There's the answer below that goes in my files.  Thanks Brandon.

 

The charcoal part of the filters, like all activated carbon filters, is only good for certain amounts of certain solvents.  And their time is quite limited. So use for solvent control in my art and theater clients is not really a good option for the same reason Brandon mentions: we don't know what solvents and volatiles they will be using or the amounts.

 

 I only spec them for particulate control for small work like making high cristobalite investment molds for jewelry or mixing powdered dyes with water. 

Monona Rossol, M.S., M.F.A., Industrial Hygienist

President:  Arts, Crafts & Theater Safety, Inc.

Safety Officer: Local USA829, IATSE

181 Thompson St., #23

New York, NY 10012     212-777-0062

actsnyc**At_Symbol_Here**cs.com   www.artscraftstheatersafety.org

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Brandon S. Chance <bchance**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Sent: Wed, Mar 19, 2014 9:24 am
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Ductless fumehoods or Not.

Richard,

I was involved with the initial phases of a rather large purchase of Erlab GreenFumeHoods and a smaller purchase and installation of AirClean ductless systems for rotary evaporators while I was at a previous job.  In both cases, traditional ducting was not an option.  The Erlab hoods were being purchased for an organic chemistry teaching lab.  During the vetting of this system, I had to provide a list of all of the chemicals that will be used within the hood in order to proceed as the manufacturer wanted to verify that their filtration systems would work.  I had to do the same when ordering the rotary evaporator ductless systems.

As part of our internal SOPs, the Erlab hoods were not allowed to be used for research purposes.  This is because as soon as one changes from teaching labs, where all of the components being used are planned and in known quantities, to research operations, there is no control over what may be passing through the hoods.  I know the Erlab hoods have been in operation for about a year at that facility and if you email me (bchance**At_Symbol_Here**princeton.edu) directly, I will put you in touch with the manager running that facility.  He speaks very highly of the Erlab systems.

I hope this helps,

Brandon S. Chance, M.S., CCHO

Program Manager, Chemical Safety

Environmental Health and Safety

Princeton University

262 Alexander Street

Princeton, NJ 08540

609-258-7882 (office)

609-955-1289 (mobile)

609-258-1804 (fax)

"The second I feel like I made it, the second I feel like I've arrived, that's the second someone will take my spot. And I like my spot." J.J. Watt – Houston Texans

From: "Richard W. Denton" <rwdenton3**At_Symbol_Here**GMAIL.COM>
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Date: Tuesday, March 18, 2014 at 6:59 PM
To: "DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU" <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Ductless fumehoods or Not.

Hi everyone:

   I was asked by my department to assist in deciding whether to purchase ductless fumehoods  for our undergraduate chemistry labs. We are planning to use these for flammable solvents, and reactions involving  HCl and NaOH.  These hoods will be used by undergraduates for research also.  Any input on the safety issues involved with these equipments versus the regular hoods would be appreciated.

-Richard (CHO)