Equipment

EHS maintains an active inventory of all Chemical Fume Hoods, Biosafety Cabinets, Laminar Flow Hoods/Clean Benches, and Autoclaves across campus to better assist in the management and maintenance of campus equipment. 

 

 

Fume Hoods

Chemical fume hoods are essential safety devices used in laboratories to protect students, faculty, and researchers from hazardous fumes, vapors, and airborne contaminants. By drawing in and filtering harmful substances, they help maintain a safe working environment while supporting a wide range of academic and research activities. At our university, fume hoods play a critical role in upholding safety standards, enabling innovation, and ensuring compliance with environmental and health regulations.

Annual Inspection

EHS inspects fume hoods annually to ensure basic functions and adequate air flow.  New fume hoods and fume hoods that have been relocated must be certified to ASHRAE 110 by a third-party contractor.  Reach out to our Chemical Safety team for information on contractors or additional information.

Repairs/Maintenance

Contact us if your unit needs repairs. Chemical Safety will coordinate the needed work with facilities so repairs/maintenance can be performed. After repairs are completed, Chemical Safety will confirm verify the repair by inspecting and recertifying for use.

Accordion Group

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  • Key Fume Hood Operating Procedures

    General Use

    • ð Always work with the sash at or below the recommended height (below 15”).
    • ð Keep your face outside the hood and avoid leaning into it.
    • ð Confirm the hood is operating properly before use (check airflow indicator or monitor).

    Airflow & Setup

    • ð Keep materials at least 6 inches inside the hood to ensure proper airflow.
    • ð Do not block vents or baffles with equipment or containers.
    • ð Arrange items to allow air to flow smoothly from the front to the back of the hood.

    Work Practices

    • ð Minimize rapid movements near the hood opening to avoid disrupting airflow.
    • ð Avoid overcrowding the hood—only keep necessary materials inside.
    • ð Use the hood only for procedures that require ventilation (not for storage).

    After Use

    • ð Remove all chemicals and equipment promptly after completing work.
    • ð Wipe down surfaces and clean up any spills.

    Maintenance & Reporting

    • ð Do not use the hood if airflow alarms are active or if it appears malfunctioning.
    • ð Report any issues to lab supervisors, facilities staff or EHS immediately.
    • ð Ensure regular inspections and certifications are up to date.

  • Fume Hood Testing & Support

    The Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Office routinely tests and certifies fume hoods to ensure proper airflow and safe operation. If you have concerns about hood performance or need a re-evaluation please contact us.

    Chemical Safety Manager

    Adrian Hernandez Ferrer

    Phone: 786-972-8422

    Email: arh38@med.miami.edu

     

    Chemical Safety Specialist

    Gerda Zahran

    Phone: 305-343-3383

    Email: gxz225@miami.edu

  • Ductless Fume Hoods

    Ductless fume hoods are self-contained units that use filtration (such as carbon or HEPA filters) to capture and remove contaminants before recirculating air back into the room. They are typically used for low-risk applications where traditional ducted exhaust is not required.

    Usage Guidelines

    • ð Only use with approved chemicals compatible with the hood’s filters.
    • ð Check filter status regularly and replace as recommended.
    • ð Do not use for highly toxic, volatile, or unknown substances.
    • ð Keep the sash at the proper height and avoid blocking airflow.

  • Setting Up a New Fume Hood

    Proper setup of a new fume hood is essential to ensure safe and effective operation from day one. Our Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Office works closely with departments, facilities, and vendors to support proper installation, testing, and commissioning.

    Key Considerations

    • ð All new fume hoods must be tested and certified by a qualified third-party contractor in accordance with recognized standards (ASHRAE 110 is the recognized as the best by UM EHS Office) prior to use.
    • ð Ensure professional installation in coordination with facilities and qualified vendors.
    • ð Verify that airflow monitoring devices and alarms are installed and functioning.
    • ð Train all users on proper operation, sash positioning, and safe work practices.
    • ð Avoid using the hood until it has been inspected and approved for use.

    To get started, please book a new fume hood setup consultation through our bookings link.

 

Bio Safety Cabinets (BSC)

Certification

Biosafety cabinets must be inspected and certified on an annual basis by a certified vender.  Annual certification ensures that the cabinet is in good working condition and will keep the individual, the environment, and depending on the class the product/sample safe.  If your cabinet is new or otherwise has not been inspected within the last year, please reach out to EHS Biosafety for guidance, but some potential vendors that service our campus include:

Moving/Relocation of BSCs

Biosafety cabinets must be decontaminated when they are moved to ensure no biological agents are released during transport.  Decontamination is performed by the vender chosen by the lab using vapor hydrogen peroxide.  The BSC must be recertified once it is installed in its new location.  Laminar flow hoods/clean benches do not require decontamination but do require recertification once they are moved.  When planning your equipment’s move contact the Biosafety Office for guidance and logistical assistance.  Labs are responsible for arranging the movement of cabinets with University Facilities Management. If the cabinet is destined for surplus, please remove biohazard stickers after the cabinet has been fully decontaminated by vendor services and contact surplus for pick-up.

Repairs/Maintenance

If your BSC or laminar flow hood/clean bench fails or stops working correctly, contact us for assistance if needed in scheduling repairs.  After repairs/maintenance, the unit will need to be recertified to ensure it’s working as designed.  Costs associated with repairs and recertification are the responsibility of the lab.  Unit that fail certification or otherwise not working properly must be labeled with signage to prevent work from being conducted, to prevent worker exposure.

 

 

Autoclaves

Preventive Maintenance and Repairs

Due to the extreme temperatures and pressures an autoclave must undergo to achieve sterilization, wear and tear on units can be considerable thus demanding sufficient preventive maintenance.  If your unit is in need of repair, a trained vendor will need to inspect the unit to determine what work must be performed to get the unit back up and running.  Be prepared to provide the location of the unit and be able to describe the problem it’s experiencing, if known. The person responsible for maintenance of the autoclave will be responsible for ordering in the work.  EHS Biosafety can assist in finding responsible persons if needed, and assisting in coordinating a repair by request.

General Use Tips

Biohazard waste from BSL-1 and 2 labs may be disposed of directly into biohazardous waste biohazardous waste boxes lined with red biohazard bags.  These boxes are decontaminated offsite via incineration/autoclaving, thus autoclaving onsite is redundant and energy inefficient.

If your lab needs to autoclave waste, be sure to:
•    Use a tray to contain your waste
•    Use autoclavable biohazard bags
•    Be trained on proper autoclave use

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