Fume Hoods

The purpose of fume hoods is to allow the researcher to work with volatile or reactive chemicals inside the hood while minimizing the potential for exposure to airborne chemicals. They are the primary method used to prevent worker exposure in the campus labs. Annual certification of fume hoods is required by law.

You must have special Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) and Purchasing Department authorizations to buy fume hoods. EH&S has established a certification program for UCLA fume hoods. If you purchase fume hoods for your lab, use the procedures on this page to get started.

Note: Disposal of hazardous waste using sinks, intentional evaporation or as regular trash is against the law. Campus laboratories must abide by strict state and federal waste disposal requirements.

For more complete information on laboratory ventilation, fume hood use and the fume hood inspection and certification program, see the EH&S website. This site also contains information on the Respiratory Protection Program as well as chemical and lab safety.

Task	Steps
1. Obtain approval	Fume hoods are restricted items. EH&S must conduct a review prior and give approval prior to the purchase of fume hoods. The purpose of the review is to confirm that the equipment meets the UCLA EH&S facility requirements and to specify any safety precautions or requirements that must be met. The review also verifies the proper functioning of the laboratory’s safety program and informs the principal investigator (PI) of safety considerations that apply to the equipment. To initiate the pre-purchase approval process, contact EH&S. Request from EH&S a copy of their document, "Chemical Fume Hood Guide: Design, Construction, Maintenance, Health and Safety." This document will help you prepare to receive the fume hood and provides instructions for installation.
2. Select the vendor	If you have particular vendor that you want to use, submit a Sole-Source Justification to Campus Purchasing. If you do not have a specific vendor to use, contact Campus Purchasing for recommendations.
3. Place the order	Once you have received approval from Campus Purchasing, contact the vendor by phone or email to place your order. Use the following order-class code when entering the order into BruinBuy: N (if under $5,000) R (if over $5,000; can use BruinBuy) V (if under $2,500)
4. Receive the equipment	Once the vendor delivers the fume hood to your lab, install it according to the instructions in the EH&S document and schedule a fume hood certification through EH&S.