Laminar Chamber

Laminar Chamber-An Ultimate Buying Guide by Sunnyda. 

A Laminar Chamber is a cabinet, which contains HEPA filters, to achieve a sterile and non-contaminated environment for multiple applications that are sensitive to contamination.

The fan traps the dust from the air, which is then further filtered by the HEPA filter, trapping the bacteria and other contaminating agents, and finally, contaminant-free air is pushed into the working area to perform your work in a sterile environment.

The airflow pattern and the usage of this equipment divide into two major types; horizontal and vertical.

To enhance its performance, you can also attach different accessories including the Magnehelic gauge, extra electric socket, germicidal ultraviolet lamp, and many others.

Customization of its features and size, according to your requirements, is also accessible for every user.

This ultimate guide presents the features, construction, specifications, working, applications, and advantages of this product. Also, the difference between horizontal and laminar units is also explained, so let’s continue reading.

Testing of Laminar Chamber

What is a Laminar Chamber?

A Laminar Chamber is a closed cabinet where a contamination-free working environment is established. This is done by the HEPA filters, which filter the air after it enters and before it leaves the area.

It can be used to prevent contamination in applications involving sensitive materials, semiconductors, wafers, and other biological materials. This equipment is only compatible with materials that are non-hazardous to humans.

Laminar Chamber works by circulating unidirectional airflow, possessing minimum turbulence. The suitable velocity for this airflow ranges between 0.3 to 0.5 m/s.

The fans, HEPA filters, filter pad, work surface, and fluorescent lamps are some major parts of this equipment, and also a UV lamp is attached for sterilization purposes.

Most common industries requiring this equipment include pharmaceutical units, medical and research labs, and the electronic industry to complete processes in a pure and contaminant-free environment.

For the protection of this product, the pressure and temperature levels are maintained using different sensors and alarms.

Sunnyda Laminar Chamber

What are the Basic Features of a Laminar Chamber?

Some basic features of the Laminar Chamber are listed below:

• Options available for horizontal or vertical flow

• Choice of models with space for one, two, or three-person

• Comes with a strong covering material, for increased life and good appearance

• Efficient motor to quickly trap dust

• High-quality clean room HEPA filters which demand less maintenance and late replacement

• Smooth and simple LED display

• Microprocessor control system for various settings

• Easy to clean smooth surfaces

• Universal caster wheel for easy movement

• Wooden case packaging

Features of Laminar Chamber

What are the Technical Specifications of the Laminar Chamber?

In-depth information about the technical specifications of prime quality Laminar Chamber are:

• Class 100, ISO 5

• 1-2 HEPA Filters

• <58 dB Noise Levels

• Stainless Steel Work Surface

• Powder-Coated Steel Body

• 220-380 Volts AC Power Supply

• Single-Phase Power

• 45±20% Air Velocity

• 370 or 750 Watts Power

• Customizable Size

• ≤5 µm Vibration Peak

• ≥350 Lux Illumination

• 30 W UV Lamp

• 18 W Fluorescent Lamp

• 99% HEPA Filter Efficiency

• CE Certified

Technical Specifications of Laminar Chamber

Which Industries Require a Laminar Chamber?

A Laminar Chamber can be used in the following industries to create a sterile atmosphere absolutely free from contaminating particles:

• Pharmaceutical

• Food and Beverage

• Micromechanics

• Construction Sites

• Plastic Manufacturing Sites

• Printing Area

• Electronics

• Clean Room Laboratory

Applications of Laminar Chamber

What are the Most Prominent Uses of the Laminar Chamber?

The Laminar Chamber can be used for the following applications for establishing a contaminant-free environment:

• Tissue culturing

• Plating procedures for prepared culture media

• Protecting the sensitive materials from contamination

• Establishing a particulate-free environment for electronics, pharmaceutical, or other medical sectors

• Culturing of various biological specimens

Culturing of Biological Specimens in Laminar Chamber

What is the Working Principle of the Laminar Chamber?

The air present in the room environment is passed on to the working chamber through High-Efficiency Particulate Absorbing (HEPA) filters following a unidirectional vertical descending flow.

Air from the Laminar Chamber and the working area is sent back to the room environment in two paths.

Some air chooses the perforation path from the bottom rear part of this chamber whereas most of it moves through the space present between the protecting glass and the working surface of the table.

For the air exhaustion to the personnel and the workplace, a unidirectional pattern is followed whereas for the filtered air fixed and regular air flow pattern is followed.

Every component of the Laminar Chamber is vital in the creation and maintenance of sterile conditions of the sterile room. The fan is responsible for the pinning down of the dust by pulling the air with the help of the filter pad.

This step is then followed by the removal of all airborne contamination by the primary filter (HEPA filter) for maintenance of the clean environment.

Working Principle of Laminar Chamber

What are the Optional Accessories for your Laminar Chamber?

Following are some optional accessories that can be used with Laminar Chamber to increase its effectiveness and for the convenience of the user:

• UV Germicidal Lamp

• Waterproof Sockets

• Air Velocity Meter

• Static Dissipative Side Windows

• Support Stand

• Ionizing Bar

• Power Outlet

• IV Bar

Waterproof Sockets of Laminar Chamber

What are the Major Parts of the Laminar Chamber?

The major parts that combine to form the structure of the Laminar Chamber and provide its air decontamination results are:

An Enclosed-Cabinet System:

It has stainless steel construction and sources an enclosed system of insulated air all over the workstation. So the inner sterile air in the Laminar Chamber is protected from the outside environment.

A sash or a glass shield is also installed at the front which works as a sliding front door. You can manually open the front door and set the height depending on your application requirements.

Working Platform:

It is the space where you can carry out different operations and experiments.

The working platform also has stainless steel construction to prevent corrosion and rusting problems. You can also keep the desired materials like biological samples, culture plates, and blower in this area.

Filter Pad:

It is the primary filter that is responsible for primarily sucking the room air. In the case of the vertical Laminar Chamber, a filter pad is installed at the top whereas in the horizontally designed chamber it is installed at the bottom.

Air particles that are of 5-microns standard size or more than that, are trapped by this pad.

Fan or Blower:

The fan or blower is mainly responsible for drawing the prefiltered air coming from the primary filter and then sending it to the main filter which is the HEPA filter.

In the vertical Laminar Chamber construction, this blower is installed below the filter pad whereas in horizontal construction it is installed right next to the filter.

Hepa Filter:

Hepa filter works as the secondary or the final filter and shows 99.9% efficiency in trapping particles of 0.3-micron size.

It is installed within the Laminar Chamber for ensuring maximum sterility for trouble-free conduction of different experiments and operations.

UV Germicidal Lamp:

As the name says, this lamp helps in killing germs and is used for sterilization purposes.

Materials and equipment like test tubes, petri dishes, and culture media are sterilized with this UV germicidal lamp before carrying out the experiment.

You should keep this lamp running for at least 15 minutes before starting the operation.

Fluorescent Lamp:

The main purpose of a fluorescent lamp is to increase user visibility by providing proper light during the experiment or the operation.

Fluorescent Lights of Laminar Chamber

What are the Common Types of the Laminar Chamber?

A Laminar Chamber has two types based on the direction of movement of air around the clean bench and the workspace.

The type required for your application can be decided by considering the laboratory condition and construction requirements, the airflow type required the principle of laminar airflow and the operation type.

These two types include the vertical airflow and the horizontal airflow Laminar Chamber.

Vertical Laminar Flow Chamber:

It is responsible for the downward direction of vertical laminar air flow into the primary filter which is installed above the operative surface and at the top of the chamber.

Using gravitational impact is responsible for the movement of the flow through the front access area for the removal of particles.

This airflow direction helps in the removal of a significant amount of particles from the box whereas the remaining ones land on the work surface from where you can easily disinfect them.

This type of chamber is the most suitable when working with bulky or large-sized materials in the working area. It comes with an extra break when the vertical laminar flow flows onto the upper positioned filter before entering the working area.

In case, your procedures have a chance of fume production, whether the fine powder or soldering fumes or are capable of producing vapors, this product will be the best option.

If you want extra ambient light striking your working surface and greater visibility, you can integrate a clear back panel along with the transparent side panels.

Horizontal Laminar Flow Chamber:

It is responsible for the downward direction of horizontal laminar air flow into the primary filter which is installed on the back of the chamber.

Across the functional surface, the movement of air is in a back-to-front direction which then moves horizontally straight across the surface.

From the operational space, the air is removed by the system directly onto the operator, and the air is exited without touching any obstruction.

If you are searching for minimum turbulence production from your equipment, you must consider this type of Laminar Chamber. But then you will have to use lightweight equipment on the working surface.

This minimizes the chances of contamination from the user, due to the presence of the user’s hands downstream of the airflow. Due to this reason, if you place anything in this chamber while working, it will be thrown out from the insertion point.

Horizontal Laminar Chamber

How the Vertical Laminar Chamber is Better than the Horizontal Laminar Chamber?

A vertical laminar chamber is preferable over a horizontal laminar chamber due to various reasons.

The best thing about the vertical laminar chamber is that it does not have very high floor space and depth requirements as compared to the horizontal airflow design.

As a result, there are lower possibilities of airflow obstruction or contaminated air downstream collection in the case of vertical chamber construction.

Also, vertical chamber design offers a greater safety level because in this design the air is not directly blown towards the user which is lacking in the horizontal chamber construction.

The front sash prevents direct attack on the face of the user by acting as a barrier against harmful fumes.

In the case of horizontal chamber design, you need to move the chamber for replacing the filter.

But in vertical chamber design, there is no such need and the filter replacement process is very simple and quick because the filter is installed at the cabinet top.

Last but not least in vertical chamber design the airflow is more unidirectional and therefore very few turbulence effects are observed when the air stream is projected on the products or materials being processed.

All these benefits are a clear indication of why you should prefer vertical chamber design construction.

Difference Between Vertical and Horizontal Laminar Chamber

How is the Laminar Chamber Made?

Mainly, the material used in the construction of a Laminar Chamber is stainless steel.

The benefit of using stainless steel is the minimal chances of rusting and corrosion, which can decrease the life of your equipment.

Also, stainless steel requires minimum maintenance, still offers various benefits such as easy cleaning and many more

This product is sealed with no joints or gaps. This is because gaps can provide room for the residing or growth of bacteria which will be disturbing for establishing a sterile room for your applications.

Manufacturing of Laminar Chamber

How to Use the Laminar Chamber?

For proper results from your Laminar Chamber it is essential to follow the given steps about its right operational procedure:

• Firstly, wipe the entire surface of your equipment.

• Now close the glass shield to sterilize the inside area.

• Turn on the ultraviolet light and let it sterilize your cabinet for roughly 15 minutes.

• The next thing is to turn on the blower and keep it running for 5 minutes.

• Now, it is ready and properly sterilized to perform any application.

• Open the sash and perform your procedure, also adjust the illumination of the fluorescent lamp as per your requirements.

• After your work is done, close the sash and don’t forget to sterilize it again.

Wipe the Surface of Laminar Chamber Before Working

What are the Control and Alarm Systems Present in the Laminar Chamber?

The function of the Laminar Chamber should be controlled by a microprocessor control system which can be easily updated through internet downloading.

It should be installed on the main body of the product on the control panel, with an angle pointing downwards in the direction of the operator.

A backlit LCD and soft feel keypad must be present in this controller, to adjust the usage of the electrical outlet, lamp, motor, light, or blower.

For security purposes, the PIN access feature can also be added to this microprocessor controller.

For excellent operation, there should be an automatic pre-purge and post purge cycle included in the startup procedure.

To monitor the performance of the motor, this control system must possess a motor hours meter for displaying the motor running time.

To display and notify about imbalanced or unsuitable conditions, visual and audible alarms should be present in the Laminar Chamber.

An air velocity sensor should be installed to display the velocity of airflow. Its calibration and precision should be precise and according to your application.

This velocity should be displayed continuously along with the all-time clock timer.

Control System of Laminar Chamber

What is the Ideal Blower System for your Laminar Chamber?

The lubricated drive centrifugal blower makes up the best blower system for your Laminar Chamber.

The rotor motor design is always beneficial in terms of less energy consumption.

Also, it provides minimum vibration and turbulence to the uniform laminar airflow.

In case of a high load on the filters, this system automatically adjusts the airflow to maintain it at a suitable level.

This increases the filter life of your unit and benefits the whole equipment in displaying better filtration results.

High Speed Centrifugal Blower of Laminar Chamber

Which Filters are Present in a Laminar Chamber?

There are two types of filters present in your Laminar Chamber:

• ULPA: The ultra-low particulate air filters to remove bacteria, dust, pollen, smoke, and mold with 99.999% efficiency.

• HEPA: High-efficiency particulate absorbing filter, a mechanical filter used to collect the dirt, debris, and smoke particulates which can interrupt the cleanliness level of a controlled room.

99.999% Efficient ULPA Filter of Laminar Chamber

What is the Purpose of Using UV Light in the Laminar Chamber?

The main purpose of using UV light is to build a protective layer against harmful particulate matter in the work zone.

For this purpose, a UV lamp is used as a source of UV light for creating light emission conditions that help in efficient and safe decontamination of the contents.

It also helps in conducting easy, effective, and safe sterilization of the uncovered surfaces during the operating periods.

An optional cover or night door is also installed in the modern Laminar Chamber that emits ultraviolet radiations on the activation of UV lights.

When not using this cover always wear proper skin and eye PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) during the period of UV light activation. 

Wear PPE Before Using Laminar Chamber

What is the Difference Between a Laminar Chamber and a Biosafety Cabinet?

A biological cabinet establishes a unidirectional laminar flow across the working surface, which is then followed by parallel airflow patterns.

But, the laminar airflow doesn’t set this cabinet similar to the Laminar Chamber. This chamber is used to protect the procedures being performed on the work surface.

It is not used to achieve protection for the user, instead, the aerosols and other particulates generated inside this system are thrown towards the face of the operator.

On the other hand, the biological safety cabinet provides protection to the environment, operator, and the working surface all at a time from various harmful particulates.

A negative pressure is maintained inside this microbiological safety cabinet. The purpose of this negative pressure is to inhibit the escape of contaminants from the working area.

It works excellently for the formation of sterile products, biological industries, and other scientific research fields.

Biosafety Cabinet

How Does the Laminar Chamber Differ from the Fume Hood?

Laminar Chamber and fume hoods both are engineering controls that share the same operating principles.

A constant airflow is required in both this equipment for the prevention of contamination of the lab environment and the users present within the environment.

Fume hoods are great in preventing the escape of hazardous substances from the hood workspace whereas the main function of a Laminar Chamber is stopping the entry of contaminants into the workspace.

A chemical fume hood act as a ventilation system, designed in a way to minimize or control exposure to harmful vapors, particles, and fumes.

The constant inflow of air is ensured into the opening of the hood which limits the exit of fumes, vapors, and particles. This constant airflow then exits via the exhaust.

A Laminar Chamber on the other hand is mainly used for the maintenance of the cleanliness or sterility of the controlled environment.

This is done with the help of high-efficiency particulate arrestance filtered constantly flowing air outwards which limits the entry of contaminated air into the workspace.

As a result, the chances for harmful particles or chemicals entering the laboratory are controlled via HEPA-filtered air reduction.

Fume Hood

What is the Suitable Size of HEPA Filter for your Laminar Chamber?

The appropriate sizes of the HEPA filter in your Laminar Chamber are:

• 2ft x 2ft x 6″

• 3ft x 2ft x 6″

• 4ft x 2ft x 6″

Other than these sizes, you can get your unit customized according to the availability of space in your industry, or the application you will be using it for.

Highly Efficient HEPA Filter of Laminar Chamber

How to Avoid Cross-Contamination in your Laminar Chamber?

To avoid cross-contamination in your Laminar Chamber, the following things should be considered:

• Maintain a proper airflow with suitable velocity for your application.

• Use ethanol for sterilizing materials present inside the controlled room.

• Don’t forget to sterilize your gloves with ethanol.

• Never use airflow and UV light simultaneously.

• Always wear a lab coat to avoid interruption in the normal processing.

Sterilize Your Gloves With Ethanol While Using Laminar Chamber

What Precautions you Must Consider When Dealing With the Laminar Chamber?

For your safety, it is important to consider multiple precautions when working with a Laminar Chamber such as:

Avoid Putting Items Inside the Workplace:

Do not put any items or waste inside it for preventing airflow turbulence generation and the introduction of contaminants into the working zone and the sterile samples.

Don’t Wear Jewelry:

Do not wear any hanging accessories or jewelry items on your wrists or hands because they are non-sterile and help in introducing particles or bacteria into the controlled work area.

Also, they decrease hand hygiene if worn inside the working environment.

Don’t Put Dangerous Objects Near to Air Source:

You should always ensure a direct open path between the work area inside the hood where operations are conducted and the filter.

These dangerous objects can produce particles that can contaminate the air downstream sourced from non-sterile items.

Don’t Adjust Syringe or Open Ampoules Near the Filter:

Syringes and ampoules have salt solutions that can get deposited on the ULPA or HEPA filter resulting in filter damage. So they should never be opened near the filter.

Don’t  Put Unnecessary Stuff in the Work Area:

Avoid Bringing unnecessary things in the work area to avoid any kind of disturbance during experiments and reduce the traffic flow into the sterile area.

Don’t Place Huge Objects Around the Back:

Another very important precautionary measure is to avoid placing large objects near the Laminar Chamber back as they are a source of disruption to the laminar airflow pattern and can highly contaminate everything downstream.

Avoid Using Non-Disinfected Materials:

You should always avoid using non-disinfected materials as they can be a source of contamination to the controlled working environment increases the concentration of harmful particles in the room.

Don’t Wear Jewelry While Using Laminar Chamber

Conclusion.

Now that you have all the information regarding the working and usage of the Laminar Chamber, you can use it much more easily to get the best results for generating a clean environment.

Whether you get the vertical or the horizontal unit, always pay great attention to the maintenance schedule as suggested by your clean room manufacturers.

Also, consider using only compatible and safe cleaners for disinfecting or cleaning it which don’t damage its surface.

Before purchasing, consider the quality, life, construction material, application, type, and price, and purchase according to your requirements.

Clean the filters and replace them after the average lifetime is completed, to get the best air filtration results.

ISO Approved 100% Quality Tested Laminar Chamber