Shut the Sash
Save energy while also creating a safer lab environment.
Fume hoods are essential tools in laboratories. They provide a controlled and ventilated workspace, ensuring that lab users can safely handle potentially hazardous materials while minimizing exposure to harmful fumes.
Fume hoods are also one of the most energy-intensive pieces of equipment on campus. Fume hoods are designed to continuously pull air from the lab out of the building – this also means significant energy is required to maintain the lab's temperature.
Shutting or lowering the sash of a variable air volume (VAV) fume hood whenever possible helps to reduce air flow and in turn save energy and money. Most importantly, this also creates a barrier that can better protect you from injuries, fires and explosions.
How to use a sash safely and efficiently
- Open the sash to set up or adjust an experiment.
- Lower the sash to the minimum required level to perform the experiment.
- Shut the sash completely when it is not in use.
Need a reminder?
Order a sticker that you can place on the fume hood sash.