Four Key Factors to Consider When Selecting a Fume Hood for Your laboratory

Posted on the 3rd of Sep 2025 by

Selecting a fume hood for your laboratory in Australia is a process that requires very careful evaluation beyond selecting a model and price point. Unless, of course, you’re looking at a recirculating or ductless fume hood, which can be a very simple and hassle-free process if you’re working with the right supplier.

Having designed, manufactured and installed hundreds of laboratories since the founding of Westlab Spaces, clear deficiencies and unique facets of the Australian market have become clear.

Assessment of application & suitability

The first step is to trust a supplier in assessing the application of your fume hood to ensure its safety for whatever you will be using it for.

Whether it’s acids, other corrosive substances, powders or biological agents, they all have different compliance requirements.

Key considerations include:

The type of substances you’ll be handling
Volume and frequency of use
Required features

A good safety consultant or supplier will assess all risks and recommend a suitable combination of components so it will be both efficient and safe.

Placement due diligence

Where you put your fume hood will have varying consequences on both the complexity and cost of installation. It’s often underestimated, but it has a major impact on safety, compliance and usability.

Facility type - Multi-level and brownfield facilities bring added complexity. Engineers will have to work creatively to design safe and effective ducting, especially if it’s a retrofit. This will add extra cost due to potential additional material, potential increased design and compliance work. On the flip side, it will pay off in the greater variety of work you can do with a fume hood and the added safety credentials. New builds or single-story retrofits allow for more simplicity in running ducting and allow for easier installation.
Mechanical integration - The volume of existing ventilation or mechanical equipment in place will affect ventilation efficiency and airflow balancing.
Complexity of Integration - Will a new fume hood require structural, electrical or HVAC changes?

A good supplier will bring a qualified cohort, including compliance, engineering, installation and operational experts, to simplify the process on your end.

Local ongoing support

Selection and installation are probably only half of the fume hood life cycle. While it requires the most work, compliance is by far the most important ongoing assessment, and ensuring the hood operates as it should for as long as possible.

A lack of robust support from manufacturers has been a longstanding issue in Australia.

Factor in the following when selecting a supplier.

Expertise - Who is the supplier bringing on board to assist? Do they understand both the standards, the product, and the industry needs?
Availability of technicians - Are service teams locally based? Can they respond to issues quickly?
Preventive maintenance - What maintenance schedules are offered by the supplier?
Parts and consumables - Are spare parts available quickly, or will long lead times affect this? (i.e. filters, fans, controllers, sensors, lights)

Compliance to standards

The most critical part is compliance. A fume hood should not be offered if it is not compliant to Australian standards. These standards are comprehensive and cover aspects including design, installation, testing and maintenance.

What you should know:

AS/NZS 2243.8 - This standard details the requirements for fume hoods, including airflow performance, containment testing, and construction materials.
Installation and commissioning - A cabinet should be installed by a qualified installer. It needs to be validated and commissioned by a certified commissioner who is NATA-accredited.
Ongoing testing - Regular testing is required to ensure the unit works as required. Your supplier should offer this as a post-sale program.
Documentation - Accurate records must be maintained for audits and inspection.