WEIGH IT. DON’T BREATHE IT.
A ventilated balance enclosure protects you and your staff from airborne powders while giving the analytical balance still, steady air to read accurately. HEPA filtration captures particulates at the source. No ductwork, no roof penetration. Plug and play.
No ductwork required
Validated before you invest
HEPA H14 at 99.995% capture
AFNOR NF X 15-211 compliant
Real-time safety monitoring
Relocate as your lab changes
Get a quote in 90 seconds.
Complete this short form and your dedicated rep will get back to you within the day to help you find the right balance enclosure for your weighing application.
The Complete Ventilated Balance Enclosure Solution
Whether you’re weighing active pharmaceutical ingredients in QC, handling nanomaterials in a materials lab, or dispensing potent compounds under a containment target, Erlab’s Captair balance enclosures protect the operator and keep the balance accurate.
You get validated containment and analytical accuracy without expensive, intrusive ductwork, construction, or the running cost that comes with them.
From university research to pharmaceutical manufacturing, the enclosure adapts to your powders and your space.
Custom sizing is available as well.
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| Model | 321 | 391 | 481 | 392 |
| Width | 31.5 in | 39.6 in | 49.6 in | 31.5 in |
| Depth | 24.4 in | 24.4 in | 24.4 in | 29.5 in |
| Height (min to max) | 43.7 to 50.6 in | 43.7 to 50.6 in | 43.7 to 50.6 in | 52.8 to 59.6 in |
| Airflow | 129 CFM | 129 CFM | 129 CFM | 259 CFM |
| Power | 65 W | 65 W | 65 W | 105 W |
321
Specifications
Width: 31.5 in
Depth: 39.6 in
Height (min to max): 43.7 to 50.6 in
Airflow: 129 CFM
Power: 65 W
391
Specifications
Width: 39.6 in
Depth: 24.4 in
Height (min to max): 43.7 to 50.6 in
Airflow: 129 CFM
Power: 65 W
481
Specifications
Width: 49.6 in
Depth: 24.4 in
Height (min to max): 43.7 to 50.6 in
Airflow: 129 CFM
Power: 65 W
392
Specifications
Width: 31.5 in
Depth: 29.6 in
Height (min to max): 52.8 to 59.6 in
Airflow: 259 CFM
Power: 105 W
Why your ducted hood and precision balance are at odds.
A balance enclosure isn’t a small fume hood.
- A standard ducted fume hood moves a lot of air.
- That airflow is turbulent enough to push on the pan of an analytical balance and ruin the reading.
- It’s often the source of drift.
A weighing balance enclosure solves both halves of the problem at once. It contains the powder so you don’t inhale it, and uses gentle, steady airflow so the balance still reads down to 10⁻⁶ g.
A phenolic resin work surface adds stability and ESD control, so static doesn’t impact the measurement either.
You get containment and accuracy in the same box.
Proof, not promises.
How do you know it’s containing the powder and not letting you breathe it?
We have three answers to that.
Third-party certification
Every balance enclosure conforms to AFNOR NF X 15-211, a recognized standard your EH&S team can verify independently.
Real-time monitoring
SMART technology shows face velocity and filter status while you work, so you watch the containment hold instead of trusting a filter you can’t see into.
An unbiased spec from the start
eValiQuest analyzes your powders before you buy. If a balance enclosure won’t protect you safely, we say so and point you to the right tool.
Where a balance enclosure earns its place.
Active pharmaceutical ingredients
Weigh APIs and excipients while HEPA filtration keeps the dust out of your breathing zone.
Nanomaterials and fine powders
Capture engineered particles at the source before they migrate across the bench.
Potent compounds
Handle high-hazard compounds with documented particle retention for OEB-level containment.
Cross-contamination control
Protect the operator from the powder and the sample from the room, in both directions.
Powder weighing without the inhalation risk.
Many of the powders labs weigh every day are sensitizers, irritants, or worse.
A vented balance safety enclosure traps those particulates with an H14 HEPA filter and keeps them off your hands, your bench, and your lungs. When the powder also gives off vapors, FLEX filtration lets you stack a carbon cartridge above the HEPA layer to capture molecules at the same time.
A clean reading every time.
Drafts, vibration, and static are the three enemies of an accurate weigh.
- The enclosure shields the balance from room drafts
- The phenolic work surface dampens vibration and bleeds off static
- The airflow stays inside the range the balance can tolerate.
Your repeatability improves because the conditions stop changing on you.
Containment you can document.
When an auditor or an EH&S reviewer asks how you control exposure during weighing, you hand them test data. Erlab balance enclosures are verified against AFNOR NF X 15-211, ASHRAE 110, and the ISPE particle retention test used for OEB 5 containment, with HEPA media certified to EN 1822-1 at 99.995% efficiency on the most penetrating particle size.
Who’s weighing inside one.
Different labs reach for a powder weighing hood for different reasons. These buy most often.
| Industry | What they're weighing | Why a balance enclosure fits |
|---|---|---|
Pharmaceutical and biotech QC/QA
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APIs, excipients, potent compounds | Operator protection plus documented containment for high-hazard powders. |
Compounding pharmacies
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Bulk drug substances, hazardous drugs | Safe handling of sensitizing and cytotoxic powders during preparation. |
Materials science and testing
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Nanomaterials, catalysts, fine powders | Source capture of engineered particles without disturbing the weigh. |
Flavor and fragrance
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Aromatic powders and raw materials | Containment of fine, potent ingredients with low energy cost. |
Agriculture and food
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Additives, micronutrients, test samples | Particle control during sample prep and formulation. |
Academic and teaching labs
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Reagent powders in controlled volumes | Safe, relocatable weighing that EH&S approves more readily than open chemistry. |
Who we work with to specify and approve balance enclosures
Lab managers and lab directors feel the problem first and start the search.
QC and QA managers need containment that holds up in an audit.
EH&S and industrial hygiene managers sign off on the exposure controls.
Facilities directors get pulled in when ductwork or HVAC capacity is the obstacle.
Procurement and capital planning handle the purchase once the specification is set.
We invest time and energy with every member of your procurement team so they have what they need to feel confident in your use of budget.
Built to keep you informed while you work.
SMART technology.
A light-based interface tells you the operational status of the enclosure at a glance, backed up by sound. It signals working time, face velocity, filter alarms, and ventilation status, so you know the protection is working without reading a manual mid-task.
Electronic anemometer.
The system continuously monitors face velocity and holds it between 0.4 and 0.6 m/s, in line with AFNOR NF X 15-211:2009. If containment airflow drifts, you find out.
FLEX filtration.
Filters stack vertically in the filtration column, so you can combine a HEPA or ULPA layer with carbon cartridges to match your powders and any vapors that come with them. One enclosure covers particle capture, molecular capture, or both, and you reconfigure it as your compounds change instead of buying a new unit.
Optional waste port.
Bag out contaminated waste without releasing it. Internal and external access stays secured by a protective airflow, and a double-bag mounting system with an external housing keeps bags from tearing or pulling free.
Connected monitoring.
Connect the enclosure to see usage statistics, track filter efficiency, watch face velocity, and check fan status from outside the lab. You get confirmation the unit is running at peak efficiency, plus insight into how it’s actually being used.
Register Your Warranty and Extend Your Protection by 10 Years.
Extend your warranty
Every time you replace your filter, your warranty extends by a year.
Your personal ecosystem of lifelong protection in the Erlab Safety Program.
Your balance enclosure is backed by services built to evolve with your powders, even as compounds, volumes, and lab locations change.
eValiQuest
Tells you the truth before you spend a dime. We analyze your powders and any associated vapors against our validated filtration database. If a balance enclosure won’t protect you safely, we’ll say so and suggest alternatives. No games.
eValiPass
Your enclosure arrives, gets installed, tested, and validated by our techs. Not yours. White glove service at no extra cost. Your team gets trained on proper weighing protocols. You get documentation. No surprises, no extra invoices.
eValiGuard
Keeps you protected as your work evolves. New compound? We run a fresh eValiQuest analysis at no charge. New regulation? We update your monitoring. Forever support, because your safety doesn’t have an expiration date.
The certifications your EH&S team respects.
Every Erlab balance enclosure is verified against the standards that matter when your safety team asks hard questions.
- AFNOR NF X 15-211:2009. The stringent French standard for molecular filtration and containment performance.
- ASHRAE 110. The containment test US EH&S reviewers know and trust.
- EN 1822-1. HEPA H14 media certified at 99.995% efficiency on the most penetrating particle size.
- ISPE particle retention (OEB 5). Containment data for high-potency compound handling.
- Class 1 device. Safety filter for maximum protection, with the waste port secured under a protective airflow.
When a balance enclosure isn’t the answer.
We’d rather lose the sale than put you at risk. A balance enclosure is the wrong tool when:
You’re weighing unknown or highly variable chemistry.
Filtration depends on knowing what you’re capturing. Unknowns belong in a ducted hood.
Your application needs fire-rated containment.
These enclosures control airborne particulates and vapors, not fire. They are not fire-rated.
You’re handling live biological agents that require a biosafety cabinet.
A balance enclosure protects against powders and chemical vapors, not biohazards that call for a Class II BSC.
Your powder isn’t compatible with our filtration.
If eValiQuest shows we can’t capture it safely, we’ll tell you and point you elsewhere.
Your Concerns Are Valid.
We Have Answers.
The same questions come up in every evaluation.
Here’s what we tell people.
| Your concern | The reality | The proof |
|---|---|---|
| Will the airflow throw off my balance? | Face velocity stays in a controlled band the balance tolerates, with a phenolic surface for stability and ESD control. | AFNOR NF X 15-211 face velocity range of 0.4 to 0.6 m/s, monitored continuously by the anemometer. |
| Will the filter saturate without warning? | SMART technology monitors the unit and alarms before saturation becomes a safety issue. | Light and sound alerts on the unit, plus connected monitoring for filter efficiency and face velocity. |
| Will my EH&S team accept it? | We provide the documentation package they need for approval. | AFNOR NF X 15-211, ASHRAE 110, and ISPE OEB 5 particle retention test data. |
| Can it handle a potent compound? | Particle retention is verified to the test used for OEB 5 containment. | ISPE particle retention test results provided with your unit. |
| Will installation disrupt my lab? | No ductwork means it's ready to use within hours of delivery. | eValiPass includes delivery, setup, containment testing, and training, typically in 2 to 4 hours. |
We’ve been building laboratory filtration since 1968.
Balance enclosures
frequently asked questions.
Fit and accuracy
What's the difference between a balance enclosure and a regular ductless fume hood?
A balance enclosure is tuned for weighing. The airflow is controlled so it won't disturb a sensitive balance, and the work surface is built for stability and static control. A general ductless fume hood prioritizes chemical handling over the calm conditions a microbalance needs.
How precise can I weigh inside one?
Down to 10⁻⁶ g, one microgram, when the balance and the enclosure are set up correctly.
Will static affect my readings?
The phenolic resin work surface provides ESD control, which helps keep static from skewing the measurement.
Powders and filtration
What powders can I weigh in a balance enclosure?
Most well-characterized powders, including APIs, excipients, nanomaterials, and many potent compounds. eValiQuest confirms compatibility for your specific materials before you buy.
What if my powder also releases vapors?
FLEX filtration lets you stack a carbon cartridge above the HEPA layer, so the enclosure captures particles and molecules together.
How does the HEPA filter perform?
H14 media certified to EN 1822-1 at 99.995% efficiency on the most penetrating particle size.
How often do filters need replacing?
It depends on your powder load and usage hours. Monitoring alerts you before saturation, and eValiQuest gives you an estimated filter life for your materials.
Safety and compliance
What standards does the enclosure meet?
AFNOR NF X 15-211:2009 for filtration and containment, ASHRAE 110 for containment testing, EN 1822-1 for the HEPA media, and the ISPE particle retention test used for OEB 5 containment.
Can I use it for high-potency compound handling?
Yes, within validated limits. Particle retention is verified to the OEB 5 test. Share your containment target with us and we'll confirm fit during eValiQuest.
Will my institution approve it?
Powder weighing with HEPA filtration is one of the more straightforward approvals because the hazard is well defined. We provide the test data and documentation your EH&S team needs to review it.
Installation and facilities
Do I need ductwork or special ventilation?
No. The enclosure recirculates filtered air and connects only to a standard power supply.
How much power does it use?
As little as 65 watts, depending on the model, which keeps operating cost low against a ducted hood running continuously.
How long does installation take?
The unit is ready to use within a few hours of delivery. eValiPass covers setup, containment testing, and team training.
Can I move it later?
Yes. With no duct connection, you can relocate it to another bench, room, or building. We recommend a containment check after a major move.
Cost and support
What's included in the purchase?
The enclosure, professional installation and validation through eValiPass, and lifetime support through eValiGuard. The ongoing cost is filter replacement, which we estimate during eValiQuest. These figures are illustrative and vary with your application.
Is filter disposal complicated?
For general powder and vapor work, spent Erlab filters dispose as regular lab waste, with no hazardous waste manifests or fees. One caveat we'll raise up front. A HEPA filter loaded with a cytotoxic or highly potent compound is treated as hazardous waste regardless of the filter brand, so we'll work out disposal handling for those materials with you during eValiQuest.
Is financing available?
Yes, through NEC Financial Services, including options for state, local government, and education buyers.
What if a balance enclosure turns out to be the wrong fit?
We'll tell you directly and suggest an appropriate alternative. Your safety matters more than the sale.
Ready to weigh safely?
Whether you’re protecting operators from a new API, setting up a powder weighing station in a leased building, or replacing an open weigh bench that failed inspection, let’s find out whether a balance enclosure fits your materials, your facility, and your safety requirements.
