Biosafety Cabinet Class 1

Biosafety Cabinet Class 1-An Ultimate Buying Guide by Sunnyda.

Different biosafety levels face an assorted number of particulates to deal with. To work under these biosafety levels there is a need for a controlled environment to combat particulates.

Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 is a peculiar unit that has a wide range of facilities. It not only provides personnel and outside environment protection but also provides a controlled and sterilized space for 3 biosafety levels.

So a Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 is the best reliable and optimal option to choose if the application is looking for personnel and environmental safety.

Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 Testing

What is Biosafety Cabinet Class 1?

A Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 is the basic and foremost classification of BSC cabinet that is configured to provide protection of the environment as well as an operator that sits before the cabinet.

The front grills opening of the cabinet allows the direct entrance of air inside the cabinet and discharged from the rare side of the workstation.

So it can be said that Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 does not protect the material residing in the cabinet. HEPA filters are configured on the exhaust to ensure the discharge of contaminated free air.

It has easy installation, maintenance requirements and can also be shifted easily from one place to other for having caster wheels integrated with the base stand.

Sunnyda Biosafety Cabinet Class 1

What are the Basic Components of a Biosafety Cabinet Class 1?

A Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 is an enclosed unit that is made of some basic components to perform its controlled working as given below:

• EG Steel Cabinet

• Stainless Steel Workstation

• Cabinet Window for an Inside View

• H14 HEPA Filters for Air Filtration

• Microprocessor Control System

• Cabinet Doors

• Blowers And DC Motors

• Base Stand With Caster Wheels

• Ducted/Non-Ducted Biological Safety Hood

Base Stand With Caster Wheels for Biosafety Cabinet Class 1

What are the Technical Specifications of a Biosafety Cabinet Class 1?

A Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 is a PHE certified, and highly reliable cabinet for EN 124 69 compliance having some core specifications as given below:

• The airflow velocity of the cabinet is 167fpm

• Cabinet with 90⁰ window opening angle

• HEPA filters with 99.999 percent working efficiency for 0.1 to 0.3-micron particulates

• Sound dissipation as per EN12469 compliance is 48.4 dBA

• The intensity of the fluorescent lamp is less than 1200 lux

• The main body of the cabinet is made of 18 gauge EG steel

• The work zone of the cabinet is designed with 304 stainless steel material

• Sidewalls of the cabinet are featured with tempered glass having the capability of UV light absorption

• The heat load of the cabinet is 628 BTU/Hr

• Inflow rate and exhaust rate of airflow is 758m³/h

• 85pascal static pressure for thimble collar of the cabinet

• EN12469 compliance from Europe and SANS 12469 compliance from south Africa for cabinet design

• Power requirements for the cabinet are 500 watts to 700 watts.

• EN-1822 compliance for cabinet filtration

• 230V electric supply for 50/60 HZ frequency

EG Steel for Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 Manufacturing

What are the Key Features of a Biosafety Cabinet Class 1?

A Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 is designed to meet the needs of different biosafety levels under its specific features as given below:

Cabinet Filters

• H 14 HEPA filters for the efficient discharge of contaminants from the air.

Microprocessor Control System

• Visual alarms as well as audible alarms to make alerts in an emergency.

• Display screen to interpret and display the information about cabinet safety.

• Quickstart mode to turn on the cabinet for quick working.

DC ECM Motor

• Energy-efficient DC ECM motor as compared to the AC motor with 70 percent energy saving.

• Maintenance of the constant airflow event changes may occur in voltage supply.

• Works with standby mode to lower the power consumption by about 60 percent.

Work Station

• Made of 18 gauge 304 stainless steel material.

• The top surface of the workstation is retained with spills.

Cabinet Window

• Polycarbonate cabinet window integrated with 90 degrees opening access.

• Airtightness of the window by gasket lining that prevents the entry of microbes.

• The window has the resistance for UV light assisted by polycarbonate material.

Antimicrobial Coating

• The cabinet is coated with an antibacterial coating material to kill them on the surface after each exposure with almost 99.99 percent efficiency.

Sensors for Airflow

• Makes alert when airflow deviates from the normal value.

• Mediated to inspect the real-time airflow rate for the proper functioning of the cabinet.

Door

• The door of the cabinet has resistance against UV light.

• Protect from contamination.

• VHP injections are also configured with doors to connect with the VHP generator.

UV Light Resistance Glass of Biosafety Cabinet Class 1

What are Preparatory Guidelines for Working Safely in Biosafety Cabinet Class 1?

A Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 is configured to protect the operator and environment. Some preparatory guidelines should be followed for the safe working as:

• First of all, wear the PPE before working. Use gloves for hand protection and make sure to button the lab coat you wear over clothes.

• If the process is stringent, then also wear additional PPE.

• Also, inspect the stickers labeled on the cabinet to confirm that the cabinet is certified or not.

• Then turn on the blowers of the Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 almost five minutes before start-up.

• After that, make the cabinet disinfectant for sterile working.

• Also, adjust the sash at the height ranges from 7 inches to 8 inches.

• To spill all of the contaminants present inside the cabinet, make sure to close the drain valves.

• Place your stool before the cabinet and adjust its height in such a way that the face of the operator must be above the cabinet opening.

• Place all the required material inside the cabinet, but ensure that the material would not be placed before the front grills of the workstation.

• Perform all of the workings on a workplace with 4 inches distance from front grills.

Wear Proper PPE Before Using Biosafety Cabinet Class 1

How Does a Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 Work?

The working process of the Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 is given below:

Step 1

The air from the outside environment comes and enters inside the cabinet. The front aperture of the cabinet provides the way for air to enter.

 Step 2

After entrance air moves towards the exhaust fans that mediated it towards the HEPA filter for filtration.

Step 3

The airflow rate inside the cabinet, filtration by HEPA filters, or carbon filters helps in the dissipation of any escaped particular.

Step 4

The circulating air then moves out from the cabinet by passing from the rare side of the work station.

Step 5

The HEPA filter at the exhaust of the cabinet traps all of the airborne particulates before its discharge outside.

In this way, filtered air discharged in the outside environment by Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 remains protective.

Step 6

Discharge of the air at the rare side also protects the personnel from direct contact with air but the specimen inside the cabinet does not remain protective after exposure to incoming air.

Working Mechanism of Biosafety Cabinet Class 1

For Which Purpose Does a Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 Use?

• The main purpose of Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 is to get a safe environment to deal with some hazardous processes.

• Except for this, the cabinet is used in the laboratory to ensure personnel protection.

• The environment is also maintained from being contaminated with discharge air as exhaust filters dissipate contaminants from the air.

• For enclosing some equipment and material as aerated cultures inside the cabinet that release aerosol particulates, the Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 is preferred to use.

• To place some of the equipment as centrifuge, the cabinet is used in laboratories to prevent personnel from releasing aerosol.

• To dissipate the aerosol from the cabinet produced by inhibiting specimens the cabinet is used.

A Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 is Being Used in Hospital

How is a Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 Different from Biosafety Cabinet Class 2?

Biological cabinets are designed for different applications requiring controlled conditions. Based on specific features and work, the United States CDC has divided cabinets into three main types.

Out of three the difference between the two cabinets is given below:

Biosafety Cabinet Class 1

• It is considered to be the basic cabinet that is configured for the protection of the environment as well as the worker that operates the cabinet.

• But this cabinet drawback is that it doesn’t protect contamination-sensitive specimens because contaminated air directly enters the cabinet.

• It is preferred to use for those materials or processes that would be aerated and might produce aerosol particles so that directs them towards the exhaust.

• HEPA filters are present in the exhaust of the cabinet to discharge all of the particulates before flowing out into the environment.

Biosafety Cabinets Class 2

• The biosafety cabinet class 2 is configured to provide protection both for the specimen inside the cabinet as well as the external environment from being contaminated with particulates.

• But this cabinet does not offer operator protection from harms of contaminants and airborne particulates because some of the air comes out directly towards the operators’ face.

• The contaminant-sensitive specimens and culture plates can be placed inside the biosafety cabinet class 2 for protection from contamination.

• HEPA filters are also present in the topside available exhaust of the cabinet to filter the air coming back after recirculation.

Biosafety Cabinet Class 2

What are Surface Decontamination and Gas Decontamination for Biosafety Cabinet Class 1?

Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 can be decontaminated in two ways:

Surface Decontamination

In surface contamination, it is ensured that all of the cabinets surfaces even material that resides inside the cabinet should be decontaminated.

After working all of the material is being removed from the cabinet and surface decontamination is done by using wipes.

Before and after completion of the work, disinfectants are used that remove all of the infection-causing microbes.

70 percent alcohol and bleach solution are being used at the end of the day for the final cleaning including as side wall, back wall, and internal surfacing of the cabinet.

Gas Decontamination

The gas decontamination process is preferred to use before processing blowers of the cabinet or during the change of cabinet filter. Fumigation is an abundantly used method of gas contamination.

Formaldehyde gas is used as a gas decontaminant. Except for this CaO and hydrogen peroxide can be used in the replacement of formaldehyde.

Surface Decontamination of Biosafety Cabinet Class 1

What are Accessories Options for Biosafety Cabinet Class 1?

Biosafety cabinet Class 1 cabinet is configured to deal with requisites of biosafety levels 1, 2, and 3. So it can integrate some accessories options as given below:

• Stainless sidewalls for the cabinet

• Integration of the secondary filter with HEPA filters as H1 filter and carbon filter

• Exhaust dampers, exhaust hard ducting, or anti-blowback valve exhaust

• Decontamination kit (hydrogen peroxide)

• UV lamps, and pre-filters test at work zone

• Support stands as a fixed stand either with leaving feet or caster wheels

• UV door

UV light for Biosafety Cabinet Class 1

What are the Advantages of Using a Biosafety Cabinet Class 1?

A Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 is preferred to use for safely working in a laboratory. Except for operator and environmental safety the cabinet also offers different benefits as given below:

Risk Reduction

The use of a biosafety cabinet reduces the risk of contamination and direct contact of different hazardous microbes to the worker.

Dissipation of Hazardous Particulates

HEPA filters are integrated inside the cabinet to filter the incoming and exhausted air and trap all of the infection-causing microbes like viruses, bacteria, and fungus, etc.

Integration of Ventilation System

No matter HEPA filters remove airborne particulates from the air but the toxic chemicals and gases are being restricted to spread outside by an integrated ventilation system with cabinets.

Exhaust Filters

The Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 is also featured with exhaust filters configuring the filtration of particulates from exhaust air and preventing the environment from contamination.

Rubber Glass Availability for Protection

PPE as rubber gloves and goggles are also provided with the cabinet for the safe working of the operator that sits before carbon. Rubber gloves prevent hands from exposure to some pathogens that can cause health disorders.

Airtight in Cabinet

Airtight designing of the cabinet prevents the entry of contaminants from outside and does not allow the leakage of contaminants from inside of the cabinet. Hence in this way, the system remains protected.

Rubber Gloves for Biosafety Cabinet Class 1

Which Filters Do Integrated Inside the Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 for Air Filtration?

Filters are the basic components of a Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 that are involved in the dissipation of hazardous material.

The filters of this cabinet are:

• HEPA filter with 10X working efficiency

• H14 filters for getting 99.999 percent particulate filtration efficiency

• Carbon filters can also be configured as an accessory option

• ULPA filters can also be featured as optional instead of HEPA filters if require peculiar working efficiency

H14 HEPA Filter for Biosafety Cabinet Class 1

What is the Functioning of Blower and Control System for Biosafety Cabinet Class 1?

Function of Blowers

The blowers of Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 are integrated with AC motors to perform their functions. The blowers are directed to control the airflow inside the cabinet.

It directs the incoming air towards the HEPA filters for filtration. The EC motor blower lowers the power consumption rate with its standby mode.

The Function of the Control System

The control system consists of a display screen to monitor all of the cabinets working and inform the personnel. Visible and audible alarms are integrated with it to inform about the emergency.

Control Display of Biosafety Cabinet Class 1

Why are Open Flame and UV Lamps Do not Recommended for Biosafety Cabinet Class 1?

UV Lamp

UV lamps are used to kill the germs inside a unit as a laminar airflow cabinet. But it is not necessary to be integrated with Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 because where it has benefits to use, also has some drawbacks.

There is a need to regularly check the efficiency of the lamp so that dust may not interrupt its working while operating.

There is also a need to close the UV lights while in operation because it harms human health.

Open Flame

Similarly, open flames are not recommended to be used inside the cabinet. It can cause explosion or fire spread may also occur if flame come in contact with the hazardous material.

Alternatively, electric Bunsen burners and bacti-cinerator can be used inside Biosafety Cabinet Class 1.

Bunsen Burner

For Which Biosafety Levels a Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 is Designed?

Biosafety levels are designed based on the type of particulates, pathogens, and their hazardous effects. There are four biosafety levels ranges 1 to 4.

The Biosafety Cabinet Class Cabinet 1 specifications can meet the needs of biosafety level 1 and biosafety level 2. Sometimes it can also be used for biosafety level 3.

Biosafety Level 3

What are the Applications of a Biosafety Cabinet Class 1?

A Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 provides a workstation to process the hazardous material with front side opening of the cabinet for a large number of applications as given below:

• Health Care Department

• Chemical Industries

• Pharmaceuticals

• Clean Room Laboratory

• Biomedical Laboratories

• Research Laboratories

• Microbiology Labs

• Handling of Bacteria and Viruses

• Other Pathogens Handling

• Different Laboratory Applications

How to Start Up your Biosafety Cabinet Class 1?

A Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 that is used for mediating safety for different biosafety levels should be undertaken for the startup process before working as:

• Read carefully all of the instructions mentioned in the manual of the cabinet for the startup.

• Make sure the decontamination of the cabinet surface and place all of the required material inside the cabinet.

• After that also make decontamination of the side walls as well back walls of the cabinet.

• Allow the purging of air from the cabinet before working. Turn on the cabinet for almost 3 to 5 minutes before proceeding with the operation.

• If there would be no alarms ringing or not any other fault found in the cabinet, assure the working to proceed with the cabinet.

Start-Up Protocol of Biosafety Cabinet Class 1

How to Install your Biosafety Cabinet Class 1?

A Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 can be installed by following some steps:

Step 1

Remove all of the packaging material from over the cabinet. The cabinet would be present on a movable stand.

Step 2

Take out the separate parts of the cabinet stand and tight them to each other according to the dimensions of the cabinet by using screws and bolts.

Step 3

Then carefully shift the cabinet on the stand and fix it with stand-by tightening screws. Adjust the control center within the cabinet and remove the packing from the workstation.

Step 4

Adjust the workstation inside the cabinet. Adjust the fluorescent lights of the cabinet.

Step 5

Connect the power supply of the cabinet with the outside power source.

Step 6

Clean out the cabinet and switch on and check the lights of the cabinet are turned on or off. Stay the cabinet with power on so for some minutes before working.

Fluorescent Lights of Biosafety Cabinet Class 1

How to Maintain your Biosafety Cabinet Class 1?

For durable and contamination-free working, A Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 should be maintained by keeping in view some considerations as:

• Monitor each component of the cabinet and ensure that there is no leakage in the whole cabinet.

• If you found any leakage and repairing disorder, inform the safety manager of the institute.

• Always hire an NSF-certified technocrat for cabinet maintenance.

• Use the different disinfectant processes to clean up the cabinet before and after use of the cabinet.

• For maintenance, empty the cabinet by removing all of the material that was placed inside.

• Use disinfectants as 70 percent ethanol solution with 10 percent bleach to kill all of the microbes.

• Follow the schedule that is designed to maintain the cabinet either daily or weekly.

• Also, hire the service engineers to validate cabinet performance.

• Replace the HEPA filters after a specific duration so that the cabinet continues to work.

HEPA Filter Replacement in Biosafety Cabinet Class 1

What are Precautionary Measures for Working With Biosafety Cabinet Class 1?

An operator or the personnel that operates a Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 should follow some precautionary measures as given below:

• Make sure to be far away as possible from the cabinet while working.

• Do not make many movements of hands and arms during operation so that airflow of the cabinet may not be disturbed.

• Slowly move out your arms from the cabinet with the insurance of surface decontamination.

• Place the hazardous material collecting bags inside the Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 instead of outside.

• Also, keep the absorbent pads to reduce aerosol count in case of spillage.

• Also, load the aerosol-producing instrument inside the cabinet at far as possible.

• Maintain distance between the aerosol instrument and sterilized material so that no cross-contamination may occur.

Lab Operators Carefully Working in Biosafety Cabinet Class 1

What are the International Standards Used for Designing a Biosafety Cabinet Class 1?

A Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 is designed and labeled with some international and local standards to meet the needs of the personnel protection as well of environment.

These standards are given below:

ANSI/NSF 49 Compliance

For designing this biological safety cabinet, NSF compliance is implemented that deals with CDC, and national center institute requisites.

EN 12469 Compliance

This EN standard is considered to be the most authentic and advanced standard for designing a standardized biosafety cabinet.

It is designed by a European organization that has replaced much other standard utilization as BS5726, and NF X44-201:1984 compliance, etc.

CFD YY 0569 Compliance

This is an advanced standard as compared to EN 12469: 2000 standard. It is also called the compliance directed for food and drugs administration.

This compliance is followed to set up the velocity, rate of air exchange, etc. of the cabinet.

UL- Standardization

It is followed to make conformity about the performance validation of the cabinet. The labeling and implementation of UL 61010A-1 standardization is a basic requirement to qualify for NSF certification.

AS 2252 Compliance

It is an Australian designed standard that is being implemented to get guidance for the cabinet installation and its proper usage.

Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 is configured to personnel and environment protection under this compliance.

Air Exchange in Biosafety Cabinet Class 1

What are the Accredit Certifications for Biosafety Cabinet Class 1?

Under implantation of different international standards for the credible and reliable working of the Biosafety Cabinet Class 1, it is accredited with different certifications.

The certificates indicate the validity and performance quality of the cabinet as:

• NSF/ANSI Certification

• EN 12469 Standard Certification

• PHE Certification

• CE Accredit Certification

• UL Accredit Certification

CE Mark

Which Performance Qualification Tests are Performed for the Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 After Installation?

Different international standards are followed in the designing and standardized working of the cabinet.

To validate the performance quality of Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 according to NSF/ANSI compliance, different tests are performed as given below:

HEPA Filter leak Test

To check the integrity of the filter or any leakage in the filter, an aerosol generator is used that evenly spreads aerosol on the filter.

While the photometer inspects the aerosol penetration and downflow movement rate according to NSF49 standard.

If the values will deviate from the standard value, the filter will be considered unfit to use.

Noise Level Test

A specified and calibrated meter according to EN12469 standard is used to estimate the noise level of the cabinet while the operation proceeds.

65dBA sound level is considered to be the acceptance criteria according to EN12469 compliance.

Containment Test

KI is used to perform the test according to EN1246: 2000 standard. The tests depict about safety and protection of an operator that works inside the cabinet.

Aerosol as the challenge is used in this test to evaluate the particulate concentration inside the cabinet.

Vibration Test

A vibration testing meter with specified calibrations is used to measure the vibration rate of the biosafety cabinet at the workbench.

Light Intensity Evaluation Test

The intensity of light at the cabinet is measured by using the calibrated meter. According to NSF49 compliance, the light intensity should be 650 lux and 750 lux for EN compliance.

Smoke Test

Smoke is produced to inspect the airflow pattern inside the cabinet that either is downward or upward, over the workbench or down to the bench.

Testing of Biosafety Cabinet Class 1       

Conclusion.

According to CDC classification, the Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 is a closed and controlled unit that is designed under the implementation of different international standards as NSF/ANSI and EN12469 compliance, etc.

It is used for different applications as research labs, pharmaceuticals, and health care institutes that need contamination protection and sterile room while dealing with hazardous material.

The operator and environment are being protected but not material with this cabinet. Biosafety Cabinet Class 1 is featured to meet the requisites of biosafety levels 1, 2, and 3 with its easy maintenance and credibility.

ISO Certified Excellent Quality Biosafety Cabinet Class 1