From: Bruce Van Scoy <vanscoybruce**At_Symbol_Here**FRONTIER.COM>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Fume Hood Evaluation Form
Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2014 18:12:58 -0500
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: 008201d0044e$5f2c3fc0$1d84bf40$**At_Symbol_Here**frontier.com
In-Reply-To <4F21A5F3A002444D8B4F5E4B767431E537778F3C**At_Symbol_Here**EXMBX2010-7.campus.MCGILL.CA>


W.,
I am not familiar with a comprehensive standardized form for the evaluation
of chemical fume hoods.
Some of the better guidance that I have found is available at the two links
listed below.
I would strongly recommend that the designed performance specifications be
specified initially with the periodic evaluations completed to verify that
the hoods are actually performing as designed. My personal experience is
that inadvertent maintenance or user activities have negatively affected the
routine performance requirements, usually due to the maintenance worker or
employee not realizing the impact of seemingly "minor" modifications. I
like using smoke tubes to educate employees on the impacts and results of
these "seemingly minor modifications" with verbal coverage of what needs to
be obtained/maintained. We can't be in every lab all of the time and I've
had good results of laboratory workers recognizing potential hazards and
getting EHS involved when they are not sure based upon these practices, once
they have been educated.
Please see:
http://orf.od.nih.gov/PoliciesAndGuidelines/Bioenvironmental/Documents/SECTI
ON15991CONSTANTVOLUMEJune2007_508.pdf
http://orf.od.nih.gov/PoliciesAndGuidelines/Bioenvironmental/Documents/SECTI
ON15992VARIABLEVOLUMEJune2007_508.pdf
My $0.02 - based upon numerous negative/positive trials and errors over the
years!
Bruce

-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of
Wayne Wood
Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2014 4:26 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Fume Hood Evaluation Form

Smart people ask good questions. Good questions, Ralph.

Ralph, I was looking mainly for a basic chemical fume hood evaluation and
inspection checklist which could be used by an EHS technician once or twice
a year but you and Kim Gates, who replied privately, have expanded my
horizon somewhat.

You asked:

What aspect of a fume hood are you interested in evaluating:
- the design of the hood itself

I wasn't thinking of that but Kim got me interested in a commissioning
checklist. It would be hard to do periodic evaluations without data on
commissioning, such as the performance specs at the time of installation.

- its containment?

ASHRAE 110 appears to be the way to go, this is something that would fit
well in a commissioning checklist.

- how it's being used?

Yes, insofar as we would want to identify uses that compromise the hood;s
operation, like clutter and or heat or other turbulence-generating
activities.

- whether it's operating as designed relative to the general ventilation
system in the lab?

That would be more difficult to check. I won't pretend that is something we
systematically follow up on in my institutions; I'm curious to know what
others are doing?

I think that these would require distinct forms?

Yes, and in some cases the persons completing the forms might need different
competencies as well.

W.


- Ralph

Ralph Stuart, CIH, CCHO
Chemical Hygiene Officer
Keene State College

ralph.stuart**At_Symbol_Here**keene.edu

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