HEMCO Adds Material Options to UniFlow Fume Hoods
New modular configurations allow research labs to select hood interiors tailored for specific chemical and radiological hazards.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Chemistry
HEMCO has updated its UniFlow fume hood line, providing laboratories with specialized chamber materials including HDPE, polypropylene, PVC, and stainless steel. These units, which feature a composite-resin exterior, are currently available for applications ranging from radioisotope handling to acid digestion.
Why it matters
Selecting appropriate interior materials is critical for laboratory safety when working with volatile substances like perchloric acid or radioactive materials. HEMCO’s modular configuration allows research facilities to tailor their containment infrastructure to specific chemical workflows.
The product line utilizes 316 stainless steel for perchloric-acid chambers and 304 stainless steel for radioisotope applications. These configurations are paired with either air-bypass or restricted-bypass airflow systems to maintain containment integrity.
The players
HEMCO
A manufacturer of laboratory safety equipment, including containment systems for chemical and radiological research.
The details
UniFlow hoods operate by channeling laboratory air through a composite-resin shell to prevent the escape of hazardous vapors. The choice of interior material—whether chemically inert polypropylene or high-grade stainless steel—determines the hood's resistance to corrosion and chemical accumulation. For perchloric acid, the inclusion of a rear drain trough and specialized worksurface facilitates the washing of interior surfaces, a necessary step for preventing the buildup of reactive perchlorates.
The Tech Race
HEMCO’s specialized hood configurations follow the material standardization protocols established by the American Chemical Society laboratory safety guidelines for hazardous containment. This focus on material-specific architecture represents a departure from universal-design hoods that fail to account for the varying corrosive properties of modern chemical workflows.
Laboratory managers can now configure units based on specific analytical requirements, such as trace-metal analysis or acid digestion. Integration requires verifying the facility's existing airflow capacity to support either air-bypass or restricted-bypass modes.
The takeaway
The move toward material-specific containment underscores the industry's shift away from one-size-fits-all laboratory furniture. Facility operators should consult the latest HEMCO product technical data sheets to align chamber material properties with their specific chemical exposure risks.
Further reading
Explore more developments in laboratory safety infrastructure within our Chemistry section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Research & Development World.
