Do university and school science labs require the same fume hood testing as pharmaceutical labs?

The performance standard — ASHRAE 110 and ANSI/AIHA Z9.5 — is the same regardless of whether the lab is a university teaching lab or a pharmaceutical production facility. The documentation rigor is typically lower for an educational lab than for an FDA-regulated facility, but the face velocity requirement and smoke test are identical. We serve both markets and can scope the certification to the appropriate documentation standard.

Laboratory HVAC TAB & Fume Hood Testing

Q: How often do laboratory fume hoods need to be certified?

ANSI/AIHA Z9.5 recommends annual certification of laboratory fume hoods. Many institutional and pharmaceutical laboratory programs certify on an annual schedule, with additional spot-testing when hoods are relocated, altered, or when an incident occurs that raises questions about performance. We serve laboratory clients on annual certification cycles throughout the Hudson Valley and NYC.

Q: What is involved in pharmaceutical laboratory TAB?

Pharmaceutical laboratory TAB goes beyond standard air balancing. It requires GMP-compliant documentation traceable to calibrated instruments, room pressurization verification (most pharma labs run negative pressure relative to corridors to contain airborne contaminants), HEPA supply or exhaust filtration verification, and air change rate confirmation against the validated room design. We produce reports in a format that satisfies GMP quality systems and FDA facility inspection requirements.

Q: Can you certify biosafety cabinets and CACI hoods?

Yes. We hold ACAC (American Council for Accredited Certification) certification for cleanroom and controlled environment testing, which includes biosafety cabinet and CACI (Compounding Aseptic Containment Isolator) hood certification. These enclosures require performance testing beyond a simple face velocity reading — smoke visualization, airflow uniformity, and containment verification are part of the scope.

Laboratory HVAC is a safety system first, a comfort system second. A fume hood delivering 10% below its rated face velocity is not slightly suboptimal — it is a potential chemical exposure event. A pharmaceutical production room with a compromised pressure relationship is not out-of-spec — it is a GMP violation. dL Flow Tech has held NEBB certification and ACAC certification for controlled-environment testing since the firm's earliest years, and we have applied both to pharmaceutical R&D, university research, industrial, and school laboratory environments across the Hudson Valley and New York metro for over 40 years.

Lab project or annual fume hood certification? Call (845) 265-2828 or send your scope — we know the lab spec and can quote the full certification program.

Laboratory facilities we have served

Avon Products Research & Development Laboratory — multiple-building R&D campus in Suffern, NY; full TAB and fume hood certification program spanning many years of annual surveys
Pepsi R&D Facility, Valhalla (Valhalla, NY) — food science and beverage development lab; fume hood testing and laboratory exhaust verification
Columbia University Geochemistry Building (Manhattan, NY) — university research laboratory; cleanroom and fume hood scope
Bartlett Hall Science Center — academic laboratory TAB including fume hood certification and exhaust balance
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (Tarrytown, NY) — ongoing pharmaceutical campus work including laboratory environments; NEBB-certified TAB
School and institutional science labs — K-12 and university science facilities requiring annual fume hood certification throughout our coverage area

Laboratory HVAC requirements

Fume hood face velocity testing — ASHRAE 110 and ANSI/AIHA Z9.5

A chemical fume hood's protective function depends on maintaining a specific face velocity — the airflow at the sash opening that carries contaminants into the exhaust. ASHRAE Standard 110 (Method of Testing Performance of Laboratory Fume Hoods) defines the test methodology: we measure face velocity at a grid of points across the sash opening with a calibrated hot-wire or thermal anemometer, calculate the average and standard deviation, and perform an optional tracer gas containment test for critical applications. ANSI/AIHA Z9.5 governs the laboratory ventilation system that supports the hood, including exhaust duct design, makeup air supply, and air change rates.

A face velocity that passes at the sash level can still fail containment if the supply air pattern creates turbulence at the hood face. Our testing checks both — and flags the supply diffuser placement as the cause if that's what the data shows.

Laboratory exhaust balancing

Laboratory exhaust systems are more complex than standard HVAC exhaust because they involve variable air volume (VAV) controls tied to sash position sensors on each hood, shared exhaust manifolds, and exhaust fans designed for high-velocity discharge to prevent re-entrainment. Balancing a lab exhaust system means verifying that each hood's VAV controls respond correctly across the sash operating range, confirming that the exhaust fan maintains its setpoint as hoods open and close across the system, and documenting that no recirculation pathway exists that could re-introduce exhaust contaminants into the building supply. This is not standard duct leakage testing or air balancing — it requires lab-specific field experience.

Room pressurization and air changes

Laboratories handling hazardous materials run at negative pressure relative to corridors and offices — the room exhaust must exceed the supply so that any airborne release stays in the lab space. We verify differential pressure at each lab room, confirm the relationship holds under normal operating conditions (hoods open, doors closed and open), and document air change rates against the ANSI/AIHA Z9.5 design requirements. For pharmaceutical labs, this documentation feeds directly into the GMP validation package.

Cleanroom classification and balancing

Cleanrooms are classified by ISO 14644 particle count — from ISO 5 (former Class 100) through ISO 8. Each classification requires specific air change rates, HEPA or ULPA filtration, pressure cascade management, and temperature/humidity control. We hold ACAC certification for cleanroom testing and verification, and our reports follow the ISO 14644-3 test method format that the commissioning authority and the quality team require. See our dedicated cleanroom certification page.

Annual lab certification programs

Laboratory safety programs run on annual cycles. ANSI/AIHA Z9.5 recommends annual fume hood certification; most institutional programs follow it. We structure annual certification programs for laboratory clients that batch all hoods in a facility into a single scheduled visit — reducing disruption, creating a consistent record format year over year, and giving the safety officer a single annual certification letter covering the entire hood inventory. For pharmaceutical clients, we can format the annual report to feed into the quality management system with the traceability documentation GMP requires.

Last updated June 2026

Frequently asked questions

What standard governs fume hood face velocity testing?

ASHRAE 110 defines the test method. ANSI/AIHA Z9.5 governs the broader lab ventilation system including minimum face velocities, exhaust design, and air change rates. Our reports follow both standards and are formatted for the safety officer, industrial hygienist, and commissioning authority.

How often do laboratory fume hoods need to be certified?

ANSI/AIHA Z9.5 recommends annual certification. We serve laboratory clients on annual schedules throughout the Hudson Valley and NYC, batching all hoods into a single visit per facility.

What is involved in pharmaceutical laboratory TAB?

GMP-compliant documentation with instrument traceability, room pressurization verification, HEPA filtration verification, and air change rate confirmation. Our reports are formatted for GMP quality systems and FDA facility inspection review.

Can you certify biosafety cabinets and CACI hoods?

Yes. Our ACAC certification covers biosafety cabinets and CACI hoods, including smoke visualization, airflow uniformity, and containment verification beyond a simple face velocity reading.

Do university labs require the same testing as pharmaceutical labs?

The performance standard (ASHRAE 110, ANSI/AIHA Z9.5) is the same. Documentation rigor is typically lighter for an educational lab than an FDA-regulated facility. We scope the certification to the appropriate documentation standard for each client.