Fume Hood FAQ's
How do I get one certified?
Fume hoods at UCR are inspected annually to comply with California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Section 5154.1. During this annual inspection the EH&S Industrial Hygienist measures fume hood face velocity (air intake), insures a visual indicator is in place (indicator tape), that all chemicals are at least six inches inside the face of the hood, that the hood is not overly cluttered with chemicals or equipment, and that all large items are elevated to allow air to flow beneath and around them. This minimizes air flow blockage. The actual measurement for face velocity of a fume hood is done with a digital electronic anemometer. This device measures the draw of the fume hood in feet per minute (fpm). For a hood to pass this annual inspection its face draw must be between 95-130 fpm, ideally the goal airflow is 100 fpm. If the fume hood does not meet this requirement a notification is posted on the fume hood, and Physical Plant is notified that balancing or repair is in order. If a hood passes the inspection a sticker is posted on the fume hood with the measurements and date of inspection. If your hood does not have a certification sticker or the last date of inspection on the sticker has exceeded one year, please contact the Accident Prevention Manager (951) 827-2415.
How often does a hood need to be certified?
At a minimum, EH&S conducts annual certification of all hoods. Regulations require certification of inward flow [100 linear feet per minute] upon initial installation, repairs or renovations of the facility/ hood/ ventilation system, or the addition of large equipment into the hood (CCR, Title 8, § 5154.1).
Who is responsible for certification?
The Accident Prevention Manager (951) 827-2415 is responsible for ensuring that hoods are annually certified. Newly acquired or inactive hoods that are to be activated must be reported by the Principal Investigator (PI) to EH&S for inclusion or activation in the tracking database to ensure annual certification.
How do I know that my hood is working?
It is required that a means shall be provided at the hood to continuously indicate that air is flowing into the exhaust system during operation.
What if my hood isn’t working or I’m concerned it isn’t working properly?
Contact the Accident Prevention Manager (951) 827-2415, who works directly with Physical Plant to ensure proper repairs and re-certification as fast as possible.