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equipment fume hood
Guide to
testing velocity
A high airflow velocity is not a guarantee of
containment.This guide to performance testing
walks you through the protocols required to
make sure your velocity is spot on
Written by Jesus Casas
fume hood is both a protective and
A control device fitted in laboratories
where chemicals are used. It's a
conventional fume extraction unit designed so
that airborne contaminants are contained in the
enclosure prevented from entering the room or
laboratory by means of a protective air barrier
between the user and the materials placed
within the equipment.
Performance testing is essential to confirm
that the fume hood is operating to a level to
provide the desired arrest, containment and
removal of the fume.
The tests are based on ANSI/ASHRAE
Standard 110, Method of Testing Performance of
Laboratory Fume Hoods. When the hood is
already operational in the laboratory, it is
recommended to test in two operating
conditions: as installed and as used.
For the “as installed” test, the laboratory hood
is installed at the customer’s location and tested
empty, but with the ventilation system in the
installation balanced and the hood in its final
location. For the “as used” test, the assessment
is conducted after the hood has been installed
and used by the chemist. The equipment and
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tools remain in the hood and other activities in
the laboratory continue.
Airflow face velocity test
The purpose of this test is to validate that the
average airflow face velocity meets the specified
requirements at the required sash configuration.
An adequate face velocity is necessary but is
not the only criterion to achieve acceptable
performance and should not be used as the only
performance indicator.
Constant air volume fume hood
Face velocity measurements in a constant air
volume fume hood (CAV) should be taken with
the sash in the design sash position. The design
sash position is the maximum opening or
configuration allowed by user standards, SOPs,
etc., whichever is applicable, and used in the
design of the exhaust system to which the hood
is connected.
For this test, the operator should form an
imaginary grid pattern by equally dividing the
design hood opening into vertical and horizontal
dimensions. The grid spaces should be less than
1 sqft (0.09 sqm), and the larger side of the grid
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fume hood equipment

‘‘
Figure 1: Velocity test with the hood in operational condition “as used”

A correct
operator usage
has a huge
influence on the
functionality of
fume hoods
rectangle should not exceed 13 in (330 mm).
Velocity readings should then be taken with a
calibrated anemometer fixed at the centre of
each grid rectangle. For consistency, the sensing
element of the anemometer should be positioned
in the plane of the hood sash to measure the
velocity of the air perpendicular to the sash (see
Figure 2). To do this, it should be mounted on a
movable stand and not handheld.
A quick way to determine the number of grids
according to the dimensions of the hood opening
is shown in Table 1.

Variable air volume fume hood

Variable air volume (VAV) hoods are tested in a Figure 2: Grid pattern for face velocity test. The point in the centre of
similar manner to CAVs for determining airflow the grid it is the area where the probe tip should be placed
face velocity. The hood is set to the operational
sash opening position as specified in the contract
documents or as agreed to between the
owner/buyer and then the velocity is measured
in the same way as in CAV fume hood.
The sash position should then be reduced to
50% of the specified opening and repeat airflow
face velocity measurements/calculations as
described above. The same procedure should also
be carried out at 25% of the specified opening
and fully open for reference and safety purposes.

Assessing face velocity results

The range of acceptable values is open to debate.
However, the following are the generally
accepted principles:
Face Velocity too fast: Velocities greater
than 0.8 m/s are likely to generate eddy currents
around users standing in front of the cupboard
and these are then able to draw contaminants
out through the aperture, particularly during
movement by the operator.
Face velocity too slow: In a standard fume
hood it is unlikely that velocities below 0.4 m/s
are able to arrest and contain contaminants Table 1: Face velocity traverse grids for different size openings
within the enclosure, particularly where external
air movements, due to movement of users or Sash opening Width (ft)
opening/closing of doors and windows, are likely
to exceed the face velocity. In special situations, Height (in) ≤ 1 ft ≤ 2 ft ≤ 3 ft ≤ 4 ft ≤ 5 ft ≤ 6 ft ≤ 7 ft ≤ 8 ft
the fume hood may be designed specifically to ≤ 12 in 1x1 1x2 1x3 1x4 1x5 1x6 1x7 1x8
operate at low face velocities.
Where fume hoods are found to have face ≤ 24 in 2x1 2x2 2x3 2x4 2x5 2x6 2x7 2x8
velocities that lie outside the recommended or ≤ 36 in 3x1 3x2 3x3 3x4 3x5 3x6 3x7 3x8
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equipment fume hood
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Figure 3: Graphic representation of the VAV sash movement effect
flow test
Murielle, esta parte debería quedar así:
• If possible, verify readings with another air
velocity meter or by checking air volume using
a pitot tube traverse of exhaust duct. Low
airflow through the fume hood can be caused
by a large negative room static pressure as a
result of inadequate makeup air being brought
into the room. With the fume hood and other exhaust unit
in operation, check room static pressure by:
-Checking inrush of air into the room through a
door or an open window
-Checking ventilation system balance and verify
the quantity of makeup air
• Supply voltage is correct. Motor horsepower
and speed is appropriate...
acceptable values for the design, steps must be
taken to fix this. Subsequent testing should then
assess the effect on the performance of the system
as a result of adjustments to the air flow rate.
Insufficient airflow through the fume hood can
be caused by one or more of the following
conditions. Each condition should be checked,
and eliminated if possible, to determine which
one or combination of conditions may exist:
• Check airflow velocity meter type. When was it
calibrated last? Is the battery still working
correctly? Was the instrument zeroed before
taking readings?
Figure 4: Probe location and orientation to determine maximum
cross-draft velocity near the hood opening
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• If possible, verify readings with another air
velocity meter or by checking air volume using
a pitot tube traverse of exhaust duct. Low
airflow through the fume hood can be caused
by a large negative room static pressure as a
result of inadequate makeup air being brought
into the room.
With the fume hood and other exhaust unit in
operation, check room static pressure by:
• Checking inrush of air into the room through a
door or an open window
• Checking ventilation system balance and verify
the quantity of makeup air
• Supply voltage is correct. Motor horsepower
and speed is appropriate
• Exhaust unit inlet and outlet conditions
are suitable
• Check for special or bulky equipment that
interferes with airflow through the fume hood
Cross-draft velocity tests
By creating turbulent air pockets, air currents
may draw contaminants from the hoods. Such
cross-drafts could be caused by air supply diffusers
or grilles, open windows or doors, or even rapid
movements of people in front of the hood.
Cross-draft velocity measurements should be
made with the sashes open and the velocity
probe positioned at several locations near the
hood opening to detect potentially interfering
room air currents (cross-draft).
A sampling grid should be established exterior
to the hood opening that consists of a 1 m × 1 m
array. The measurement array should be 1.5 ft
(0.5 m) in front of the plane of the sash with
measurement points at the left, centre, and right
locations and the top, middle, and bottom of the
maximum sash opening area as depicted in
Figure 4. If the fume hood is adjacent to a wall,
then the measurement should be 6 inches (150
mm) from the wall.
Excessive cross-draft velocities (>50% of the
average face velocity) have been demonstrated to
significantly affect hood containment and should
be identified and rectified. Ideally, cross-draft
velocities should be less than 30%.
Clearance time test
The clearance time for a hood is defined as the
length of time for smoke, released in the upper
cavity of the hood with a large smoke challenge,
to dissipate so that it no longer is visible. The test
is conducted by releasing smoke within the roll
for at least 30 seconds, then withdrawing the
source. A good clearance time is considered when
the test smoke disappears in less than 30 seconds,
but the maximum acceptable time is 2 minutes.
When a fume hood is performing optimaly it is
a guaratee that the processes being carried out
inside them are not affected. Correct operator
usage has a huge influence on functionality and
that is why it is very important that these
equipment is included in the qualification plans.
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December 2019