School Fume Cupboards Press Release

Ductless Fume Cupboards provide flexibility for School Laboratories in Southampton

Air Science Technologies Limited has recently installed twelve high performance filtration fume cupboards at King Edward VI School in Southampton as part of a new development that has created five fully equipped science laboratories and a chemistry preparation room.

As part of the extensive new-build project for the School's science department, Air Science installed ten PurAir-15 bench-top fume cupboards that will be used by both pupils and technicians for general laboratory work. In addition, the school ordered two PurAir EDU mobile containment units which can be transported between different laboratories and which, with clear back and side panels for 360 degree visibility, are ideally suited for demonstration work.

An important part of the specification was that the cabinets should all feature self-contained air filtration units that would not require air extraction systems or ducting to ensure a safe working environment. This would enable them to be installed quickly and easily, and would ensure that the space directly above the laboratories could be used as classrooms rather than for housing plant. Finally, wishing to be as sympathetic as possible to the needs of neighbouring residents, the School also wished to avoid the use of unsightly fume stacks which would otherwise have to penetrate the pitched roof. The use of filtration fume cupboards would render such vents unnecessary, thereby maintaining the aesthetics of the building.

Specifically developed for non-ducted applications, the PurAir products were well suited to the School’s requirements. Installed, commissioned and tested in well under a month, the bench-top and mobile units imposed no structural constraints and now facilitate easy repositioning of the units within the laboratories, as and when required. Moreover, because they do not need to move large amounts of air through the building, they tend to be significantly more energy efficient than conventional alternatives, yielding a corresponding saving on operating costs.

The new fume cupboards incorporate a continuous air velocity monitoring system and offer a choice of 14 different types of carbon for the main filter. They feature a chemical resistant epoxy coated steel superstructure, internal lighting, audible and visual filter alarms and an integral test port that enables manual filter monitoring. As an additional safeguard, they are fitted with a pre-filter which protects the mechanisms in the head section, ensuring that all switches and electrical components are isolated from any contamination. All the new systems comply with the requirements of British Standard BS7989:2001.

"The construction of the new science labs represents an important development for the King Edward VI School," said the School's Assistant Bursar for Facilities. “We have created five modern laboratories that are extremely well equipped and set to meet our students’ needs for many years to come.

"The use of Air Science's filtration fume cupboards has played an important part in meeting our various objectives. We have maximised the useful space in the building, maintained the external aesthetics and, of course, ensured the highest possible standards of safety for both pupils and staff."

"We selected Air Science on the basis of a competitive tender in line with our policy of securing best value. Price was obviously a very important factor, as was the issue of product reliability, so one very attractive feature of the company’s proposal was that it included a two year maintenance contract at no additional cost."

Further details about Air Science Technologies’ complete range of products can be obtained by visiting the company’s website – www.airscienceuk.com – or by calling John Haugh on 01704 833338.

Editorial enquiries: Robin Gregson Tel. 01772 866134. Ref.: AST0502

23rd June 2005