scope:

This practice guideline explains the use of the NEN-EN 14175 series. This series of standards and therefore this practice guideline describe the safety requirements and performance criteria, the testing methods for on-site type testing and provide recommendations for installation and maintenance.

The choice of a particular fume cupboard is partly determined by its use. For example, fume cupboards for R&D applications may be subject to different requirements than fume cupboards used for routine analysis.

This practice guideline makes recommendations in the explanation of part 3 of the NEN‑EN 14175 series (Clause 6 of this practice guideline) regarding the use of the measurements described in the standard and the interpretation of the measurement results. Existing fume cupboards are addressed in part 4 of the NEN-EN 14175 series (Clause 7 of this practice guideline) on on-site testing methods, including a discussion of fume cupboards that do not have a type approval. Clause 8 deals with variable air volume fume cupboards, and finally, the explanation of part 5 of the NEN-EN 14175 series (Clause 9 of this practice guideline) makes recommendations for the installation of fume cupboards. In Clause 10 brief attention is paid to fume cupboards for special applications (e.g. high temperatures or destruction).

In addition to NPR 4500, NVN-CEN/TS 17441 provides more information regarding the planning, design and maintenance of ventilation systems intended for, among other things, the extraction of fume cupboards and ventilation of laboratories in which fume cupboards are used.

Recirculatory filtration fume cupboards fall outside the scope of this practice guideline. However, a European standard is being developed for these types of cabinets.

This practice guideline is meant for anyone who is in any way involved in the design and/or management and maintenance of laboratories in which fume cupboards are used.