Alton,

According to my sources,  the only problem with a non-handicapped person using an ADA hood is that after a while they could get a sore back or neck.

The only significant difference is that with an ADA hood, everything is lower.  The work surface of the hood is lower, sometimes the outlets and knobs are lower, so a person can reach them from a sitting position.  The rest is still a basic fume hood.

If a lab worker is moving around a lot, going from hood to workbench to counter to the supply room and so on, their actual time in front of a hood isn't excessive, so it is a minor ergonometric nuisance.  If a person had to stand (stoop?) in front of a hood like this for long periods of time, yes, it would be physically uncomfortable (more-so the taller you are....) but it's not a "problem" per se.

There are high tech ADA hoods that have a lift built into them. The whole hood can be lowered for ADA folks or raised to a normal height for non-ADA folks.  Best of both worlds, but pricey.

Tim

Tim Hawkins

SafeFumeHood.com

dba FarHawk Marketing Services

http://www.safefumehood.com/

Phone: 888-327-4295

Have any of you had experience with ADA compliant fume hoods being used by non-wheelchair bound personnel?  I have concerns that the shorter height (floor to work surface) of an ADA compliant hood will be a problem when used by people who would stand in front of the hood to work.  Is there merit to my concern?

Thanks for any input that you can provide.  Please feel free to reply directly to asimpson**At_Symbol_Here**memphis.edu.

      Al

  

Alton Simpson, CHMM, NRCC-CHO

Director, Environmental Health and Safety

The University of Memphis

216 Browning Hall

Memphis, TN  38152-3340

(901) 678-4672   fax (901) 678-4673

http://ehs.memphis.edu