The Berkeley Hood: Development and Commercialization of an Innovative High-Performance Laboratory Fume Hood. Progress Report and Research Status: 1995-2001

Fume hoods have long been used to protect workers from breathing harmful gases and particles, and are ubiquitous in pharmaceutical and biotechnology facilities, industrial shops, medical testing labs, university research labs, and high school chemistry labs. Fume hoods are box-like structures, often mounted at tabletop level with a movable window-like front called a sash. They capture, contain and exhaust hazardous fumes, drawn out of the hood by fans through a port at the top of the hood. Highlighting the systems nature of the fume hood design, high amounts of air flow tend to drive sizing (first cost) and energy use of central heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems in the buildings where hoods are located.

This report describes the technology development behind the Berkeley Hood, field trials demonstrating pollutant containment down to 34% of full flow, current R&D needs, and technology transfer work underway to continue moving the hood towards commercialization. Based on conservative assumptions, we have identified a preliminary U.S. electricity savings potential for the Berkeley Hood of $240 to $480 million annually, a number that would rise with the inclusion of space-heating fuel.