Exposure Control Devices

What are Exposure Control Devices?

Exposure control devices, or ECDs, describes all ventilated engineering controls designed to protect the health of the user during lab and non-lab procedures and processes. ECDs protect users from a variety of hazardous materials:

Hazardous vapors and gases (chemicals)
Particulate matter (wet or dry) - dust, shavings, powders, and welding processes
Heat

Below are examples of common ECDs found on UK campuses. ECDs can be designed to work specific for a lab, therefore, having a unique identification. The name is defined by it's opening type, exhaust purpose, and/or how it is positioned.

ECD	Suitable for:	NOT Suitable for:
Chemical Fume Hood	Most chemical and thermal manipulation operation.	Biological or material manipulation operation.
Fume Adsorber	Specific chemicals (contact OHS for approval of use)	Hazardous materials or large quantity of chemical manipulation.
Snorkel/Exhaust Arm	Chemical and thermal manipulation operation that utilize small quantities in a localized area.	Biological or material manipulation operation nor chemical and thermal manipulation operation that utilize larger quantities or a greater surface area than the hood itself.
Canopy	Most thermal manipulation operation	Any chemical, biological, or material manipulation operation
Back Draft/Slot Hood	Material manipulation operation	Hazardous chemical or thermal manipulation operation
Grossing Station	Tissue dissections	Any other chemical process, thermal, or material manipulation operation
Downdraft Table	Chemical manipulation operation in which the hazardous material weighs more than the density of air.	Any chemical manipulation operation where the hazardous material weighs less than the density of air. This ECD is also not suitable for biological, thermal, or material manipulation operation.
Glovebox	Most chemical processes that require a specific atmospheric pressure.	Any thermal, biological, or material manipulation operation. Please note this ECD is considered a lab equipment, for it is not attached to the building's air system. The lab is responsible for the maintenance of this ECD.
Biological Safety Cabinet	Biological manipulations depending upon the type of cabinet	Any chemical, thermal, or material manipulation operation. Please note this ECD is considered a lab equipment, for it is not attached to the building's air system. The lab is responsible for the maintenance of this ECD.
Spray Paint Booth	Paint spraying manipulation operation	Any other chemical, biological, thermal, or material manipulation operation.
Barrel Filling Hood	Liquid waste dumping processes	Any other chemical, biological, thermal, or material manipulation operation.
Animal Transfer Station	Physical manipulation operation with animal dandruff as the hazard source	Any chemical, biological, thermal, or material manipulation operation. Please note this ECD is considered a lab equipment, for it is not attached to the building's air system. The lab is responsible for the maintenance of this ECD.
Laminar Flow/Clean Bench Hood	Non-infectious material manipulation (e.g., media preparation). This ECD provides a dust-free environment.	Any chemical, infectious biological, thermal, or material manipulation operation. Please note this ECD is typically considered a lab equipment for it is not attached to the building's air system. The lab is responsible for the maintenance of this ECD.

Standards Below are various standards applied to the exposure control device auditing process.

These standards are utilized as a tool to the architectural designs and ECD manufacturer guidelines.

Air Cleaning Devices

Air cleaning devices are not generally required for laboratory fume hoods, and may not be used without approval of the directors of Environmental Management and Occupational Health & Safety departments.