Define the job and the responsibilities
Describe the chemical process, equipment and expected working pattern before choosing components. Identify the people responsible for the cupboard, building ventilation, electrical services and project coordination. Begin with the fume hood air path when explaining the enclosure’s role to the building team.
Use our extraction project brief to collect the details. The local exhaust ventilation overview explains how capture at the task fits within a wider approach to controlling airborne contaminants.
Coordinate the cupboard with the room
Consider the proposed position alongside doors, walkways, supply-air outlets and other equipment. The extraction system also needs replacement air, which makes the room ventilation part of the same design discussion.
Review cupboard placement and replacement-air planning together. Our laboratory ventilation guide helps the project team coordinate the room and its local extraction.
Keep airflow figures in context
Record both the required volume flow and the conditions used to establish it. Face velocity, duct velocity and total exhaust volume describe different things, so retain the units and measurement locations when sharing figures.
Start with face velocity and the airflow calculation examples. Then consider pressure losses through the route with the fan supplier and ventilation designer.
Design for installation and operation
Allow for access, maintenance and the path from the cupboard to the final discharge point. Include the building interfaces and the information needed to assess operating energy, rather than treating the fan as an isolated purchase.
Use the exhaust-stack planning guide and installation checklist to prepare the next discussion. Agree the handover responsibilities before work begins, so the completed installation comes with usable operating records.
Develop the component briefs with our industrial fan selection guide and ductwork design guide.
Start here
Begin with the project brief, review the room ventilation with the building team, then work through installation access and responsibilities.
Explore this topic
- Plan your fume cupboard installationWhether it’s a new room or a replacement cupboard, we can help you understand the next steps. Start with a few details about your space and what you want to achieve.
- Fume-hood airflow calculations: CFM, litres per second and areaUnderstand fume-hood volume flow, face velocity and CFM conversions with worked arithmetic and questions for equipment selection.
- Fume-hood energy consumption: build an operating recordBuild a fume-hood energy-use record covering equipment, operating schedules and room air before reviewing efficiency options.
- Exhaust stacks for fume hoods: plan the dischargePrepare the site, process and airflow information needed to coordinate a fume-hood exhaust discharge with the building.
- Understanding fume cupboard face velocityUnderstand fume cupboard face velocity, airflow and test conditions. Prepare the report details for a testing or service enquiry.
- Planning replacement air for a fume hoodUnderstand replacement air for a ducted fume hood. Gather room ventilation, operating and controls information for a coordinated project brief.
- Planning a fume hood positionPlan a fume hood position around doors, walkways, air outlets and access. Prepare a room sketch for an equipment and installation discussion.
- Pressure drop through a fume hood and duct routeBuild a clear pressure-loss schedule for a fume cupboard, duct route and fan. Prepare the duty information for an extraction proposal.
- Laboratory ventilation: coordinate the room and extractionCoordinate laboratory room ventilation with fume cupboards, fans and ducting. Use a practical project and handover checklist.
- Local exhaust ventilation for chemical workplacesPlan chemical extraction with FumeCare. Coordinate the cupboard, fan, PVC ducting and building services for a clear laboratory project enquiry.
- Local exhaust vs general ventilation: choosing the roleUnderstand local capture and general room ventilation, and prepare the right questions for a laboratory extraction project.
- Designing a fume extraction system: a project briefPrepare a fume-extraction design brief covering the process, equipment, building-services interfaces and handover responsibilities.