Basic Documentation

Table Of Contents
Biological Laboratories
Siemens Industry, Inc. 77
Topic Requirement(s) Commentary
Biological
Safety Cabinets
and
Classifications:
(Continued)
The Class II, Type A1 BSC: An internal fan draws sufficient room air through the
front grille to maintain a minimum calculated or measured average inflow velocity
of at least 75 lfm at the face opening of the cabinet. The supply air flows through a
HEPA filter and provides particulate-free air to the work surface. Airflow provided in
this manner reduces turbulence in the work zone and minimizes the potential for
cross-contamination. The downward moving air “splits” as it approaches the work
surface; the fan
6 draws part of the air to the front grille and the remainder to the
rear grille. Although there are variations among different cabinets, this split
generally occurs about halfway between the front and rear grilles and two to six
inches above the work surface. The air is drawn through the front and rear grilles
by a fan pushed into the space between the supply and exhaust filters. Due to the
relative size of these two filters, approximately 30% of the air passes through the
exhaust HEPA filter and 70% recirculates through the supply HEPA filter back into
the work zone of the cabinet. Most Class II, Type A1 and A2 cabinets have
dampers to modulate this division of airflow. A Class II Type A1 BSC is not to be
used for work involving volatile toxic chemicals. The buildup of chemical vapors in
the cabinet (by recirculated air) and in the laboratory (from exhaust air) could
create health and safety hazards.
The proper method of connecting a Type A1 or A2 cabinet to the building exhaust
system is through use of a canopy hood,
8,10 which provides a small opening or air
gap (usually 1 inch) around the cabinet exhaust filter housing (Figure 4). The
airflow of the building exhaust must be sufficient to maintain the flow of room air
into the gap between the canopy unit and the filter housing. The canopy must be
removable or be designed to allow for operational testing of the cabinet. Class II
Type A1 or A2 cabinets should never be hard-ducted to the building exhaust
system.
8 Fluctuations in air volume and pressure that are common to all building
exhaust systems sometimes make it difficult to match the airflow requirements of
the cabinet.
The Class II, Type B1 BSC: Some biomedical research requires the use of small
quantities of hazardous chemicals, such as organic solvents or carcinogens.
Carcinogens used in cell culture or microbial systems require both biological and
chemical containment. The Class II, Type B cabinet was designed for
manipulations of minute quantities of hazardous chemicals with in vitro biological
systems.
The cabinet supply blowers draw room air (plus a portion of the cabinet’s
recirculated air) through the front grille and through the supply HEPA filters located
immediately below the work surface. This particulate-free air flows upward through
a plenum at each side of the cabinet and then downward to the work area through
a backpressure plate. In some cabinets, there is an additional supply HEPA filter to
remove particulates that may be generated by the blower-motor system.
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