How to Vent for Acid Cabinets

Acid storage cabinets must be vented.

Lab storage cabinets are especially designed for storing dangerous laboratory materials such as corrosives (acid), flammable liquids or otherwise dangerous liquids. The cabinet should be vented because acid vapor can collect when the cabinet is closed. Corrosive cabinets come from the manufacturer with what is called "bung" holes. which can be used to ventilate the cabinet. Cabinets must be vented directly to the outside. It takes some knowledge as well as a little elbow grease in order to vent an acid storing cabinet.

Things You'll Need

• Various lengths of rigid, metal pipe
• Elbows for metal pipe
• Pipe wrench
• Tap measure
• Exhaust fan

Instructions

1. Carefully measure how much pipe you are going to need. You will also need to decide where you are going to need to install elbows in order to bend the piping. Have your hardware store cut and thread the piping to size for you.

2. Remove the upper bung hole and install the metal piping into the cabinet. Run the metal piping to the outside of the building. This is going to be the air intake that will bring in fresh air.

3. Remove the lower bung hole and run the metal piping into the hole. You will have to connect the piping to the exhaust fan, and then connect a small piece of pipe that will run to the outside of the building. Ensure that the exhaust fan will draw air out of the cabinet when you turn it on. Once this fan is turned on, it will pull air from the outside, through the upper bung hole, and then through the cabinet, and finally through the lower bung hole and back to the outside.

Tips & Warnings

• It is advantageous to put the cabinet by an outside wall only a small amount of pipe is required.

• Make sure that you turn on the exhaust fan and allow it to run for a couple of minutes before you open the cabinet.

References

• Lab Safety: Venting of Storage Cabinets