Smart fume cupboard control: Saving energy, improving safety

Ensuring safety while remaining economically viable – in laboratories, every decision has a double impact. Fume cupboards are a prime example: they reliably protect staff, yet they are also a significant contributor to a laboratory’s energy consumption. Modern exhaust air control systems can help resolve this challenge. Intelligent control technology adjusts airflow volumes to match actual demand – without compromising safety requirements.

Fume cupboards continuously extract conditioned air from the laboratory, making air treatment energy-intensive and costly. However, any reduction in exhaust air volumes must never affect occupational safety or process quality. This is where advanced fume cupboard technology and control solutions come into play, combining energy efficiency, transparency and safe operation.

Unlike constant air volume systems (CAV), variable air volume systems (VAV) adapt airflow to current operating conditions. With modular technology components – such as those provided by Siemens – Köttermann fume cupboards can be operated in an energy-optimised, safe and connected way, fully integrated and controlled via the TouchTronic control unit. Sensors, actuators and intelligent control technology support demand-based operation by dynamically adjusting exhaust air volume flow according to sash position and operating mode.

Another key focus is monitoring and data transparency. Although modern lab equipment such as refrigerators or centrifuges is far more efficient than older models, energy consumption often remains largely invisible. Smart circuit breakers with integrated measurement functions enable monitoring of individual device consumption in the laboratory and help to identify optimisation potential – forming a robust basis for sustainable, data-driven laboratory operation.

At analytica 2026 in Munich, Köttermann and Siemens will jointly demonstrate (Hall B2 Stand 312) how fume cupboards can be controlled safely and energy-efficiently using integrated components, and how they can be connected to higher-level systems. The focus is on practical solutions that combine efficiency gains, operational safety and digitalisation.

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