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Environment Product Guide

COSHH Regulations 2002 - Engineering Control Measure - Fume Extraction

Back ventilated fume cupboards for workbenches

This fume cupboard is designed to reduce installed cost by retrofitting to an existing workbench. Suitable base frames are available as an accessory where a freestanding unit is required.

When do I need a hazardous materials fume cupboard?

The HSE offers excellent guidance on working safety in laboratories and best practice by following the link www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/atex/classification.htm A correctly specified and installed fume cupboard with an airflow of > 0.5 metres per second at the front opening will be sufficient to minimize the risk of explosion and potentially harmful effects to worker health of solvent vapour in the working atmosphere caused by surface treatment with paint or degreaser, glueing or small scale chemical experiments. Small scale implies solvent quantities not exceeding 50 ml.

Information about the extraction of hazardous materials ha&

How does a hazardous goods workstation work?

The HSE offers guidance on best practice in the design and installation of fume cupboards. The most important points are: There should be an adequate retainer lip at the front of the cupboard opening. Airflow measured at the opening should be > 0.5 metres per second. There should be a slide down deflector at the top-front of the unit to maximize intake airflow. Extract air should flow past a baffle to give an even flow and prevent bounceback.

A fresh air supply system

Fume cupboards supplied by kaiserkraft meet the best practice guidelines laid down by HSE:

  • Fresh air supply system intake is fed by a powerful radial fan
  • Intake air is fed from the room
  • Routing of intake air is along aluminium frame profiles which are fastened together at the corners
  • Pressure generated in the tubular steel frame supplies both of the fresh air nozzles which are angled inward at 45°
  • Hazardous substances (gases, fumes or aerosols) which are present or arise in the work area are safely collected and routed towards the baffle at the back of the unit
  • Optimum effective extraction and efficient containment of hazardous substances is via the extraction inlets and routing into the exhaust system
  • The fume cupboard unit has to be connected to extract ducting to be installed by the client with the shortest run possible to the outside air.

In-built safety features of kaiserkraft fume cupboards

The forced draught created by the cabinet design and compliance with all HSE guidelines make the functionality of the fume cupboard optional but this is supplemented by the safeguards below:

Functional reliability

  • Permanent display of the ventilation function via a standard, built-in ventilation monitoring system
  • Real-time monitoring of air flow through extraction and intake ducts via measurement of pressure
  • Integrated pressure sensors with adjustable target value, set to the required target (minimum) air flow rate
  • Warning signal (audible and visual) for deviation of approx. 10 % from set air values. The flashing alarm only stops when the set target values are attained again.
  • Optional, floating alarm contact for the notification of a control centre
  • Integrated rechargeable battery for functional cuts in automatically to provide power to the entire monitoring system even if power is cut

Summary

kaiserkraft fume cupboards provide the highest level of safety and personal protection for the user:

a) Optimally balanced fresh air supply at the front opening of the unit

b) Optimally configured exhaust-air routing

c) Ventilation monitoring system and alarms as standard

Additional accessories and models other than those shown are available on request.

Please enquire - we would be happy to advise you.

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