Ashrae110 Testing at Esco

ASHRAE110-1995 (ANSI approved) is one of the most challenging standards in the world that tests the containment efficiency of a fume hood. The efficiency is derived from the fume hood's ability to contain the released challenge gas under normal operation. The ASHRAE110-1995 test facility at Esco is constructed based on recommendation given by Invent-UK, a third party organisation that certifies fume hoods. There are there parts to ASHRAE 110-1995 standard; the flow visualisation, the face velocity uniformity test, and the SF6 containment test.

The flow visualisation helps to identify potential locations within the enclosure and at the sash opening where eddy currents and turbulence are likely to form. Smoke tubes and bombs are used to map out the flow pattern which then enables us to improve on the flow dynamics generated by our fume hoods. The face velocity uniformity test evaluates the uniformity of the inflow velocity at various points across the sash opening while the final part, i.e. the SF6 containment test, evaluates the containment efficiency. A very sensitive SF6 particle detector, capable of reading as low as 0.01ppm, is used in the detection of leaked SF6 during the containment test .

The derived performance as determined by the smoke visualisation test and the face velocity uniformity measurement provides a valuable indicator to the containment property of the fume hood. The SF6 containment test provides the ultimate proof in establishing this sequence. If the results of the smoke test and the face velocity test are good, then the containment capability of a fume hood is considered good.

Here in Esco, we are capable of conducting the complete ASHRAE110-1995 test in our laboratory.

For further information on the test method and observed results, please download detailed report.

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