Hi Brandon!

 

I have tried to be brief here.  I=E2=80™ve got a lot of data on this question.

 

Taking a larger view, I have found this face velocity question has become a commercial as well as a lab safety issue. 

 

Any public institution interested in sustainability needing fume hoods wants competitive bids.  Generally speaking, then, the question usually asked is "what face velocity is necessary for a variety of competitive companies to be able to offer low-bid units which will pass ASHRAE 110?"

 

I am in agreement with the 80-120 FPM numbers cited in other responses when this is the actual question.  The irony is, if a hood costs  more but can get great containment results at, say, 60FPM should it be considered and how does one alter the low-bid context to allow such a hood to be considered?  It has been demonstrable for years that more than a few very low exhaust hoods can offer safe containment and show a very low COST OF OWNERSHIP over the hood's lifetime.  This long term view has, unfortunately, little to do with the way public sector lab exhaust equipment is bid, even given the increasing influence of sustainability. 

 

I note several respondents are open to face velocities lower than 80 FPM, provided they work.  This is a great start to expanding our safety and commercial philosophies simultaneously.