While both flow hoods are great for reducing contamination in a workspace, a few applications lend themselves more toward one or the other. You can use both horizontal and vertical laminar flow hoods for many applications involving sensitive products and materials, including (but not limited to): WHICH HOOD IS RIGHT FOR YOUR APPLICATION? Products and materials could obstruct airflow when stacked.Increased work surface turbulence due to vertical air hitting a perpendicular surface.It may require overhead clearance for changing and servicing the filter.A taller system that can accommodate tall and large products and materials.Less cross-contamination of items on the work surface due to no parallel airflow.Easy access to filter changes and servicing.Here’s a quick overview of their pros and cons: Vertical laminar flow hoods are an excellent choice for many applications, including handling sterile, non-hazardous drug compounding in research labs, pharmacies, and microbiology. Also, since the laminar air isn’t blowing toward the operator, they are less likely to suffer any contaminants. Since the filter is at the top of the unit rather than behind, these flow hoods require less floor space but can be taller to fit larger products and materials. Vertical laminar flow hoods are popular because of their size, layout, and operator safety. They resemble the model of a laminar flow cleanroom with fan filter units on the ceiling, just on a much smaller scale. In contrast, vertical laminar flow hoods take air from above the unit, push it through the HEPA or ULPA filter, then direct it down onto the work surface, where it eventually disperses and exits the enclosure out of a front access area. Operators could suffer from fume or powder contaminants blowing at them if they don’t use the sash correctly.Objects can obstruct the flow and contaminate anything downstream.Requires hood repositioning to gain rear access for filter changes and servicing.Little contamination from hands or gloves due to the operator being downstream from products and materials.Easy to position products and materials close to the filter on the work surface.Low turbulence on the work surface due to air flowing parallel to the work surface.Below, we’ll detail the complete list of pros and cons for these types of hoods: However, the hood’s size, the filter’s positioning, and the airflow’s direction can also result in some negative consequences. No turbulence is caused by vertical air striking a perpendicular surface or the hands of the operator since they’re always further downstream than the materials they are working on. Air is pushed through a HEPA or ULPA filter positioned on the back wall and moves forward across the work surface until it exits the enclosure.īy sweeping the air across the work surface and towards the operator, horizontal laminar flow hoods provide the highest protection from contaminating particles. Horizontal laminar flow hoods direct air, well, horizontally. vertical laminar flow hoods and help you determine which is best for your application. This article will discuss the differences between horizontal vs. Both designs provide an effective sweeping action through the work zone and meet ISO Class 5 cleanliness standards, so your application will help determine which is better for your facility. Flow hoods come in two configurations: horizontal and vertical. Filtered air sweeps particles in a uniform speed and direction from the hood’s most treated area (the filter) to its exit area.Ĭleanroom airflow uniformity and laminar flow hoods are essential to ensuring that sensitive products placed under the hood are always upstream and therefore suffer little to no contamination. But it’s much easier to achieve laminar flow in a smaller space, as equipment, personnel, and movement in a room cause turbulence that disturbs airflow.Ī laminar flow hood is a device or enclosure commonly used as an ultra-clean workbench in laboratory applications. Because of the 100% filter coverage, it creates an ultra-clean environment. In cleanrooms, a vertical laminar flow room is an enclosure where 100% of the ceiling provides filtered air downwards from the ceiling. Laminar air flow is air flow that constantly moves at the same speed in the same direction.
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