Fume cabinets are one of our most popular products, and can be used across a vast array of industries for all kinds of applications.
Having previously looked at what fume cabinets are and how they work, we thought it would be helpful to show just how diverse their uses can be with general applications for ductless fume cabinets and ducted fume cupboards.
But before we begin our look at different safe uses of fume cabinets, it’s first worth giving a quick explainer on why you might need one.
What is the purpose of a fume cupboard?
Fume cupboards (often interchangeably called fume hoods or fume cabinets) are designed to remove potentially harmful substances from the air, protecting a person as they work with chemicals or on processes that give off vapours, aerosols or dust.
It’s important to note that a fume cupboard does NOT do the same job as a biosafety cabinet, which is designed to offer more extreme protection from infectious toxins and other agents. Fume cabinets are all about at-source extraction that cleans the air and protects a person’s breathing zone, while also offering a clean and safe area in which to work.
How many types of fume hoods are there?
There are two main types of fume cabinets:
- Ductless fume cupboards that suck in air and funnel it through filters before recirculating the clean air back into the unit
- Ducted fume cupboards which expel air outside the building instead, without filtering it first.
To learn more about the ins and outs of these different models, see our blog post ‘What are Fume Cabinets and What are They Used For?’
Different uses for fume cabinets
The following are just some effective uses of fume cabinets – taken from our experiences working with customers across almost every industry you can imagine!
Education science labs
Our first effective use of fume cabinets is to give school, college and university students a safe space to perform experiments. These could be mixing chemicals, pouring liquids into test tubes, or actions like stirring, mixing and weighing. Whatever they’re being used for, our fume cabinets are designed to keep students safe from potentially harmful vapours and particulates.
Military weapons development
Another of our different uses for fume cabinets is one that may surprise you. One of our customers creates defence systems and uses their fume cabinet to analyse explosives. The cabinet we provided them is a high-end, explosion-proof unit, which really does show just how bespoke our fume cabinet solutions can be.
Medical and dental research laboratories
Medical research (including the dental offshoot) is one of the more well-known examples of general applications for ductless fume cabinets and ducted fume hoods. Being specific, the cabinet could be used in the creation of vaccines or antibiotic medicines, allowing researchers to perform experiments without fear of breathing in potentially harmful particulates.
Automotive and aerospace research
Automotive and aerospace manufacturing are both ripe with reasons to use fume cupboards. From fuel synthesis to plasticiser research and the application of industrial-strength glues, the different safe uses of fume cabinets in this industry are many and varied.
Electronics manufacturing
If making enormous vehicles wasn’t enough, fume hoods can also be used in the creation of something as humble as soldering a simple table lamp. Used correctly, a suitable fume cupboard will offer effective protection against breathing in harmful solder fumes.
Podiatry product assembly
This is another effective use of fume cabinets that you might not think of unless you work in the extraction space. We have a long-standing client who creates specially designed shoes for disabled people, and uses their fume cupboard for glueing the soles to the rest of the shoe.
Theatre company prop creation
Our seventh and final example really does show the wide variety of different applications for fume cabinets. While medical, education and even military applications might make sense when you think about them, would you really expect to find a fume hood in a theatre? However, when you consider the amount of glueing and painting of props that goes into putting on a production, it just makes sense for such a place to source a fume cupboard. Thankfully, we’ve worked with a few who chose to do just that!
Getting the right fume cabinet for your needs
At VODEX, we know each industry, business and indeed each workspace is unique. That’s why we believe firmly in offering bespoke, tailored extraction solutions for each and every customer.
The options we can offer range from small (600mm wide) to large (3m wide or more); from basic features to advanced, including digital control panels and displays; plus add-ons that can allow you to place your cabinet wherever it’s most suitable, or even include additional gas taps should they be needed.
Not sure which fume cupboard would be the right solution? Get in touch to talk through your needs. You can use our contact form, email us at sales@vodex.co.uk, or call us on +44 (0)1489 899 070.
