Lab safety
The client: Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) a leading UK institution in science education, recently upgraded the Dalton Building’s Synthetic Chemistry Teaching Laboratory. The project aimed to create a safer and more adaptable environment for undergraduate organic chemistry experiments while supporting the department’s long-term expansion plans.
The challenge: The Dalton Building required laboratory workstations capable of safely containing chemical experiments without the limitations of traditional ducted systems. The team needed to accommodate experiments including coupling syntheses, thin-layer chromatography, column chromatography, and organic distillations.
Mukarram Ali, Technical Officer for the Molecular Sciences Department, explained: “Our primary concern was ensuring safe and contained synthetic chemistry undergraduate experiments. Space flexibility was also important to adapt to evolving teaching programmes.”
Traditional ducted fume cupboards provided containment but restricted laboratory layouts and required extensive building modifications. MMU sought a solution that would deliver effective safety while maintaining operational flexibility and allow future lab configurations without significant additional cost.
The solution: Monmouth Scientific supplied 21 Recirculating Fume Cupboards for the Dalton Building:
The ductless fume cupboards employ recirculating technology, filtering hazardous vapours internally and eliminating the need for fixed ducting. This allowed the laboratory to optimise workstation placement and maintain a layout that can be reconfigured easily as teaching requirements evolve.
Mukarram added: “The non-ducted Recirculating Fume Cupboards provide maximum flexibility. We can adjust layouts or move spaces without being constrained by fixed ducting, which enhances student safety and supports our future plans for expansion.”
The CT800 and CT1400 models were selected to meet different laboratory bench sizes, providing appropriate airflow and containment for each experiment type. Both models are equipped with multi-stage filtration, ensuring that airborne chemical hazards are safely captured and neutralised within the unit.
The result: The installation of Recirculating Fume Cupboards has significantly improved containment and laboratory safety. Students now have more space to conduct experiments comfortably, while workflow efficiency remains unaffected.
The ductless design also minimised infrastructure modifications, reducing downtime and ongoing maintenance requirements. Laboratory staff can now configure workstations for a variety of experiments, supporting flexible teaching programmes and long-term planning.
Mukarram explained: “The Recirculating Fume Cupboards have had a major positive impact on our containment and safety. Students can work confidently, and the flexible layout has future-proofed our laboratory spaces.”
The feedback: The Dalton Building team is highly satisfied with the performance and support provided by Monmouth Scientific.
“We are very pleased with the fume cupboards. They have improved our containment and safety without affecting workflow efficiency. Our experience with Monmouth Scientific was very positive, from specification through to delivery and support,” Mukarram commented.
The Dalton Building project shows how ductless Recirculating Fume Cupboards can provide a safe, flexible and future-ready solution, integrating into a modern laboratory design that supports student safety, operational efficiency and long-term adaptability.
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