What You Need To Know About Downflow Workstations

Are you concerned about your safety while working with hazardous chemicals in your laboratory? Read this article till the end to find out what you should do to avoid any safety hazards at the earliest.

The first and foremost criterion for maintaining a completely safe and secure lab environment is to make sure that you are using the most suitable machine for the respective tasks. In other words, there is a vast array of machines and equipment available in the market for the various experiments that you need to perform.  However, as a skilled researcher, it is your responsibility to choose the best and most suitable one out of the lot. Since this article will mainly talk about Downflow Workstations, it is imperative for you to understand why and when you need Downflow Workstations and not the ordinary workstations.

Downflow Workstations are, although similar to the normal ones, have a few structural and functional modifications to suit the situation and user better. The name Downflow Workstations derive from the fact that such machines use a downward airflow system for filtrating the contaminated air and thereby recycling it.

Such workstations are much more durable than the basic version. The hood is usually made up of polypropylene and has a work surface made up of stainless steel. These are available in a variety of dimensions, such as the width can vary from 24 to 36 inches. Downflow Workstations also have the additional feature of modifying the filter according to your preference. You can either go for the primary activated charcoal filter of High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) based on the subject under study.

In the next segment of the article, let us learn and answer in detail different questions in this regard, such as why you should get Downflow Workstations or when to use them. Hopefully, by the end of this article, you will learn the basics behind selecting this particular type for your lab.

1. Why do you need Downflow Workstations?

It has already been mentioned above that apart from a few alterations, the basic structure of this kind of workstations remain the same. However, these specific modifications are enough for you to change your preference of buying workstations of this kind and not the ordinary versions. To start with, these are ductless fume hoods. This means not only can you move them from one place to another without any difficulty, but also the maintenance is way more comfortable than the normal ones.

Therefore, if you need the constant need to move to different places and can only spend very little time on the maintenance of instruments, this is the perfect type of workstation you should look for. Apart fromfu this, another major reason for selecting this kind is the nature of your study. If you are or might be working with harmful toxicants and chemicals in the future, you should follow a set of basic safety protocols in your lab. The prime concern should be to have the most appropriate type of machines based on your studies.

It is recommended to use Downflow Workstations because the filter system installed in such workstations can fight the harmful or contaminant air and prevent them from circulating inside the lab. Being ductless in nature, they are well designed to serve the purpose of filtration more effectively than the ducted ones as well.

2. Are Downflow Workstations better than the conventional fume hoods?

The answer to this question is both yes and no. It is solely dependent on the type of work you are associated with. Many times we see that a particular laboratory does not strictly limit the nature of their work to anything specific. Besides, there can be a need to modify the chemicals or reagents used accordingly. In such cases, it is recommended to use both types because of the specific features linked with the respective workstations.

For instance, if you are dealing with highly toxic substances, you should go for the conventional fume hood  as they root out every possibility of the hazardous residues lingering around inside the laboratory. On the other hand, if you want a workstation where two or three users can simultaneously work without much inconvenience, then Downflow Workstation is your option. They do not have restricted access to the front face of the workspace, and it is easy to work in groups using the same unit at a given time.

It should also be mentioned that the filters installed in Downflow Workstations can be accessed more easily and can, therefore, be cleaned from time to time, unlike the case of conventional workstations.

Feeling confident about buying Downflow Workstations now?

As mentioned in the beginning, this article will immediately make you feel confident about making your purchase without a doubt because now you know everything that one should know before going for workstations of this kind for their laboratories. Remember these pointers to be sure that you, along with your lab, are safe.