A fume chamber or fume hood or fume cupboard is a type of local ventilation systems that is designed to limit coverage to toxic fumes, hazardous, dusts or vapors. The fume hood is two main types exist, PVC ducted and carbon filter recirculating (ductless). Other related types of local ventilation systems (devices) include: Laminar air flow, Biosafety cabinets, Clean benches, glove boxes and snorkel exhausts.

All local ventilation systems (devices) are designed to three primary goals:

• To protect the user from inhaling toxic fumes (Fume hoods, Glove boxes, Biosafety cabinets)
• To protect the product or testing (experiment) (glove boxes and biological safety cabinets)
• To protect the atmosphere (recirculating fume hoods, biological safety cabinets, the exhaust airstream)