Clean Air Ltd

02/04/2026

Rethinking Recircs: Engineering Safer, Smarter Fume Cabinets

At Clean Air, continuous improvement is a discipline. Even where systems perform well, we refine performance and align with evolving standards.

Our latest work, led by Dr Andrew Manning CEng MIMechE, focuses on the redesign of the recirculating fume cabinet. Moving beyond the legacy term “fume cupboard,” these systems are now more accurately defined as fume cabinets, in line with BS EN 17242, the new standard bringing clarity to ductless filtration systems.

Using advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), our engineers tested over 25 design iterations to optimise airflow behaviour. The result is a 26.7% improvement in airflow uniformity through the filter, achieved without compromising containment.

This is critical. Uneven airflow can lead to localised filter saturation, reducing effectiveness and increasing risk. Improved distribution ensures the full filter surface performs as intended, maintaining consistent user protection.

This work was delivered without physical prototyping or SF₆ tracer gas, demonstrating a cleaner, more efficient approach to engineering development.

Recirculating fume cabinets provide essential flexibility where ducted systems are not viable, but they require careful specification, robust design, and rigorous risk assessment.

This redesign reflects Clean Air’s commitment to technical excellence, regulatory alignment, and safer outcomes for modern labs.

Read the full article by Dr Andrew Manning to learn more: https://tinyurl.com/RecircFC

01/04/2026

BREAKING: Introducing the world’s first AI-powered “self-aware” fume cupboard...

At Clean Air, we’ve always been at the forefront of innovation… but this might be our most revolutionary development yet.

Meet the SmartSentry 360™:

🔷 Detects fumes before they even exist
🔷 Politely reminds you to wear your PPE – and keeps reminding you
🔷 Auto-adjusts airflow based on your mood
🔷 Sends passive-aggressive emails if you leave the sash open

But that’s not all…

Using cutting-edge “predictive laboratory intuition,” SmartSentry 360™ can now:

🔷 Anticipate spills before they happen
🔷 Suggest better experimental techniques
🔷 Silently judge your experimental setup
🔷 And yes, it has opinions about your choice of tea

Early testers have described it as: “Helpful, efficient… slightly intimidating.”

Available from April 1st only 😉

23/03/2026

The Stopford Teaching Laboratories Project at The University of Manchester has been named Project of the Year – Large at the 2026 Estates & Facilities Outstanding Contribution Awards.

Clean Air contributed by designing, manufacturing, installing and commissioning the fume cupboard systems, including:
• 3 × 1500mm Radius Profile VAV fume cupboards
• 2 × 1500mm Accessible VAV fume cupboards
• 6 × 1500mm Radius Profile recirculating fume cabinets
• 1 × Polypropylene fume extract system

Sustainability was a key part of the design. VAV systems were installed on all ducted fume cupboards to help reduce energy consumption and cut carbon emissions - all while maintaining excellent containment.

Accessibility was also built into the labs, with two rise and fall fume cupboards helping to ensure equitable access for everyone working in the space.

Delivering a refurbishment of this scale inside an operational building required real collaboration. Credit to The University of Manchester and the wider team of designers, contractors, specialists and trades who came together to create an outstanding, award-winning environment for students and staff.

16/03/2026

Today is Disabled Access Day - a day to celebrate venues and businesses that are getting accessibility right, while also reminding us that there's still more to do.

Across the UK, organisations are opening their doors to showcase accessible spaces and encourage disabled people and their families to try somewhere new or experience a familiar place in a different way. It's a powerful reminder that access should never be an afterthought, and disabled access day is every day.

At Clean Air Limited, our focus is on the laboratory environment. While we can’t influence how people access a building, we can support how they work once they’re inside it.

Our accessible fume cupboards are designed with a rise-and-fall working level, helping to create a laboratory workspace that can be used comfortably by every scientist and technician. Thoughtful design helps ensure more people can work safely and effectively in the lab.

More here: https://tinyurl.com/AccessibleFC

11/03/2026

A major change to the standard for recirculating fume cupboards has just landed. Many laboratories may not yet be aware that BS 7989 is obsolete.

In November 2025, BS EN 17242 was published, bringing important new guidance for recirculating filtration fume cupboards and how they should be specified, tested and monitored.

Key updates include:
• Clearer terminology distinguishing ducted fume cupboards from recirculating filtration units
• Improved chemical compatibility guidance for filtration systems
• A new classification system (X / Y / Z) to support correct specification
• Greater emphasis on continuous monitoring and filter integrity testing
• Updated containment testing methods using IPA

For laboratories using recirculating filtration technology, this represents an important step forward in safety guidance.

These cabinets are critical pieces of safety equipment. Selecting the correct technology, and ensuring it aligns with the latest standards, is essential for protecting the people who rely on them every day.

As this new framework becomes established, laboratories may start to notice that different manufacturers reference different standards or testing approaches when discussing recirculating systems. Understanding which framework is being used is increasingly important when evaluating solutions.

At Clean Air Limited Fume Cupboards, we work closely with standards bodies and industry groups to help shape these frameworks and ensure our products reflect the latest safety expectations.

We've summarised the key changes and what they mean for laboratory users in our latest blog. Read more here: https://tinyurl.com/BSEN17242 and if you have questions, speak to our friendly team.

BS 7989 is now obsolete. In November 2025, the British and European Standards Committees for laboratory furniture and equipment published an important new standard: BS EN 17242. This change signals a significant shift in guidance for laboratories using recirculating filtration fume cupboards. For an...

18/02/2026

Clean Air has achieved Cyber Essentials* certification following independent assessment. So what? Well, for our clients and suppliers, it provides additional assurance that we take the protection of shared information seriously. It confirms that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect sensitive data across our projects, communications and supply chain relationships.

For us, it strengthens our overall risk management, supports compliance with data protection legislation including GDPR, and reinforces a culture where security is part of everyday operations rather than an afterthought.

It also demonstrates that Clean Air keeps evolving and improving to meet the challenges of the changing business landscape.

And yes, the certificate is behind the red safety line...IYKYK



*Cyber Essentials is a UK government-backed scheme that verifies organisations have essential technical controls in place to protect against cyber threats such as phishing, malware and ransomware.

17/07/2025

Are you up to date on the latest BS EN 14175 update that makes fume cupboard performance easier to compare?

The revision introduces a new set of performance settings, A, B, and C, making it simpler to compare fume cupboard models and see which lab environments they’re best suited to.

These settings are based on three core containment tests already in the standard:
✔️ Inner plane containment
✔️ Outer plane containment
✔️ Robustness of containment

This is a big step forward for clarity and consistency, helping lab managers, specifiers and safety professionals make informed decisions, quickly and confidently.

More detail here: https://bit.ly/BSEN14175update

If you’ve ever tried to compare fume cupboards across different suppliers, you’ll know it’s not always straightforward. How can you tell if one is better than another? What kind of performance should you expect – or demand – in your type of lab? The latest update to the British Standard fo...

17/07/2025

A proud moment for Clean Air Limited Fume Cupboards as our National Development Manager, Chris Harding, received the Labmate Award for Excellence – Best Sustainability Initiative from Chris Jarvis of International Labmate Ltd at the Solutions in Science 2025 conference in Brighton.

Chris H says, “It was an honour to collect this award on behalf of the Clean Air team. Being recognised by the readership of a magazine so central to the science community makes this especially meaningful. We’re delighted that our work to eliminate the harmful greenhouse gas SF₆ from fume cupboard type-testing has been acknowledged with such a prestigious award.”

Huge thanks to everyone who voted and to International Labmate for making us feel special. More information here: https://bit.ly/4kdly8p

01/07/2025

We’re thrilled to announce that Clean Air has won the Labmate Award for Excellence in “Best Sustainability Initiative”!

This recognition means a great deal to us, especially as it highlights our pioneering move to eliminate SF₆ from fume cupboard type testing, replacing it with advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations.

By removing this potent greenhouse gas from the process, we’re not only reducing environmental impact, but also enhancing safety, precision, and product development speed - a huge win for our customers and the planet.

As an SME working to drive sustainable change in the fume cupboard industry, this award is a real honour. The judging panel praised our entry for its environmental leadership, technical innovation, and tangible user benefit and we couldn’t be prouder.

A huge thank you to our team, our clients, and to International Labmate Ltd for this valued recognition. Every one of you contributed to making this happen.

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22/04/2025

Earth Day 2025 & Clean Air
This year’s theme, "Our Power, Our Planet", is a timely reminder that sustainability isn't about quick wins. It's about commitment, persistence, and a willingness to lead even when it’s hard.

At Clean Air, we’ve invested significant time, resource and effort into our ambition to be the most sustainable UK fume cupboard manufacturer. It doesn’t happen overnight. We started with the easier wins - switching to recycled paper, using greener cleaning products, reducing single-use materials. But we knew we had to go further.

With the support of our internal Environmental Committee, Green Economy, GM Business Growth Hub, The Manchester Metropolitan University, Innovate UK, Siemens, Maya HTT and many more, we’ve pushed ourselves to make bigger, structural changes:

We've developed a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) approach to fume cupboard type-testing - a breakthrough that replaces conventional testing with virtual simulations measured at a billion points, not just a handful. This not only gives us greater insight into airflow behaviour but has allowed us to eliminate our internal use of SF₆, a greenhouse gas with a global warming potential of 24,300.

We’ve invested in hybrid vans, reuse packaging wherever possible, and we actively promote VAV (Variable Air Volume) systems and Auto Sash controls to our clients, helping them lower energy consumption, reduce emissions, and save money over the long term.

We've developed accredited CPD packages designed around sustainability in fume cupboards which supports specifiers, architects, and our clients to optimise their fume cupboard usage.

We've planted nearly 750 native UK saplings in accessible UK woodland since 2023 on behalf of our customers.

And while we’re proud of our progress, we’re honest about the challenges. As the improvements get harder to achieve, the decisions get tougher. Sometimes our message resonates deeply with clients, and sometimes we face pressure to revert to SF₆ testing for the sake of a tender or familiarity. In those moments, we’re forced to make difficult business decisions.

But we believe it’s worthwhile. We’re making a difference, and we know that the more we raise the bar, the more the fume cupboard industry is compelled to follow.

We’d love to hear how others are approaching sustainability in their work, because progress happens faster when we move together.

16/04/2025

“Can you…?”
Yes. Yes, we can.
- Bespoke sash arrangement? No problem.
- Match the existing lab furniture colour? Of course.
- Put in drawers? You've got it.
- Design a giant walk-in enclosure with specific air change rates? How’s this?
- Make a supersize fume cupboard in stainless steel? Have 2!
- Make a height-adjustable fume cupboard for inclusive access? Absolutely.

Our designers and R&D team love a challenge — the tougher the spec, the better.
So go on… ask us the question. We’ll say yes.