Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet

Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet- An Optimal Buying Guide by Sunnyda.

For attaining sterilized and contaminated environment while dealing with microbial of biosafety level 1, 2, or level 3, Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet is available with its distinctive features.

It ensures not only the protection of operators but also material and environment. NSF, ISO 5 clean room, and EN12469: 2000 compliance are followed for the cabinet’s credibility.

Easy installation, low power consumption by fan motor microprocessors, factory-assisted cabinet testing, and easy maintenance, and HEPA filtered air make the cabinet a most authentic and reliable option to choose.

H14 HEPA Filter for Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet

What is Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet?

A Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet is a specifically designed containment unit that is used to protect different laboratory evaluations.

It provides its containment performance by configuring laminar airflow downward to the cabinet for dissipating particulates.

Exhaust air is secreted directly outside the laboratory or through connection with another canopy.

Environmental protection, personnel, and specimens’ protection are the basic features for which it is selected for different biosafety levels.

Sunnyda Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet

What are the Main Components of Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet?

Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet is configured to protect from bacteria, viruses, and carcinogen particulates while working by having some basic components as:

• HEPA Filters

• Exhaust Canopy

• Microprocessors

• View Screen

• Cabinet Plenum

• Sliding Windows

• Base Rails

• Fluorescent Lights

Fluorescent Light for Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet

What are the Key Specifications of Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet?

• HEPA filters with 99.99% filtration efficiency

• ULPA filters with 99.999% working efficiency

• 70% clean air recirculation inside the cabinet

• 30% exhaust air from HEPA filters before air recirculation

• Audible and visible alarms

• Noise level maintenance is always less than 63 dBA

• NSF/ANSI 49 based certification

• 3′ to 6′ widths

• ISO 5 compliance according to ISO 14644-1 and 2 annex

• 90 to150 foot candle, UV lamps, and LED lighting

• Exhaust outside canopy or connection with HVAC exhaust

• Negative pressure adjustment at the workplace

• Monitoring system for constant airflow

Noise Level Maintenance of Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet

What are the Leading Features of Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet?

Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet is configured to protect from airborne particulates and contaminants in the air under diverse standardized features as given below:

NSF/ANSI 49 Standardization

The containment performance of the cabinet for personnel and material protection is under NSF/ANSI 49 standardization.

Exhausts

The exhaust is either outside the room or through a canopy set on the top side of the cabinet for dissipation outside with the help of an external exhaust.

Cabinet Plenums

The pressure plenum is designed to provide durability and efficiency in working. The workplace is surrounded by negative pressure adjusting plenums.

While the internal positive plenum is also covered by negative pressure for controlling contamination level upon entrance.

Cabinet Capacity for Pressure     

This BSC cabinet automatically controls air pressure decrease without making interruptions with total airflow rate, as filters are directed to resist the changes occurring in pressure.

Air Balance

The air level is balanced manually with the assistance of dampers that maintains the balance between the Downflow air level and exhaust air or incoming air.

Filters

HEPA filters that are factory attested and with leakage test after installation ensure 99.99% working efficiency by removing 0.3 micron-sized particulates.

Optionally ULPA filters are also selected for exhaust and supply air filtration providing 99.999% efficiency to filter 0.1micron to 0.2 micron-sized particulates.

Work Area

The workplace interior side and rear sidewalls are designed with stainless steel material.

All of the corners are mediated with a plain radius to assist in cleaning and contamination-free environment.

Towel Guards

These are present at the bottom side of the workplace to prevent the wipes or other tissue papers to get enter inside the blower.

Drain Pan

It is made up of corrosion resistive stainless steel material with smooth radius bottom corners to assist disinfection processes.

Lighting

The fluorescent lamps are integrated outside the cabinet to provide lighting with 100ft candles intensity.

View Screen   

It is adjusted to move vertically in such a way to give access to working at the workstation. The screen opening direction and position are marked by arrows.

Blowers and Alarms

The blowers are configured to lower vibration while operation and different type alarms are adjusted to dictate power, airflow level, and view screen exact position fluctuation.

Armrest pad

It protects from hazardous chemicals and UV light. Except for this, its porous structure provides a way of air entrance inside when the view screen gets closed.

Electronic Ballast

It deals with UV light and fluorescent lights configuring longer service life and reliability of the unit.

Heavy Duty Blower of Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet

What is the Basic Purpose to Use Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet?

Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet is widely used for its reliability and versatility for different applications.

Except for this, the basic purpose to use this cabinet is:

Personnel Protection

The cabinet ensures the protection of personnel from outside contaminated air by giving no direct access to polluted air.

Specimen/Material Protection

All of the material that is being used for processing or sensitive specimen is protected by this BSC because its HEPA filters help to remove the contaminants from the air.

Environment Protection

For making concerns with environmental protection, it is used that is configured with exhaust filters to clear the air before dissipation in a sterile room.

Easy to Relocate Portable Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet

What is the Working of Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet?

A Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet is categorized based on its performance according to NSF/ANSI 49 standardization.

This BSC performs its contaminated free working in the following way:

First Step

From the front grill, the air enters from the room inside the class II biosafety cabinet.

Second Step

After the air enters, it is pulled by a rear wall plenum and motor blower towards or under the work surface.

Third Step

Passing from the workplace, the contaminated air is directed to be contaminated free by passing through HEPA filters. First, the air enters into the central plenum and then from the HEPA box

Fourth Step

Almost 30% of the air moves out from the biosafety cabinet class 2 at the top side after passing from the filter.

While 70% of clean air moves downward in a unidirectional pattern and re-circulates back at the workplace.

Fifth Step

The air spreads at the working zone by the back wall grill and captures the contaminants. While the front grill airflow pushes air under the workplace and central plenum for recirculation.

In this way, the hazardous chemicals and airborne particulate finally dissipate from the cabinet.

Working of Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet

What are the Advantages to Use Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet?

Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet is preferred to use for its assorted number of advantages as given below:

• HEPA filters discharge contaminants from the air providing personnel and environmental protection.

• Automated system regulating air pressure and airflow inside the cabinet.

• Memory or microprocessor assist to continue work in case of power failure.

• Maximum protection under negative pressure over the workplace.

• Remote control systems make the cabinet easy to proceed with and regulate.

• Interlocked system for controlling the incoming air level as a front window with UV lamps, blowers, and UV lamps, etc.

• Prevention from air turbulence by control of front window height for work access by the use of footswitches.

• Visual and audible alarms address the danger and any emergency on time.

Sash Alarm of Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet

How Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet is Different from Class II Type B2 Biosafety Cabinet?

Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet

It is featured with an air recirculating system. Exhausted air dissipated in the room or vented through the HVAC system.

70% of air is recirculated inside the cabinet while 30% of air dissipate in the outside environment.

Air enters from the HEPA filter box as well as the inside air. All ducts and plenum of the cabinet are under negative pressure.

Class II Type B2 Biosafety Cabinet

Biosafety Cabinet Class II Type B2 has no air recirculating system. Air exhaust is fixed with facility exhausts. Air enters inside the cabinet through the blower.

100% air exhaust from the cabinet without 0% air recirculation. Air enters inside by blowers and pulled by front grills. It is also integrated with negative pressure for protection from contamination.

Class II Type B2 Biosafety Cabinet

What is the Start-Up Procedure of a Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet?

Before starting working inside the Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet, there is a need to ready the system for working. This start-up process is given below:

Step 1

Switch on the blower. An audible voice will produce from the blower and the light below the switch will also illuminate. Then check the readings on the pressure gauge.

Step 2

After that switch on the fluorescent light that will illuminate at interior work pace only if the blower is on as an indicator.

Step 3

Inspect that the drain valve should be in a close position. Turn on the UV light if you choose it as optional. It dictates that the view screen is fully closed for operation.

Step 4

Make sure to wipe down and clean the interior place of the cabinet by using a disinfectant.

Choose those disinfectants that are standardized and cannot affect the steel surface. Use water for final rinsing.

Step 5

Select all of the necessary material that is required for working. Disinfect them first and then place material on the solid surface of the workplace inside the cabinet.

If you have to use the wipes while working, place them away from grills so that they may not get trapped in them.

Step 6

After placing all material, set the view screen at a specific access height suitable for working and containment performance.

Step 7

Inspect the padded armrest assembly. Start working after three minutes of the armrest position setup with the screen.

Start-Up Protocol of Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet

For Which Applications is a Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet Used?

Class II Type B2 Biosafety Cabinet follow NSF standardization for performing its activities for a large number of applications as:

• Pharmaceutical Labs

• Cell Culture

• Microbiology Labs

• Research Centers

• Clinical Laboratories

• Cancer Research Labs

• Hospitals

Applications of Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet

Which Accessory Options are Integrated with Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet?

Some of the accessory options can also be configured with Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet to increase the reliability of the unit as given below:

UV light

UV light can be integrated as an option with available light bulbs. It provides almost 40 microwatt/cm² light intensity for Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet.

Seismic Anchoring Plates

These plates are used to anchor with the floor and walls of the cabinet either with OSHPD approval or without approval.

 Exhaust Connections

The exhaust connections with the biological safety hoods are integrated with alarms and a building exhaust system for the release of the polluted or dusty air.

Digital Display Package

It consists of a display screen that monitors the overall cabinet maintenance, emergencies, alarms, and control. The airflow is monitored by a digital pressure monitoring unit.

IV Bar

It can be placed inside the Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet for hanging specific things/material that is required for processing.

Cabinet Stand

The cabinet stand is flexible and adjustable in almost three different heights by its levelers and legs.

Auxiliary Wiring

These options are integrated with the Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet to connect some of its parts with the external HVAC system.

Wiring for cabinet monitoring provides operational status to sash alarms and blowers. While blower switch wiring provides an external analog for turning on or off the blower operation.

Base Stand of Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet 

Which Alarms are Consolidated With a Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet for Hazards Inspection?

Sash Alarm

Sash alarms are set to provide both visual and audible indications about an emergency in the Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet.

The rest condition and operating condition are considered to be the normal parameters.

But in other cases, if the viewscreen would not be at a safe operating position, the alarms will alert the operator to inspect and troubleshoot the problem.

Low-Flow Exhaust Alarm

When there would be a loss of the captured air by exhaust air dissipating canopy under low exhaust airflow then these exhaust alarms will activate to indicate an emergency.

The audible alarms close after 5 seconds but the visual alarms continue unit the problem may not sort out.

Power Fault Alarm

A fault in the microprocessor or problem in power outage inside the Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet will be indicated by power fault alarms.

The visual and audible alarms address the operator about fault and ring after short intervals until it is switched off from the button.

Proximity Sensing Fault Alarm

This type of alarm gets on when the sash position sensors become activated at a time instead of normal operating conditions.

Stop Working When Alarm Start Ringing

How Does Microprocessor Control System Wok in Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet?

The microprocessor is configured with Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet. It monitors any shortcoming in the cabinet operation, addresses the operator by making visual alarms on the display screen and audible alarms for inspection.

The microprocessor that controls fan motors also reduces power supply consumption as well as noise production.

It also maintains the air balance at the workplace by leveling up the rpm of the fan in the case when the HEPA filter gets clogged.

Microprocessor Control System of Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet

Under Which Standardization Does a Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet is Designed for Validity?

The basic regulatory guidelines and compliance that is followed for designing Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet are from two standards:

NSF/ANSI 49 Standard

NSF/ANSI 49 has set the standard for the compliance and design of class II biosafety cabinets as A1, A2, B1, B2, and C1 biosafety cabinets.

It is American designed standard that directs the protection from all hazards that can be faced from microbes while working in biosafety cabinet level 1, biosafety cabinet level 2, and biosafety level 3.

EN12469: 2000 Standard

It is a European designed standard that has set minimum standard regulations to follow for designing the BSC.

This standard is specified for this Class A2 cabinet unit. EN12469: 2000 Standard mediates the performance criteria ensuring hygiene protection while working with microbes.

Biosafety Level 3

How to Install your Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet?

Some basic steps for installation of Class II Type B2 Biosafety Cabinet are given below:

Location

Select the place away from more trafficking and 30cm away from the wall and ceiling.

Set-Up

Remove the shipping packing, and place the cabinet on a skid. For passing the unit from the doorway remove the control center and place it after entrance inside the room.

Base Stand      

Place Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet over stand by lifting it and binding them by using washers and bolts.

Leveling and Bench Installation

Place the cabinet at the level surface or make it level. Then adjust it on the bench with a margin of 2 inches for easy clearance of drain valves.

Gas Installation

Natural gas is not recommended to use for cabinets. But if necessary then also set a gas shutting off valve in case of emergency.

Plumbing

Ball valves are present in the workplace to control pressure regulation. Reducing valves should install on the outer side if required but not for flammable gases.

Power Supply

Hand wiring of the unit is done or plugging in with earth connection. Circuit breakers are installed for protection.

Final Assembly

Install exhausts. Place the exhaust sensors shroud over sensors and close to HEPA filters but not in direct contact.

The exterior wall can easily clean but don’t try to clean HEPA filters with cleaning agents.

Testing

After installation different tests are performed for reliability and validity inspection before use.

Installation of Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet

How to Maintain your Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet?

• Make sure the decontamination of the whole unit before the start-up maintenance process. Disinfectants that are used for cleaning should be according to NSF/ANSI 49, Annex G.

• The fluorescent bulbs should turn on and quickly place outside for reducing heat level maintenance inside the Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet. Replace the bulb with a new one if not working.

• Check out the particulate count of HEPA filters and if it does not meet the standard criteria replace it with a new one. Make sure to use the filter with the same flow rate and size as was the previous one.

• A sliding window should be adjusted before the start of work. Make sure the micro switches operate. In the case of the loose sliding window, the microswitches will not get activated and malfunction will proceed.

• Inspect the airflow level regularly inside the cabinet and balance it for proper functioning either by using a velometer or airflow detecting sensor.

• Use disinfectants and lower passage rate in front of the cabinet for reducing the risk of contamination.

Maintenances of Class II Type A2 Biosafety

How to Troubleshoot your Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet?

Different types of alarms are set inside the Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet for the indication of any fault that may appear.

The alarms continue to ring until the problem is not sorted out. Some steps for the troubleshooting are given:

• If sliding window alarms are ringing, there would be a problem with the height of the sliding window according to standards.

To troubleshoot this, inspect the standard window height, adjust it to activate the micro switches.

• If there is a change in downflow air level, then the particulates will not flash out properly. Recertify the whole cabinet for troubleshooting the airflow rate.

• If fluorescent lights and blower would not turn on, then check out the fuse of blower and lights on control board, voltage level, and check the blower motor. Call the technician to sort out the problem.

• If found fault in UV light, replace it with a new one and make sure to clear the UV clock for proper working.

• A low pressure inside the cabinet indicated by a low-pressure alarm can be troubleshot by recertifying the cabinet for adjusting airflow at the set point.

Troubleshooting of Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet

Which Guidelines Should you Follow While Working in your Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet?

As Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet ensures the personnel safety and material protection from contamination, there is a need to follow some guidelines to make the cabinet accurate in its operation as:

Start-Up Guide

While installation must consider selecting the place that would be 30cm away from the wall and ceiling. There should also be no draught.

Give proper training to personnel about the working process inside the Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet. Switch on the cabinet almost five minutes before working to dissipate the contaminated air.

Check out the validation of containment performance of the cabinet after each relocation and start-up.

Operation Guide

Don’t use Bunsen burners, but if necessary use electric burners. Place all material away from the air entrance at the workplace. But don’t cover the rear plenum.

Abstain from placing material over exhaust plenum that can cause a disturbance. Make slow your hand movements while working a minimum 1-minute gap after entering your hand inside the cabinet.

Finished Working Guide

Use disinfectants to clean the cabinet. After chlorine use, make sure to rinse the microbiological safety cabinet with water and relay the cabinet for 5 minutes after cleaning.

Wear Proper PPE Before Using your Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet

Which Validation Tests are Performed for Integrity of a Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet?

After complete designing of Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet, different tests are performed to assure its validity and standardized credibility as:

NSF Test

NSF/ANSI 49 annex provides the full details to perform NSF tests for inspecting the protection level of personnel, environment, and material while working.

Air Velocity Test

The downflow air velocity rate is checked for monitoring the laminar airflow cabinet working. While inflow velocity test is performed to inspect the airflow rate coming from outside.

HEPA Filters Integrity Test

To check the specific particulate count filtration specificity of HEPA filter, ISO 14644-3 compliance is followed. DOP test is performed for cabinet validation.

Particulate Count Test

This test is performed to inspect the total particulate count inside the cabinet after air filtration.

If the particulate will be equivalent to the value set for Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet, then the cabinet will be valid to use.

Airflow Visualization Test

The smoke test is performed to check the airflow downward movement without making any dead spot, no escape from the cabinet.

Smoke is inspected that not move out from the cabinet for validity certification.

Air Velocity Test of Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet

What is NSF/ANSI 49 Standardization for Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet?

NSF/ANSI 49 is a set standard for the credible design of a class II type biosafety cabinet.

Regulations and guidelines are provided for following the specifications. Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet is designed under NSF/ANSI 49 compliance.

NSF test is performed to validate the NSF/ANSI 49 based designing of the cabinet and certified the unit for ensuring its credibility.

NSF certification also ensures that the unit is reliable for the environment, specimen, and personnel protection.

NSF 49 Standardization for Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet

Which Criteria Should you Consider While Purchasing your Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet for NIH?

NIH works for a variety of contamination-sensitive processes as genetic manipulations, vaccines development, working on cancer cells, etc.

So to maintain containment performance, you should purchase Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet by keeping in view some considerations/criteria as given below:

• The BSC should be certified with NSF 49 standardization.

• The cabinet should be a top model and integrated with UV lamps.

• Hose cocks should be present on sidewalls for vacuum.

• Alternating current with specific frequency and voltage level set with 4/5 foot Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet.

• Hinged windows or sliding windows featured with specific alarms to indicate the accurate position of the window.

• Eight to ten inches access area for operation from the front side of the cabinet.

• HEPA filter for dissipation of contaminants, integrated with seal gaskets should be in standard size.

• Design should be that cannot interrupt with utilizing and moving of the cabinet.

• Ergonomics should consider in design to facilitate personnel working.

• Before shipment, the above parts should be removable and separately packed with a serial number so that they may easily pass from the doorway.

• Two copies with instructions for maintenance and installation must be provided with the cabinet.

UV Lamp of Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet

Conclusion.

Thus a Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet is a leading unit to use among all biosafety cabinets of class II with 95% its usage ratio.

It is a durable, reliable, and NSF-certified cabinet that ensures the protection of your specimen, surroundings as well as personnel. To deal with microbial tests and processes, Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet is preferred to use.

Easy maintenance, installation, and air recirculation system make the cabinet the best option to select for use in biosafety levels 1 to level 3.

ISO Approved and Premium Quality Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet