Why Is My Fume Hood Alarm Beeping? Common Reasons
In your lab, the fume hood is there as a protection. But if something goes awry, and it cannot safely do its job, then the fume hood is designed to make you aware of the issue. But it can be difficult to know exactly what the problem is. Here we will troubleshoot common fume hood problems and highlight some key best practices.
What Is A Fume Hood?
Fume hoods are common pieces of equipment found in laboratories. They are ventilated enclosures, built to pull air from the lab, moving it up and out of the building, in order to protect lab technicians from potentially hazardous materials in the form of toxic or volatile chemical fumes, vapors, or dust. Beyond removing harmful materials in the air, a fume hood is also equipped with a protective sash, an opening that can be closed or opened like a window, giving access to the work station, which prevents splashed or spilled materials from coming into contact with a user’s skin. A fume hood is a must in any laboratory setting and because of how vital it is to the safety of everyone involved, fume hood repair should be taken seriously.
How Fume Hood Alarms Work
A fume hood is tasked with protecting the user from hazardous materials, so if anything is not as it should be, the fume hood alarm will sound to alert the user to potential danger. Fume hood alarms are key components of any laboratory safety system. Whether the issue is with the fume hood ventilation system or the protective sash, fume hood alarms should not be ignored.
Proper airflow is vital to the fume hood functioning properly, so if airflow drops, it is possible for harmful chemicals to escape into the workspace, where they can cause harm to workers breathing them in. If a fume hood alarm system senses that airflow is not optimal, it will sound. This could be one reason why a fume hood alarm continues beeping.
Delicate sensors within the fume hood are responsible for sensing fluctuations in airflow velocity and pressure. They will sound when levels fall below a predetermined threshold that is designed to give lab workers enough time to react and stay safe. Besides an unmistakable beeping, a fume hood alarm may also incorporate other visual and auditory indicators to ensure that the alert is noticed, even in the busiest of laboratory settings.
Reasons Why A Fume Hood Alarm Sounds
Clearly, fume hoods perform an invaluable task for laboratory workers. But it may not always be clear why a fume hood alarm is sounding. Here are some common reasons why the alarm may be sensing a drop in airflow and beeping:
- blocked filters
- built-up dust and debris
- foreign objects
- fan failure due to worn belts or bearings
- malfunctioning exhaust system
- incorrect sash positioning
- negative air pressure
- sensor malfunction
Some modern fume hoods are outfitted with alarms that have digital displays for easy monitoring of real-time airflow data. These are especially helpful in the event of an alarm.
Regardless of why a fume hood alarm is sounding, it is vital to pay attention to the alert and schedule fume hood repair, maintenance or certification. Whether a fume hood is recently installed or needs to be moved, recalibration is necessary at various intervals to ensure that all systems are working properly and keeping users safe.
What To Do When A Fume Hood Alarm Sounds
Above all else, a fume hood alarm should never be ignored, even if a unit is known to have intermittent issues. Regular maintenance and inspections are, of course, vital, but in the meantime, it is best to stop work immediately and lower the sash to the maximum safe operating position or close completely if need be. If your specific fume hood includes a digital display, you may have an immediate indication of the problem and that information will help if you need to call in the DigeLab team for a fume hood repair request.
If you are able to identify the underlying issue and you are able to safely and competently address it, then take the necessary steps to resolve the problem and silence the alarm. You can check for blockages in the exhaust system and ensure that the sash is at the correct operating height. However, if simple fixes do not remedy the problem, it is better to be safe and call in the experts at DigeLab to diagnose and safely resolve the problem.
Lab Equipment Maintenance, Certification and Repair From Digelab Solutions
Your lab equipment needs to be in perfect working order to produce accurate results and so that workers and users remain safe at all times. Preventive maintenance and periodic inspections and certifications ensure that your fume hood and other pieces of lab equipment are working as they should and providing the support your staff requires to do their best work. At DigeLab Solutions, we provide regular service checks to prevent minor issues before they become major problems. And if you have an immediate need for assistance with fume hood repair, please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to help.