HTS Services - Your Nationwide Partner for Fume Cupboard Peace of Mind

A fume cupboard is a specialised ventilated enclosure designed to safely remove hazardous fumes, vapours, and gases from a laboratory environment. There are two main types:

• Ducted Fume Cupboard: This type connects to a duct system and powerful fan, usually located on the building's roof. The fan pulls contaminated air through the fume cupboard and exhausts it safely outside.

• Ductless Fume Cupboard: This type uses a series of specialised filters to clean contaminated air within the fume cupboard itself. The filtered air is then recirculated back into the laboratory.

Holliday Technical Services specialises in the testing, maintenance, and repair of both ducted and ductless fume cupboards, ensuring safety in your laboratory. We offer fume cupboard testing, maintenance and repair to laboratories, education and industry throughout the UK.

While PVC is the most widely used material for fume cupboard ductwork, polypropylene offers superior chemical resistance, making it ideal for applications involving highly acidic substances. Metal ducting should generally be avoided due to potential reactivity with certain chemicals.

Note: Choosing the optimal ductwork material depends on the specific chemicals used in your laboratory. Holliday Technical Services can advise you on the best options for your fume cupboard setup. HTS provide a full range of fume cupboard services to laboratories, education and industry throughout the UK. Consider reaching out to us to discuss your fume cupboard maintenance needs.

Maintaining a safe and functional fume cupboard requires both regular inspection and professional servicing:

Legal Requirements: UK law mandates professional testing and maintenance of all fume cupboards at least every 14 months. Records and certificates must be kept on file.

Routine Checks: In addition to professional servicing, perform these checks regularly:

• Visual Inspection: Examine the fume cupboard's overall condition.
• Functionality Test: Ensure all alarms, controls, and filters are working properly.
• Face Velocity Test: Verify adequate airflow.
• Ductwork: Periodically inspect ducting and arrange for cleaning if necessary.
• Lab Ventilation: Confirm the lab has sufficient make-up air inflow to support fume cupboard function.
• Cleanliness: Promptly record and clean up any spills to prevent unwanted chemical reactions.

Holliday Technical Services provides expert fume cupboard testing, maintenance, and repair services. Contact us to ensure your fume cupboards remain compliant and safe.

Several key pieces of UK legislation and standards govern the safe use and maintenance of fume cupboards. The most important include:

• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002: Mandates regular inspection and testing (at least every 14 months) to ensure fume cupboards effectively control exposure to hazardous substances.
• Health & Safety at Work Act 1974: Places a general duty on employers to provide a safe working environment, which includes properly functioning fume cupboards.
• BS EN 14175 and BS7989:2001: These British Standards provide detailed technical guidelines for the design, installation, and testing of fume cupboards.

Additionally, these regulations may also apply:

• Management of Health and Safety at Work (MHSW) Regulations 1999
• Provision and Use of Work Equipment (PUWE) Regulations 1998
• The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989

Holliday Technical Services can help you understand and comply with these legal requirements and ensure your fume cupboards adhere to the relevant standards. We offer a full range of fume cupboard testing, maintenance and repair services for any laboratory, educational establishment or industry in the UK.