Fume Cupboards, Biosafety Cabinets and Enclosures
Laboratory Fume Cupboards (Fume Hoods)
At Innova, we combine laboratory safety with operational efficiency to help organisations meet regulatory requirements while protecting the people who work in them.
We offer specialist advice alongside a full portfolio of high-performance fume cupboards and complementary systems, designed to minimise exposure to hazardous gases, vapours, aerosols, and particulates.
Serving schools, colleges, universities, and industrial facilities throughout the UK, we bring over two decades of experience in delivering tailored fume extraction solutions.
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Each system is designed to match specific client needs and budgets, with our experts working in close partnership with architects, fit-out contractors, and MEP teams. The result is compliant, ergonomic, and seamlessly integrated laboratory environments that enhance both safety and workflow.
Customised fume cupboards/Fume hoods engineered for your laboratory
Whether you require a standard or fully customised fume cupboard, we offer a range of solutions tailored to your laboratory’s needs. Every unit is engineered with exact dimensions and features to integrate smoothly into your workflow. From compact educational units to heavy-duty industrial models for advanced research.
All our fume cupboards are rigorously engineered and tested to meet BS EN 14175 standards, ensuring outstanding safety, efficiency and energy performance.
Before purchasing and installing a fume cupboard, it’s important to evaluate key factors to ensure it meets your laboratory’s needs:
- Types and quantities of hazardous substances, which influence material choices like Trespa, polypropylene, or epoxy.
- Laboratory size and available space for the fume cupboard.
- Nature of laboratory work and the need for extra safety features such as Firetrace or autosash.
- Room air supply—consider variable air volume fume cupboards for better airflow control.
Education fume cupboards
Fume cupboards are essential in school and college science labs, protecting students and teachers by containing and extracting hazardous fumes, vapours, and particles during experiments. They act as a barrier, capturing these substances and preventing them from spreading into the wider classroom or lab space. There are two main categories of fume cupboards for educational environments: ducted and recirculatory.
Ducted fume cupboards expel toxic fumes through an exterior exhaust system, while recirculatory fume cupboards use HEPA or carbon filters to clean the air and circulate it back into the lab. The choice depends on the type and frequency of experiments.
Types of fume cupboards for schools and colleges
Innova offers both standard and bespoke fume cupboards in fixed ducted, semi-mobile ducted or mobile recirculation variants. Semi-mobile ducted and mobile recirculating fume cupboards are secured with a docking station for essential services, including gas, electricity, water, and waste, and feature a quick-release mechanism for easy disconnection and relocation. Docking stations are available as an optional extra and can be fixed to walls, and cupboard units as applicable.
Industrial fume cupboards/Biosafety cabinets
Industrial fume cupboards protect people, processes, and environments by safely removing hazardous airborne substances. They remove contaminated air, filter or exhaust it, and regulate airflow to prevent harmful vapours from escaping. Commonly used in labs and industrial settings, they play a vital role in ensuring safety and meeting regulatory standards.
Types of fume cupboards for industry and higher education
Industrial fume cupboards and cabinets come in various types designed to manage different hazards and operational needs. Besides standard ducted and ductless fume cupboards, specialised options include:
- Walk-in fume cupboards: Large, customisable enclosures for bulky equipment and high-volume fume extraction.
- Biosafety cabinets: Provide HEPA-filtered airflow for safe handling of biological materials, protecting both personnel and products.
- Acrylic ventilated enclosures: Transparent, lightweight units ideal for low-hazard fumes or particulates where visibility is important.
Choosing the right fume cupboard or cabinet depends on the type of hazard, workspace size, and ventilation requirements. These solutions collectively ensure safety, compliance, and effective containment in industrial and laboratory environments.
Innova’s range of laboratory fume cupboards & biosafety cabinets
Key features of fume cupboards
Fume cupboard enclosures – internal configurations and equipment:
At Innova, our fume cupboards go beyond fume extraction—they’re designed to optimise your entire laboratory environment. Optional extras such as lockable storage, built-in water and gas services, and docking stations help create a safe, functional, and efficient workspace. With flexible configurations available, we can tailor each unit to the specific needs of educational, research, or industrial applications.
What can be included inside a fume cupboard?
- Scaffold and Retort Systems Modular framework for securing glassware, clamps, and apparatus – ideal for chemistry demonstrations or complex setups.
- Chemical-Resistant Worktops Bunded Trespa TopLab or polypropylene surfaces for safe containment of spills and corrosion resistance.
- Integrated Services: Gas taps, water outlets, and drip cups can be installed for wet chemistry or heating needs. All connections are fully certified.
- Electrical Outlets RCD-protected double sockets allow for safe use of laboratory equipment within the enclosure.
- Sinks and Drains Compact, chemical-resistant sinks available for washing, waste handling, or specific procedural needs.
- Lighting Sealed, high-level LED lighting units for bright, shadow-free visibility during experiments.
A space built around your process
Whether you require a simple setup for school use or a fully equipped enclosure for advanced research, Innova can customise the internal environment of your fume cupboard to match your exact specifications. All components are installed in full compliance with CLEAPSS and BS EN 14175 standards, guaranteeing maximum safety and usability.
The role of extract fans in fume cupboards
Extract fans are a critical component of fume cupboards, providing the airflow necessary to remove hazardous fumes, vapours, and airborne particles from the working area. By creating a constant negative pressure, the fan draws contaminated air through the cupboard and safely expels it to the outside environment via ducting or filtration systems.
This process helps protect laboratory users from exposure to harmful substances, maintains compliance with safety regulations, and supports overall air quality within the workspace. The performance and reliability of the extract fan are essential to the fume cupboard’s effectiveness, making correct specification, installation, and maintenance vital..
Fume cupboard: Full turnkey installation
Innova’s fume cupboard installation service covers every stage of the process – from design and delivery to installation and commissioning. Drawing on extensive industry experience, our fully accredited engineers ensure full compliance with COSHH Regulation 9, CLEAPSS guidance, and Building Bulletin 88 standards. Every unit undergoes rigorous testing and certification to meet the stringent requirements of BS EN 14175, ensuring a safe, compliant, and dependable laboratory environment.
Upon completion, we provide comprehensive operation and maintenance (O&M) documentation and include a 12-month warranty with every fume cupboard we supply.
Frames
Worktops
Storage
Worktops
We offer a wide selection of laboratory work surfaces designed to meet your specific requirements or intended use. Our options include surfaces that are chemical, impact and scratch resistant, find out more.
Frames
Laboratory workbenches are tailored to meet your specific needs. The frames are constructed from square or rectangular profiles, and all steel components are coated with a 70-micron thick, heat-hardened epoxy powder available in various colours. The benches feature levelling feet (static) or castors (movable) to ensure stability or mobility on any floor surface.
Storage
Innova offers a diverse selection of modular laboratory storage cabinets- base, wall, tall, corner units -available in both fixed or mobile options. Built from durable 18mm MFMDF carcasses, our cabinets come in a variety of colours and finishes, ensuring aesthetic appeal and longevity. They are designed for easy installation and provide convenient access to services.
Fume cupboard maintenance for lasting safety and performance
Regular maintenance of your fume cupboard is essential to guarantee trouble-free operation, Innova offers a comprehensive 12-month service contract for fume cupboards, cabinets, and hoods to ensure compliance with current regulations and that staff and students are consistently protected. Routine servicing helps prevent costly repairs, extends equipment lifespan, and reduces lab downtime.
Fume Cupboard FAQs:
Ducted fume cupboards require an external exhaust system to vent fumes outside the building, while ductless fume cupboards use filters to recirculate the air within the fume cupboard.
Fume cupboards can be costly to run—not because of the unit itself, but due to the energy needed to replace the conditioned air they constantly expel.
Installing Variable Air Volume (VAV) controls can cut this by up to 70%, with even greater savings when paired with an auto sash controller. VAV systems can often be retrofitted, and simply switching units off when not in use can further reduce energy consumption.
A docking station is a compact, lockable unit that supplies mobile fume cupboards with safe, secure access to services such as water, gas, drainage, and power. Quick-release hose connections make it easy to relocate the cupboard when needed. For flexibility, the docking station can be locked when not in use and installed either panel-mounted on a workstation or bench, or wall-mounted.
Height-adjustable fume cupboards are a specialised form of walk-in unit, featuring an adaptable chamber and work surface that can be raised or lowered to suit different users, including those in wheelchairs. Innova can supply standard and custom designed height adjustable fume cupboards to incorporate any modifications required. Contact our team for more information.
Fume cupboards are not intended for chemical storage; chemicals should only remain inside while in use. Storing items in the unit can obstruct airflow, reducing its ability to protect users from hazardous fumes and compromising overall performance.
Fume cupboards should typically be maintained at least once a year to ensure they continue operating safely and efficiently. However, depending on usage intensity, lab conditions, and regulatory requirements, some facilities may need more frequent inspections and servicing—sometimes every 6 months.
Regular maintenance includes checking airflow performance, inspecting filters and seals, and verifying compliance with safety standards.
See our success stories
Shireland Collegiate Academy Laboratories, Full Turnkey Solution, West Midlands, B66 4ND
St Martin's School Laboratory, Full Turnkey Solution, Wales, CF83 1UW
Stockport Grammar School Laboratory, Full Turnkey Solution, Greater Manchester, SK2 7AF
Do you have a project in mind?
We would love to hear from you. Give us a call, email or make an enquiry. We are here to share our expertise and answer your questions.
