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Previous by Date: Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Automatic Fume Hood Closer Date: Monday, November 7, 2016 at 4:30:56 PM Author: Mary Ellen A Scott <mas35**At_Symbol_Here**CASE.EDU>

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To all:
My experience in these matters is somewhat dated. However, I will recall my experience. Years ago we started down this path in the interest of energy conservation. This was for a multi-investigator laboratory (40 doctoral staff) with numerous hoods used for research with radionuclides (fission products as well as Plutonium) and other laboratories using known chemical carcinogens. I asked our EH and S Director to explore the impact not just in a single lab but also on the entire laboratory building. Without going in to the details, he related that while the approach seemed to work for individual labs and hoods it created major problems balancing the entire ventilation system. We ultimately, went to a major HVAC modification in which heat exchangers were used on a centralized basis to transfer "energy" , ie heat in winter and cold in summer to make up air. Ventilation control for hoods and labs was so vital to our operation that we had a regular program for checking the air!
flow balance for all labs.
I have been dismayed when I have visited many institutions and when I ask questions about air flow and balancing flow on individual hoods and labs I am frequently given a run around-- maintenance does that whenever we call, we use an outside firm whenever we can afford it, etc.
The most extraordinary situation I ever encountered was in a major nuclear lab in India some decades ago. As we toured a large radiochemical lab building I sensed some thing was wrong. I finally realized it was a lack of ventilation. I related my concern to my host. He responded--"Oh , Dr McClellan, this is Thursday, the ventilation system is shut down and we are just doing low level work today. You know we can not afford the electricity for fans and the cost of HEPA filters if we were to operate the ventilation system all the time." I am frequently reminded of that experience when I ask individuals in US labs where the exhaust from their labs go. I am dismayed when they can not tell me.
The most difficult situations arise when individual investigators have authority to contract for changes to "their" labs when they use "their" own money. I recall one situation where an investigator added a number of hoods to his lab. This upset air flow in adjoining labs and helped explain why some labs down the hall used for cell culture work were experiencing problems with fungal contamination.
Bottom line - I urge a holistic approach with central control of ventilation on a building basis. I realize that is difficult in academic environments. Sometimes individuals have to give up some independence for the "common good". I also think it appropriate to engage a competent outside contractor to perform regular audits.
Good luck with your endeavors.
Roger O. McClellan

--------------------------------------------
On Mon, 11/7/16, Mary Ellen A Scott wrote:

Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Automatic Fume Hood Closer
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU
Date: Monday, November 7, 2016, 2:30 PM

Thanks
Russ - we are testing one now.

On Mon, Nov 7, 2016 at 1:03
PM, Russell Vernon
wrote:








We installed the Labconco hoods
with ASP in our new EH&S Building and are putting them
in our new 30 PI research facility
Everyone really like ours when
they visit
There are adjustments that can be
made (open or not on approach, on/off) but the controller is
hiding behind a cover on the top of the hood o it‰??s not a
‰??user
only ‰?? decision to change
things.
The ‰??electric eye‰?? detector
doesn‰??t seem to see a clear glass tube but will stop when
object are in the plane of the sash as it tries to
close.
I‰??ve been waiting for this
technology to be as affordable as it is now with the new
hoods
-Russ
å
Russell Vernon, Ph.D.

Director

Environmental Health & Safety

University of California, Riverside

900 University Ave

Riverside, CA 92521

www.ehs.ucr.edu

russell.vernon**At_Symbol_Here**ucr.edu

Direct (951) 827-5119

Admin (951) 827-5528

Fax (951) 827-5122




Please take our
Client
Satisfaction Survey
å
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health
and Safety [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU]
On Behalf Of Mary Ellen A Scott

Sent: Monday, November 07, 2016 9:07 AM

To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU

Subject: [DCHAS-L] Automatic Fume Hood
Closer
å




Hello All,

Has anyone ever installed or
is now using an automatic sash closer in their research
labs?



If you are, would you let me know if you found any safety
issues with this type of system or if it delivered the
energy savings you estimated?å


Thank
you,

Mary Ellen








--

Mary Ellen Scott, PhD.

Safety Specialist II

Case Western Reserve University

EHS - Environmental Health and Safety

Service Building 1st Floor Rm 113

2220 Circle Dr.

Cleveland, OH 44106-7227

216-368-6077

216-368-2236 (Fax)

maryellen.scott**At_Symbol_Here**case.edu

‰??There is no science without fancy and no art without
fact‰?? ‰?? Vladimir Nabokov
(1899-1977)






--- This
e-mail is from DCHAS-L, the e-mail list of the ACS Division
of Chemical Health and Safety. For more information about
the list, contact the Divisional secretary at
secretary**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org




---
This e-mail is from DCHAS-L, the e-mail list of the ACS
Division of Chemical Health and Safety.
For more information about the list, contact the Divisional
secretary at secretary**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org



--
Mary Ellen Scott,
PhD.
Safety Specialist II
Case Western Reserve University
EHS - Environmental Health and Safety
Service Building 1st Floor Rm 113
2220 Circle Dr.
Cleveland, OH
44106-7227
216-368-6077
216-368-2236 (Fax)
maryellen.scott**At_Symbol_Here**case.edu
‰??There is no science without fancy and no
art without fact‰?? ‰?? Vladimir Nabokov
(1899-1977)



---
This e-mail is from DCHAS-L, the e-mail list of the ACS
Division of Chemical Health and Safety.
For more information about the list, contact the Divisional
secretary at secretary**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org

---
This e-mail is from DCHAS-L, the e-mail list of the ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety.
For more information about the list, contact the Divisional secretary at secretary**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org

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