In the early days of aviation, many airline companies did not have stringent maintenance protocols. Technical problems were not uncommon, and when an issue was fixed, there wasn’t always a detailed record of the repair. Sometimes problems would be detected, "fixed" temporarily, and then forgotten, only to resurface later.

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In an effort to improve safety, the industry introduced a robust maintenance log system. Every minor tweak, repair, or replacement was diligently recorded. The logs provided clarity, accountability, and allowed for better planning of periodic maintenance. Not only did the log help in tracking repairs and replacements, but they also ensured that no issue, no matter how minor, was not overlooked.

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Maintenance logs  led to a revolution in airline safety; emphasizing the importance of diligence, accountability, and always learning from the past. The idea was simple, yet revolutionary. Every inspection, every part replacement, every anomaly, no matter how minor, was to be logged with dates, details, and the technician's name. It ensured accountability and created a record that could be reviewed and cross-referenced. Over time, these logs became vital not just for routine checks, but for understanding the lifecycle of parts, predicting wear and tear, and advancing aviation technology itself.

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Over the life of an aircraft, thousands of different pilots will fly it.  As a pilot you need to trust that the aircraft will perform safely.  The log helps build that trust.

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The Maintenance Log was a silent testament to the integrity of aviation – it was not just about recording data, but about upholding the sacred trust between human and machine.

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Just like an aircraft, the fume hood is part of a complex system.  The reason for our Fume Hood Performance Tracker is to build trust between the user and a safety device as a means to protect them from potentially harmful exposure.

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“The aviation industry realized that memories could fail, but written records don't.”

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“The log is a plane's diary, a record of its health and history. “So, it’s like a doctor’s chart for planes?”

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“Imagine if doctors didn't have patient histories. They would be in the dark about previous conditions, treatments given, and medicines prescribed. Similarly, without maintenance logs, pilots and engineers would be flying blind.”   “And here's another secret. Those logs protect us all. By ensuring airplanes are in top-notch condition, they keep the skies safer. If there’s even a slight doubt about a plane’s condition, it won’t fly until the issue is resolved.”

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So how do we know if a laboratory fume hood is working safely? Well, the truth is we don’t know unless it has been tested.  And if we don’t have a record of the tests and inspections and system adjustments, how can we trust that our hood is performing safely?

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And a few years from now the people using the hood and maybe even the lab management has changed.  Without a compressive written record, all the history is lost. 

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For the user, it is virtually impossible to know if your fume hood is performing safely.  But our digital repository captures all the details, year after year, and gives the users confidence their hood is safe.

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Why should Fume Hoods have a robust collection of performance data?

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Safety: Above all, safety is the primary concern. A digital log ensures that all necessary checks, testing, repairs, and replacements have been performed and that we have a safe performance level.

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Regulatory Compliance: A well-maintained log is essential for demonstrating compliance with these regulation during audits or inspections.

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Liability Protection: In the unfortunate event of an accident or incident, the performance log can protect fume hood owners from certain liabilities. It serves as evidence that the fume hood was properly maintained, and any technical issues were addressed and corrected.

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Institutional Knowledge: Maintenance technicians and engineers may change over time. A maintenance log ensures that institutional knowledge about the specific needs and history is preserved and can be passed on to new personnel.

Enhanced Trust: For hood owners, having a reputation for properly maintaining the hood’s safe performance is beneficial. Users are more likely to trust organizations that are known for their meticulous attention to safety and performance.

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Tracking Wear and Tear: Over time, every laboratory ventilation system will undergo wear and tear. By maintaining a detailed log, we can track performance over time and often predict problems before they arise.

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Enhanced Decision Making: A well-detailed log provides actionable data. Owners can use this data to make decisions about the fume hood’s safe performance and decide whether it's time to retire an older hood or, purchase new ones.  But at least 50% of performance issues are not the hood itself, but it’s interaction with the room conditions. The first step towards a fume hood’s safe performance is knowledge.  Knowing how the hood has performed over time can provide actionable data to keep the hood performing safely.