What is ASHRAE 110 and Why Does It Matter for Chemical Fume Hood Safety?
Published by LabCertTech LLC | Houston, Texas
If your laboratory or facility uses chemical fume hoods to protect workers from hazardous chemical vapors, gases, and aerosols, you’ve likely encountered the term ASHRAE 110. But what exactly is ASHRAE 110, what does it test, and why is regular fume hood certification so critical for laboratory safety and regulatory compliance?
What is ASHRAE 110?
ASHRAE 110 is a standard published by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) titled “Method of Testing Performance of Laboratory Fume Hoods.” It defines the test methods used to evaluate the containment performance of laboratory chemical fume hoods.
Unlike some standards that focus purely on equipment design, ASHRAE 110 is a performance-based standard — it tests whether your fume hood is actually containing chemical vapors effectively under real-world conditions. A fume hood can look perfectly fine and still fail an ASHRAE 110 test if its airflow or containment performance has degraded.
⚠️ Important: A chemical fume hood that is not performing to ASHRAE 110 standards is not adequately protecting your laboratory workers from hazardous chemical exposure — even if it appears to be functioning normally.
What Facilities Need ASHRAE 110 Fume Hood Certification?
ASHRAE 110 fume hood certification is applicable to a wide range of laboratory and industrial facilities, including:
- University and research laboratories
- Pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing facilities
- Hospital and clinical laboratories
- Compounding pharmacies handling hazardous drugs (USP <800>)
- Biotechnology laboratories
- Industrial chemistry facilities
- Environmental testing laboratories
- Government and military research facilities
What Does ASHRAE 110 Testing Involve?
ASHRAE 110 testing involves three primary performance evaluations that together provide a comprehensive assessment of your fume hood’s containment ability:
| Test | What It Measures | Pass Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Face Velocity Test | Average air velocity entering the hood through the sash opening | Typically 80-120 FPM per lab policy |
| Flow Visualization Test | Airflow patterns using smoke to verify no turbulence or backflow | No smoke escape from hood face |
| Tracer Gas (SF6) Test | Actual containment performance using sulfur hexafluoride tracer gas | ≤ 0.05 ppm as mannequin/4.0 AM rating |
The tracer gas test is the most critical component of ASHRAE 110 testing. It uses sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) — a safe, non-toxic tracer gas — released inside the hood at a controlled rate while a breathing zone detector measures any gas that escapes into the operator’s breathing zone. This directly simulates real-world chemical exposure conditions and provides objective, quantifiable data on hood containment performance.
Understanding ASHRAE 110 Performance Ratings
ASHRAE 110 uses a standardized rating system to express fume hood containment performance. The rating is expressed as:
- AM (As Manufactured) — tested at the factory under ideal conditions
- AI (As Installed) — tested after installation in the laboratory
- AU (As Used) — tested under actual working conditions with equipment inside the hood
📋 Performance standard: A fume hood that achieves a rating of 4.0 AU or better is considered to provide adequate containment for most laboratory applications. The AU rating is the most meaningful because it reflects real-world performance conditions.
How Often Should Chemical Fume Hoods Be Certified?
The required certification frequency for chemical fume hoods depends on the regulatory requirements governing your facility and your internal safety policies:
- USP <800> facilities — certification required every 6 months for fume hoods used in hazardous drug handling
- Research and university laboratories — typically annually per institutional safety policies
- Industrial and chemical facilities — per OSHA requirements and facility safety programs
- After any HVAC or ventilation changes — immediate recertification required
- After hood relocation or repair — recertification required before returning to service
What Happens When a Fume Hood Fails ASHRAE 110 Testing?
If your fume hood fails ASHRAE 110 testing, it must be taken out of service immediately until the cause of failure is identified and corrected. Common causes of fume hood failure include:
- Insufficient face velocity due to HVAC imbalance or blower degradation
- Turbulent airflow caused by improper sash position or equipment placement
- Cross drafts from nearby air supply diffusers or foot traffic
- Blocked or restricted exhaust ductwork
- Worn or damaged sash seals
After corrective action is taken, the hood must be retested and pass ASHRAE 110 before it can be returned to service.
Why Fume Hood Certification Matters for Your Staff
Chemical fume hoods are the primary engineering control protecting your laboratory workers from exposure to hazardous chemical vapors and gases. A fume hood that is not performing to ASHRAE 110 standards puts your staff at risk of:
- Acute chemical exposure incidents
- Chronic low-level chemical exposure over time
- Respiratory illness and long-term health effects
- OSHA citations and workplace safety violations
- Workers compensation claims and associated liability
How LabCertTech Can Help
LabCertTech LLC provides comprehensive ASHRAE 110 chemical fume hood certification services for laboratories, compounding pharmacies, research institutions, and chemical facilities across Houston, Texas and surrounding areas. Our team performs all required face velocity, flow visualization, and tracer gas testing and provides detailed certification reports documenting your hood’s performance status.
Whether you need routine annual certification, post-installation testing, or post-repair recertification, LabCertTech is your trusted partner for fume hood safety and compliance in Houston.
Ready to Schedule Your Fume Hood Certification?
Contact LabCertTech today — Houston’s veteran owned laboratory certification company.
Schedule a CertificationASHRAE 110 Chemical Fume Hood Fume Hood Certification Laboratory Safety Houston TX LabCertTech