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There are many laboratories that may store and use potentially hazardous chemicals. When these chemicals are heated or put through a distillation process, the harmful particles, odors and vapors can become airborne, ruining the air quality inside the lab. Lab workers who spend full days inside the lab may experience discomfort and health issues due to the presence of these chemicals in the air they are breathing. Luckily, a polypropylene fume hood fan can be installed in the lab in order to eliminate these airborne toxins. A polypropylene fume hood fan is a necessary addition to a lab or other small room where chemicals and toxins are worked with and people are present.

Each fan may have a different design depending on its expulsion or filtration system and the size and power of the unit. A lab that deals with extremely hazardous chemicals may want to turn to a hood that completely expels air from the room using a duct system that is attached to the exterior of the building. The fan can control the air flow and can intake the air that is contaminated and simply expel it outside of the building. This design, however, uses a significant amount of power, can be hard to install and can never be used portably.

Another design is a ductless system that can filter the air that is taken in and then re-circulate it into the room. These hoods can come in an array of different sizes and powers. The smaller hoods with filtration systems may also be portable. This is convenient for lab workers or lab students who may move to different stations frequently. The filtration system itself can be powerful depending upon the types of filters that it is equipped with. The addition of carbon filters or other media filters can make the unit more efficient and can guarantee fresher and cleaner air. A ductless fume hood is also easier to install because it does not need to have a duct connected to the exterior of the building.

Penn State's recent construction of a new chemistry building also included the purchase of many hoods. Over 200 fume hoods were purchased for the new Penn State laboratories that were built in 2004. Penn State students can breathe easier in these labs with the addition of fume hoods and many other laboratory accessories.

In order to control the length of life of a fume hood, a consumer should only choose a design that is made with polypropylene. A polypropylene fume hood fan can last much longer than other materials in a lab because it can handle being exposed to strong airborne chemicals without showing signs of age or rust. Labs that experiment with chemicals, even those that may be considered harmless, should still be equipped with fume hoods. The units can ensure that the lab's air is safe and comfortable for workers and students to breathe in on a daily basis.