RP-1573 -- Determination of Suitable Replacement of SF6 When Used as a Tracer Gas In Accordance With ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 110

People working in laboratories rely on properperformance of fume hoods to protect them from over exposure to hazardousairborne chemicals. The ASHRAE 110 “Method of Testing Performance of LaboratoryFume Hoods” was first published in 1985 and updated most recently in 2016. Thestandard was intended to provide a reproducible method of testing performanceof fume hoods that consists of multiple tasks that include inspection of thehood and lab environment, airflow measurements, airflow visualization tests andtracer gas containment tests. The airflow visualization tests provide a meansto observe and qualitatively evaluate hood containment whereas tracer gas testsenable measurement and quantification of hood containment. Tracer gas tests arenecessary to validate fume hood performance and identify potential factorsaffecting containment and the ability to protect the hood user. The objectivesof this investigation were to identify alternative tracers, test methods anddetectors that could reviewed by the Project Committee and update the recentlypublished, 2016 ASHRAE 110 "Method of Testing Performance of LaboratoryFume Hoods".