being used.
Further reading
- Odour control and exhaust re-entrainment
Learn how exhaust plumes behave around buildings, the separation distances and stack design practices that prevent re-entrainment, and how to diagnose odour complaints in existing buildings.
- Air valve materials and coatings for corrosive exhaust
Learn the corrosion risks in lab and process exhaust, the material and coating options for air valves, and how to match them to the chemicals in use.
- Fume hood face velocity control and sash sensing
Learn how variable air volume fume hoods control face velocity, how sash and velocity sensors work, and what to check when commissioning or certifying them.
- Laboratory airflow control systems
Learn the components of a lab airflow control system, the control modes that drive room airflow, and the design and operating choices that affect safety and energy use.
- Manifolded lab exhaust systems
Learn how manifolded lab exhaust works, its advantages over individual hood fans, how pressure and stack velocity are controlled, and the design checks that matter.
- Laboratory HVAC and fume hood exhaust
Learn how lab HVAC systems protect occupants, the types of fume hoods and how they are exhausted, the standards that apply in Canada, and the key design and testing checks.
Related services
Also in life-safety verification: Fire damper verification, Stairwell pressurization verification.
Get a quote for fume hood certification
Tell us about the building and what you need. We’ll be in touch within one hour.