A laboratory fume hood preventive maintenance schedule lists the checks and jobs done on the equipment at fixed intervals, how long each takes, and in what order of frequency, so problems are found before the laboratory fume hood fails. This page gives the schedule used in the PlantOps360 task library for laboratory fume hood (and biosafety cabinet (per cabinet), which follows common industry practice for general-purpose equipment. It is also searched for as fume hood, fume cupboard, biosafety cabinet, BSC.
The maker’s manual and your site safety procedures always come first where they differ. Intervals set by law differ by state.
Laboratory fume hood preventive maintenance schedule and checklist
| How often | Task | Estimated time |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly | Check the airflow indicator and alarm; check the sash and lighting | 10 min |
| Monthly | Clean and disinfect the work surface as per SOP; check the pre-filters | 20 min |
| Quarterly | Check face velocity and alarm; check sash movement and baffles | 45 min |
| Half-yearly | Check the exhaust fan and ductwork; check and replace the UV lamp (BSC) | 90 min |
| Annual | Annual certification: face velocity, HEPA integrity and airflow pattern | 180 min |
Laboratory fume hood maintenance frequency and yearly workload
At the estimated times, one laboratory fume hood needs about 22 hours of preventive maintenance a year. The biggest single job is “Annual certification: face velocity, HEPA integrity and airflow pattern” at 180 minutes, done annual. Multiply by the number of units you have to see the workload for your plant.
| Frequency | Tasks | Time per round | Hours per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly | 1 | 10 min | 8.7 h |
| Monthly | 1 | 20 min | 4.0 h |
| Quarterly | 1 | 45 min | 3.0 h |
| Half-yearly | 1 | 90 min | 3.0 h |
| Annual | 1 | 180 min | 3.0 h |
What goes wrong on a laboratory fume hood without preventive maintenance
- Airflow below the safe face velocity
- Filter loading on biosafety cabinets
- Sash and alarm faults
- Blocked ducts
What to watch between services
- Face velocity and airflow alarm
- Sash movement
- Work surface condition
Safety and statutory notes for laboratory fume hood maintenance
Hoods and biosafety cabinets are certified at set intervals by a competent person. Do not use a cabinet that is out of certification.
Where a laboratory fume hood preventive maintenance schedule is used
This equipment is used in the industries below. Each link opens the preventive maintenance schedule guide for that industry, and the maintenance software page where we have one.
- Preventive maintenance schedule for electronics manufacturing plants · maintenance software for electronics
- Preventive maintenance schedule for pharmaceutical plants · maintenance software for pharmaceutical · maintenance software for api bulk drugs
- Preventive maintenance schedule for chemical, fertiliser and petrochemical plants · maintenance software for chemical
- Preventive maintenance schedule for food, dairy and beverage plants · maintenance software for food processing · maintenance software for dairy
- Preventive maintenance schedule for agro, grain, edible oil and sugar plants · maintenance software for sugar and distilleries
- Preventive maintenance schedule for fmcg and consumer goods plants · maintenance software for fmcg
- Preventive maintenance schedule for oil, gas and refinery facilities · maintenance software for oil and gas
- Preventive maintenance schedule for water and wastewater utilities
- Preventive maintenance schedule for hospitals and healthcare facilities
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Browse the full list of equipment preventive maintenance schedules (317 types).
Run this laboratory fume hood schedule in maintenance software
In preventive maintenance software, each row above becomes a recurring task on the asset with its checklist, time estimate and parts. Tasks can be triggered by calendar date, running hours, meter readings or production cycles, each completed task is recorded with the person and date, and a failed check can open a work order. For the method behind it, read the guide to the preventive maintenance schedule, or use the free generator to get a 12-month plan for your whole equipment list.
Build my preventive maintenance schedule (free Excel)
Frequently asked questions
How often should a laboratory fume hood be serviced?
In our schedule a laboratory fume hood has 5 tasks: 1 weekly, 1 monthly, 1 quarterly, 1 half-yearly, 1 annual. The biggest job is “Annual certification: face velocity, HEPA integrity and airflow pattern”, which is done annual. Always follow the maker’s manual where it gives a different interval.
What is included in laboratory fume hood preventive maintenance?
It covers routine checks and jobs such as “Check the airflow indicator and alarm; check the sash and lighting”, “Clean and disinfect the work surface as per SOP; check the pre-filters”, “Check face velocity and alarm; check sash movement and baffles”, up to the annual overhaul or inspection. The full list with times is in the table above.
How many hours of maintenance does a laboratory fume hood need per year?
About 22 hours per unit per year at the estimated times in our library, including all scheduled rounds. Use it to plan workload, not as a benchmark.
Is there a free laboratory fume hood maintenance checklist?
Yes. The table on this page is a ready checklist. The free preventive maintenance schedule generator turns it into a 12-month Excel schedule for your list of equipment, with monthly workload hours.