SetSafe©: Control Strategy for Idle Fume Hood Management

Laboratory ventilation is a dominant energy load in research and healthcare buildings. Efforts to reduce energy often focus on room ventilation rates. However, fume hoods frequently limit how far air change rates (ACH) can be reduced due to their minimum airflow requirements. Even when not in use.

Fume hood energy efficiency has historically involved a trade-off between safety and energy savings, often resulting in over-ventilated fume hoods during periods of non-use.