While I have seen some recent presentations regarding expanding use of ductless fume hoods and the technology appears to be improving, I would be extremely cautious about using ductless hoods for chemistry work as you infer they will be used for (as opposed to lab work with just incidental use of flammables/ toxics).  You should also consult with your local fire department as NFPA 45 contains the following in Annex A:

A.8.4.1 Ductless chemical fume hoods that pass air from the hood interior through an adsorption filter and then discharge the air into the laboratory are only applicable for use with nuisance vapors and dusts that do not present a fire or toxicity hazard.

I am very interested to see how others reply to this question!

Regards,

Dan

Dan Shiel, MBA, CSP, CHMM

Director, Risk & Quality Management Services

Pfizer La Jolla/ GO R&D West

10777 Science Center Drive

San Diego, CA 92121

 

PFIZER INTERNAL USE ONLY

 

“If you get up early, work late, and pay your taxes, you will get ahead if you strike oil.”

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Dear colleagues:

We are in the process of building a new Laboratory and contemplating between using Dustless Fume Hoods vs. Ducted Exhaust Hoods. We will be using a variety of hazardous chemicals including carbon disulfide, acetonitrile, toluene, benzene, some carcinogenic suspect chemicals, hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide gases.

I appreciate sharing your experiences with ductless fume hoods and whether you recommend these type of hoods for hazardous chemical work using the aforementioned chemical examples as well as advantages and disadvantages of these hoods vs. the ducted exhaust hoods (safety concerns, costs, maintenance, etc.)

Thanks,

Michael Hojjatie, Ph.D.

R&D director, TKI