Team Members and Role:

Abstract:

The UMass Astronomy Research Facility (ARF) is a shared workspace used by several engineering clubs and student project teams, including the Aeronautics team, FSAE, and the Supermileage team. Many of these groups work with epoxied parts and materials that require proper ventilation. While the ARF is equipped with an exhaust fan, it lacked a proper fume hood—only a makeshift plastic sheet taped over the vent. This senior capstone project team will set out to design and build a custom fume hood that could safely and effectively remove hazardous fumes, creating a safer environment for everyone in the facility. The final design features an 8020 aluminum frame, a fixed front opening, and a polycarbonate side door secured with compression locks to ensure a proper seal. The frame is anchored to the floor using cement-set brackets for added stability. A dedicated work surface was considered but remained outside the scope of this project. To support continuous air quality monitoring, the hood includes an integrated anemometer for measuring face velocity and an all-in-one air quality sensor to track temperature, humidity, and VOC levels. The design was guided by ASHRAE and NIH standards for hood volume, face velocity, and intake area. Compared to the previous setup, the new fume hood offers a reliable and long-term ventilation solution that significantly improves safety in the ARF