Clean Air - Eliminating SF6

Best sustainability initiative
– the GreenLab Award

Eliminating SF6 from the Laboratory Fume Cupboard Supply Chain

Clean Air: Leading the Fume Cupboard Industry Toward a Sustainable Future

At Clean Air, we believe that every company can drive big change. We have spent decades designing and manufacturing advanced fume cupboards that protect scientists, engineers, and researchers worldwide. Now, we’ve taken a groundbreaking step forward - one that could save UK laboratories 200 tonnes of CO₂e every year and transform the way fume cupboards are tested globally.

The Problem: SF6 - The Most Potent Greenhouse Gas in Use

For decades, fume cupboard type-testing has relied on sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), a gas used to simulate real-world lab conditions. But SF6 has a global warming potential 24,300 times greater than CO₂. Once released, it stays in the atmosphere for over 3,000 years, making every test a lasting contribution to climate change.

Every standard fume cupboard type-test emits around 3 tonnes of CO₂e - the equivalent of driving a petrol car for 15,000 miles. The fume cupboard industry’s reliance on SF6 is a major sustainability issue, yet until now, no alternative has been widely adopted.

We knew we couldn’t call ourselves a sustainable company while still using SF6. With little sector progress toward change, we took it upon ourselves to disrupt the industry and eliminate SF6 from type-testing entirely.

Our Solution: CFD Type-Testing – A Safer, Greener, and More Accurate Alternative

Our pioneering Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method is the first of its kind in the fume cupboard industry. Instead of releasing harmful gases into the atmosphere, CFD simulations provide an ultra-precise virtual analysis of airflow, containment, and potential gas leaks - without SF6.

But this isn’t only about sustainability. CFD delivers major benefits to the people who rely on fume cupboards every day…

The Benefits of CFD for Lab Users

Unmatched Safety & Accuracy

• Traditional SF6 testing relies on measuring gas concentrations at a limited number of points within the fume cupboard.
• CFD goes far beyond this, mapping airflow and containment at over a trillion points, giving a far clearer picture of performance.
• This means better protection for lab personnel by identifying potential risks before a fume cupboard is ever used.

Cleaner, Greener Laboratories

• By eliminating SF6, we are not only reducing emissions but also helping laboratories meet their own sustainability goals.
• Laboratories and research facilities can now conduct safety testing without contributing to climate change.

Faster and More Cost-Effective Development

• With traditional testing, each new fume cupboard design requires physical prototypes, SF6 testing, and multiple redesigns - a slow, expensive and materials-heavy process.
• CFD simulations allow for rapid digital testing and design refinements, cutting costs and embedded carbon and speeding up development without compromising safety.

Not Bad for an SME in Bolton…

We have big ambitions - not only for ourselves but for the entire laboratory community. That’s why we are leading the way, investing to prove that innovative, net-zero solutions are possible in fume cupboard testing. By taking bold action, we hope to inspire others in the industry. Eliminating SF6 is not just an option; it’s an essential step toward a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable future.

At Clean Air, we’re proud to be at the forefront of this change. One determined company in Bolton, making a difference for laboratories - and the whole world. Thank you for considering our entry for Best Sustainable Initiative – the GreenLab Award.