The flow of the body of air in a uniform direction and velocity is termed as laminar flow. Following this definition, a laminar flow workstation is a carefully designed station that has the ability to direct HEPA filtered air accurately. Some of these workstations have an added feature of protection...
Choosing a Laboratory Glove Box
Choosing a Laboratory Glove Box can be a complex process. Having a wide range of configurations at their disposal, technicians and operators are at liberty to choose a glove box befitting their specific requirements. A glove box works either way, as it works to protect the contained content from...
Best Practices for Effective Laboratory Fume Hoods Usage
Why to follow the best practices when it comes to laboratory fume hoods usage? Practical laboratory fume Hoods usage depends on strict following of safety practices. The following points provide the necessary guidelines to ensure safety and maximum effectiveness. Always follow these procedures to keep the lab and technicians free...
Weighing and Powder Handling Enclosures
Weighing and powder handling enclosures provide a safe HEPA-filtered environment for the manipulation of potentially hazardous powders.Design Features & Performance CriteriaWeighing and Powder Handling enclosures should be equipped with a true air plenum and exhaust through slots in the rear of the unit. This will create a laminar-like flow and...
Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) Systems
LEV systems (Local Exhaust Ventilation systems), also known as extraction or fume control, can be very effective in controlling airborne contaminants. The following article discusses Point Extraction Ducts, LEV Enclosures and the design features and performance criteria for both of them. Point Extraction Ducts LEV Point extraction systems can...
Biological Safety Cabinets
Biological safety cabinets (BSC) will provide both product and operator protection, this is achieved by recirculating HEPA-filtered air within the cabinet as well as providing an inflow at the face opening. Biological safety cabinets are specifically designed for the handling of samples that present a biological hazard. Design...
Mobile Fume Hoods: Design, Performance & Positioning
Mobile fume hoods are generally designed as a recirculatory system providing exposure protection from Volatile Organic Substances (VOC’s). Typical applications that a mobile system will be suitable for are: Titration, Karl Fischer analysis, General Solvent Handling, Solvent Disposal etc. Design Features & Performance Criteria Mobile Fume Hoods should perform to...
Ducted Fume Hoods: Design, Performance & Positioning
Ducted Fume Hoods, or built-in fume hoods, are the most commonly used containment devices within a laboratory, and for this reason often considered as the first option when containing any lab scale operation. Design Features & Performance Criteria for Ducted Fume Hoods The Fume Hood should perform to a...
Specific Engineering Controls for Potent Compound Handling
Strategically designed engineering controls should be selected and employed, as appropriate, as the primary means of reducing occupational health risks. Specific engineering controls for potent compound handling include Isolator/Glovebox technology, wherein work processes are physically contained within an isolation chamber that an operator may access via glove ports. Ventilated Balance...