Lab and Fume Hood Control Systems
ECM is one of the nation’s most experienced providers of airflow monitoring and control systems for laboratories and research development facilities. We are proud to be the exclusive North American dealer of TEL equipment, including TEL Autosash, an industry leading fume hood airflow control system, and the AFA 5000 Lab Space controller, one of the finest fume hood monitors on the market featuring real time alarms and a lab-mounted touch screen displaying air change per hour rates.
We can install and integrate a range of TEL constant air volume (CAV) monitors and variable air volume (VAV) controls. This equipment uses a highly advanced dual diode airflow sensor to measure and control sash opening face velocity. The sensor has no inherent drift, helping ensure stable, accurate readings over many years of operation without the need for recalibration.
TEL has designed its fume hood airflow control systems to meet the unique needs of laboratory environments, refining products over decades by working with leading lab companies and manufacturers. With hundreds of thousands of TEL products in use in labs worldwide, it is one of the most trusted brands in the industry—recognized for high performance and exceptional safety standards.
Fume Hood Airflow Monitors
TEL’s CAV system monitors are designed specifically for use with industrial fume cupboards, educational fume cupboards, fume hoods, and biosafety cabinets. TEL’s fume hood airflow monitors offer a range of monitoring functions with real-time reporting for improved safety management.
Fume Hood Airflow Control Systems
TEL’s VAV controllers help fume hood, and biosafety cabinet operators improve safety and efficiency. These savings helped significantly reduce their carbon footprint. A full retrofit solution is also available for CAV systems.
Auto Sash Controllers
This cutting-edge accessory automatically closes a fume hood’s sash when an operator is not present, which can help enhance safety while generating significant energy savings.
Studies show that fitting auto sash controllers can reduce energy costs by up to 85 percent, generating thousands in savings per fume hood. By keeping a sash closed when a hood is not in use, TEL Auto Sash allows variable air volume (VAV) controls to reduce exhaust volume to a minimum.
Thanks to its versatile design, our team can seamlessly integrate the TEL Auto Sash into virtually any lab setting. Advantages include:
- Ability to Retrofit to Any Fume Hood: We can fit the controller on new or existing fume hoods, and it is compatible with both VAV and constant air volume (CAV) lab control systems.
- Intuitive Controls: Operators can manually control the sash using the Tiptronic touch-sensitive feature or a foot switch, giving them more autonomy and control.
- Continuous Monitoring: An integrated passive infrared (PIR) sensor continually monitors the work area in front of the fume hood, closing the sash automatically when no one is present and reopening it when they return.
- Obstacle Detection: The system recognizes when an obstacle is in the sash’s path and automatically prevents it from closing, helping avoid damage
Turnkey VAV Retrofits
ECM is a leading provider of VAV system retrofits for laboratories and other facilities with fume hoods, fume cupboards, biosafety cabinets, or other specialty ventilation needs.
High-performance fume hood airflow control systems are seldom included with new equipment, so airflow is rarely optimized. To compensate, some laboratories try to ensure safety by over-ventilating. Unfortunately, this can have the opposite effect, creating improper air circulation patterns and increasing utility costs, and running counter to regulatory best practices that recommend reducing air exchanges per hour in lab spaces.
TEL’s VAV airflow controllers are specifically designed with these considerations in mind. Their Laboratory and fume hood airflow monitors and controls allow facilities to precisely regulate airflow, helping to meet safety guidelines while reducing energy consumption.
Custom Fume Hood Airflow Monitors and Fume Hood Airflow Control Systems
At ECM, we provide clients with control strategies and equipment customized to their needs. This typically starts with a comprehensive survey of their existing installation and energy usage, followed by a proposal detailing the scope of work, costs, expected savings, and potential utility incentives.
Once a plan is agreed upon, we take turnkey responsibility for the retrofit, including commissioning and employee training as needed. Further, after the system is up and running, we can communicate with your building automation system (BAS) to monitor and report on performance and energy use.
With that said, ECM also works with clients that have a range of in-house capabilities or preferred installing contractors. We build a working relationship with our clients built around their needs—including “Parts and Smarts” equipment-only sales, design consulting, commissioning services, and turnkey design-build.