and vented chemical storage cabinets
for the total filtration of toxic gases
Appointed by the AFNOR, the Union de Normalisation de la Mécanique (UNM), composed of a college of experts (INRS, national organizations, professional syndicates), has established the AFNOR NF X 15-211 : 2009 standard. This standard applies to filtration fume hoods (also named recirculatory fume hoods or ETRAF) designed for research, analysis, education works,…. for all laboratories where chemicals subjected to professional exposure limit values (OEL or TLV) are manipulated. This standard sets forth performance criteria related to:
- Filtration efficiency
- Containment efficiency
- Air face velocity, ...
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This standard sets forth performance criteria related to: |
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| Filtration efficiency | Containment efficiency | Air face velocity | Documentation included with recirculating fume hoods |
| The classes established by the standard |
| Class 1 | Class 2 |
| Filtration fume hood with safety reserve | Filtration fume hood without safety reserve |
| One main filtration level and one safety filtration level |
One filtration level |
| Classification according to filtration type |
| Denominations according to the NF X 15 211:2009 standard |
Denominations equivalence for erlab® products | |
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Particles filtration* |
Type P | Type P |
| Vapours filtration** | Type V | Type C |
| Particles and vapours filtration** | Type PV | Type PC |
* : The particulate filter must be at least of H14 grade according to the NF EN 1822-1 standard
** : The filters for vapours must be submitted to two successive performance tests with Cyclohexane and Isopropanol for the filters designed to retain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC). Another test for acid vapours is carried out with Hydrochloric acid.
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It is defined by the filter capacity to retain noxious molecules manipulated within the enclosure and qualifies the quality of the recirculated air at the filter exhaust. |
| Class 1 | Class 2 | |
| Normal operation phase |
Emissions concentration at the filter exhaust must be lower than 1% of the TLV |
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| Detection phase |
The concentration at the filter exhaust must be lower than 1% of the TLV, and the automatic saturation detector must warn the user |
The concentration at the filter exhaust must be lower than 50% of the TLV |
| Safety operation phase |
The concentration at the filter exhaust must be lower than 50% of the TLV ; its duration must not be lower than 1/12 of the normal operation phase duration. |
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It is defined by the fume hood capacity to maintain chemical vapors or particles within the enclosure without any propagation in the laboratory environment. |
To prove this efficiency, a test is carried out following the protocol described in the standard. SF6 (Sulfur Hexafluoride) tracer gas emissions are generated into the enclosure. A grid composed of sensors is placed in front of the working openings. Some samplings are done at the grid. Based on the emitted gas concentration and the samplings done (which will allow the determination of an average operator exposure to this tracer gas), it is possible to determine a containment performance level of the filtration fume hood. The containment threshold specified by the NFX 15-211:2009 standard imposes a maximum concentration of 0.1 ppm of SF6 gas at the measuring points on the grid.
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It represents the fume hood capacity to create a dynamic barrier between the operator and the handling. |
For filtration fume hoods with fixed front panel, the air face velocity at any point of the front openings must be between 0.4 and 0.6 m/s. They must be equipped with a permanent monitoring system for the air face velocity which also acts as a real time containment indicator.
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Filtration fume hoods must be delivered with a booklet containing an exhaustive list of chemicals, certified by the manufacturer, that can be handled into the filtering fume hood in the conditions described in the AFNOR NF X 15-211: 2009 standard. erlab has created the "CHEMICAL LISTING," a guide of authorized chemical agents, which analyzes 700 chemicals and lists the following information for each one: |
- The chemical name, its formula, its CAS number, its boiling point, its molecular weight, its saturation vapour pressure
- The appropriate filter reference and its retention capacity during the normal operation phase
- The type of saturation detection system for the filter(s)
- The maximum quantity of the chemical that can be introduced within the enclosure
- The name of the test laboratory having performed the test
Would you like more information on the AFNOR NF X 15-211 standard? Click here
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