A laminar flow hood or HEPA fan filter unit (FFU) blows a steady stream of filtered air over your work area. In Germany, many growers call it a flowbox. It keeps spores and bacteria away while you work. As a result, you get far fewer contaminated agar plates, jars and grain bags.
We supply the Envirco MAC 10® Original HEPA fan filter unit. Cleanrooms around the world use this unit. It has an H13 HEPA filter with 99.9965% filtration and an airflow of 0.45 m/s. Therefore, it makes a great laminar flow hood for serious mycology work. Still using a still air box? Then a flow hood is the next step. For a complete sterile workspace, pair it with our lab supplies.
What Does a Laminar Flow Hood Do?
A laminar flow hood, also called a laminar flow cabinet or flowbox, pushes room air through a HEPA filter and blows it across your work surface in an even, steady stream. Because the clean air keeps moving towards you, spores and bacteria cannot settle on open plates, jars or bags. As a result, you can work in the open, keep cultures open longer and process far more grain than in a still air box.
Flow Hood vs Fan Filter Unit (FFU)
A classic flow hood is a box with a pre-filter, a blower and a HEPA filter. A fan filter unit (FFU) combines the fan and the HEPA filter in one flat housing. Cleanrooms use FFUs in their ceilings, but many mycologists mount one on its side and use it as a laminar flow hood. The Envirco MAC 10 Original is the best-known example: an H13 HEPA filter, 0.45 m/s airflow, three speed settings and a low power draw of 0.15 kW.
How to Work in Front of a Flow Hood
- Switch the unit on a few minutes before you start, so the airflow stabilises.
- Wipe the work surface and every item with 70% alcohol.
- Wear nitrile gloves and keep your hands downstream of your plates, never between the filter and the open culture.
- Keep the area in front of the filter clear, so the air flows in a straight line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a laminar flow hood to grow mushrooms?
Not for growkits or small projects. However, once you do regular agar work, grain-to-grain transfers or liquid culture inoculations, a flow hood greatly reduces contamination and saves time.
Is H13 HEPA good enough for mycology?
Yes. An H13 HEPA filter removes the spores and bacteria that cause contamination, and it is the standard in many cleanroom fan filter units.
Where should I place the unit?
Put it on a stable table in a clean room with little draught, with the filter face pointing towards you. Read more in our guide to growing mushroom cultures on agar.
