Overview
- Long-term red-tagged chemical fume hoods
- Senior Specialists will evaluate
- Low risk work may be allowed
- Exemption signs will be posted when appropriate
- Red-Tagged BSCs Biosafety Concern
- Biosafety Officer will evaluate
- Non-pathogen work may be allowed
- Exemption signs will be posted when appropriate
In some instances, chemical fume hoods and biosafety cabinets are not able to be re-certified. Some large equipment that needs exhaust such as an oven, might have to remain in the chemical fume hood. For Biosafety Cabinets, it could be that the HEPA filter needs to be replaced and there are not funds available.
In these instances, the Senior Specialist will work with the PI to evaluate the hazards which may be present within the chemical fume hood and determine the level of risk involved. If risks are low, operation of the chemical fume hood in a red-tagged state is allowed to continue. In those instances, the Senior Specialist or Biosafety Officer will add an “Exemption Sign” to the red-tagged chemical fume hood or Biosafety Cabinet. The label will state why the chemical fume hood remains uncertified and describe what operations in the chemical fume hood are allowed.
Information about the exemption sign will be in the Conditions tab of the Chem permit for the PI. The conditions for the permit print on the Permit Data Summary report and if you encounter a room where a fume hood should have an Exemption Sign and it does not, cite this.