Technical Foundation
What Is a Ducted Fume Hood?
A ducted fume hood is an enclosed workspace that captures hazardous vapors, gases and particulates generated during lab or process work and exhausts them through dedicated ductwork to the building exterior, rather than recirculating filtered air back into the room as a ductless hood does. Containment performance is measured primarily by face velocity — the speed of air moving through the open sash opening, typically targeted in the 80-120 fpm range per ASHRAE 110 and institutional safety standards — which must be verified and maintained through regular testing, not just set at commissioning.
Sash configuration affects both containment and operator ergonomics: vertical sashes slide up and down, providing a full-height barrier when lowered; horizontal sliding sashes move side to side, letting the operator position an opening exactly where needed while keeping more of the barrier closed; combination sashes offer both movements. Interior width and depth must accommodate the equipment and hand movements of the work being performed while keeping face velocity within spec — an oversized hood for the connected exhaust capacity will underperform on containment regardless of sash position.
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| Spec | What It Means | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Face Velocity | Typically 80-120 fpm (ASHRAE 110 target range) | Primary containment metric; must be verified by regular testing, not assumed from commissioning |
| Sash Type | Vertical, horizontal sliding, combination | Affects containment behavior and operator access; combination sashes offer the most flexibility |
| Interior Width | Common range 4 ft to 8+ ft, walk-in for large equipment | Must fit the equipment and work motions while keeping the exhaust system's rated face velocity achievable |
| Interior Material | Epoxy resin, phenolic resin, stainless steel | Chemical resistance must match the specific acids, solvents or reagents used in the hood |
| Ductwork Requirement | Dedicated exterior-vented ductwork, sized to hood CFM | Ducted hoods require building exhaust infrastructure sized to the hood's rated airflow — unlike ductless/filtered hoods |
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Applications
Where Ducted Fume Hoods Get Used
Ducted fume hoods are specified anywhere chemical vapors, gases or fumes from lab or process work need to be reliably exhausted to outside air.
Chemistry & Analytical Labs
Ducted fume hoods contain vapors from acid digestion, solvent extraction and general wet chemistry procedures.
Pharmaceutical & Biotech R&D
Fume hoods protect researchers from hazardous reagents and compounding chemicals during drug development work.
Academic & Teaching Laboratories
Standard vertical-sash fume hoods provide consistent, code-compliant containment across student lab stations.
Forensic & Toxicology Labs
Fume hoods contain volatile solvents and reagents used in sample preparation and analysis.
Materials Testing & QC Labs
Fume hoods contain fumes generated during sample digestion, plating and chemical testing procedures.
Industrial Process Areas
Walk-in and large-format ducted hoods contain fumes from process equipment too large for a bench-top hood.
FAQ
Ducted Fume Hoods Questions, Answered
What face velocity do I need for my fume hood?
Most institutional safety programs and ASHRAE 110 guidance target 80-120 fpm at the sash opening, though your specific lab safety officer or institutional EHS policy may specify an exact value within or outside that range depending on the chemicals used — confirm your facility's required setpoint and have the hood tested against it after installation, not just at the manufacturer's rated spec.
Ducted or ductless — why choose a ducted fume hood?
Ducted hoods exhaust captured fumes directly to outside air through dedicated building ductwork, providing the most reliable containment for a wide range of chemicals since nothing is filtered and recirculated. Ductless (filtered) hoods recirculate filtered air back into the room and are limited to chemicals compatible with the specific filter media — ducted hoods are generally preferred wherever building exhaust infrastructure is available and the work involves varied or unknown chemical hazards.
Vertical, horizontal, or combination sash — which is best?
Vertical sashes give full-height closure when lowered and are simple and widely used. Horizontal sliding sashes let an operator open just the section needed for access while keeping the rest of the barrier closed, which can improve containment during the work itself. Combination sashes offer both movements, giving the most flexibility for different tasks and hood sizes.
What interior material should I choose?
Match the interior liner to the chemicals used — epoxy resin offers broad chemical resistance and is a common general-purpose choice; phenolic resin is also widely chemical-resistant and often more economical; stainless steel is specified where specific chemical compatibility, cleanability, or particular institutional standards call for it.
Does a ducted fume hood require special building infrastructure?
Yes — unlike a ductless hood, a ducted fume hood requires dedicated exhaust ductwork routed to the building exterior, sized to the hood's rated CFM, along with a fan and often makeup air provisions to replace the exhausted room air. Confirm your building's HVAC/exhaust infrastructure can support the hood's airflow requirement before specifying a ducted unit.
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