What is a Biosafety Cabinet? These are the cabinets designed to remove microorganisms such as harmful bacteria and viruses from the environment. In particular, biosafety cabinets can be used to prevent possible damage that harmful pathogens and microorganisms may cause in work areas. Today, the purpose of use of biosafety cabinets is classified in two different ways. There are two different types of biosafety cabinets. Aiming to protect personnel and the environment, and aiming to protect the experiment. In addition, biosafety cabinets developed for both purposes are divided according to their classes.

What is a Biosafety Cabinet? What is the Purpose of Use?

First of all, the biosafety cabinet is the most widely used tool today for a sterile and clean workspace. Thanks to special filters, these cabins filter the polluted air inside to the outside. At the same time, the air coming from outside is separated from microorganisms and pathogens and transferred to the inside. Thus, the air in the work area has a completely clean and sterile nature. Biosafety cabinets are special cabinets designed for the purpose of filtering microorganism-sized biological creatures from the air in the working area. Biosafety cabinets with different classes have different usage areas. Especially in the chemical industry, pharmaceutical industry and microbiological cultivation, biosafety cabinets are widely preferred. In addition, biosafety cabinets are also used in robotic studies where the ambient air must be completely sterile. Biosafety cabinets, which have an extremely wide area of use, must be tested at regular intervals. Making sure that the cabin is working properly is of critical importance in terms of personnel and environmental safety, especially in experimental studies.

Why is it Preferred?

The most basic function of biosafety cabinets is to separate the ambient air from harmful microorganisms. Biosafety cabinets, which provide a completely sterile ambient air, mostly have HEPA filters. HEPA filters are the latest technological filter type used to clean the ambient air. Known as the most efficient air cleaning filter, HEPA filters have a very high cleaning capacity of small particles.

The HEPA filter, which cleans 99.9% of harmful microorganisms in the air, has recently been widely used in living spaces. The efficiency level of filters, which form the basis of biosafety cabinets, is extremely important for complete sterilization in the environment. Therefore, the capacity of the filters used in biosafety cabinets is directly proportional to the efficiency to be obtained from the cabinet.

Biosafety Cabinet and Technical Specifications,

First, what is a Biosafety cabinet? It is more than enough to establish a sterile and purified air in the environment. These cabins, which have a high level of filtration, clean the ambient air very quickly with an air inlet speed of 0,51 m/s. Thus, the air in the working areas is cleaned in the most effective, fast and efficient way.

The general features of biosafety cabinets are as follows;

• The re-circulation rate is around 40% and thus they allow the air to circulate very quickly.
• The rate of air expelled from the cabin is at the level of 60%.
• It is obligatory to make a chimney connection in biosafety cabinets.
• The inlet velocity of the front air is 0,51 m/s.

All these features differ according to the classes of the biosafety cabinet. Therefore, the specified features are different for each cabin type.

Cabinet Class

Biosafety cabin classes are categorized according to usage areas and general expectations from cabins. The characteristics of the biosafety cabinet in each class are different, and it is suitable for working in different risk groups. The classes of biosafety cabinets are as follows:

• Class I
• Class II
• Class III
• Laminar Flow

There are biosafety cabinets of different types and features in each class. Especially today, the fact that biosafety cabinets have a wide range of uses has necessitated the development of different solutions.

You can get detailed information by contacting Novatest, which provides testing services in different areas, including biosafety cabinets.

Performance Tests

The purpose of using biosafety cabinets is to reduce the danger to the user when working with dangerous or potentially dangerous microorganisms. These cabinets do not necessarily protect the user from all hazards. In some safety cabinet types, the materials used for the purpose can be protection from environmental pollution. Measurement and verification tests are required to ensure the lowest performance criteria for safety cabinets working with microorganisms, to protect the environment and the worker, to protect the product and to prevent cross contamination. “Operational and Performance Verification Tests” listed especially for biosafety cabinets are carried out in accordance with TS EN 12469:2004, WHO GLP 2004, ANSI/NSF 49 2014, ISO 14644-7 2004 standards and instructions.

CLASS I CABINETS: It has been established in a way to protect the worker and to control the exit of the airborne particulate contamination, which is formed in the cabin with the help of the inward air flow from the front opening, which is worked with the filtration of the exhaust air. Safety cabinet with a front opening where the user can perform manual operations inside the cabinet.

CLASS II CABINETS: It has been established in a way to protect the worker and to control the exit of the airborne particulate contamination, which is formed in the cabin with the help of the inward air flow from the front opening, which is worked with the filtration of the exhaust air. It has a front opening where the risk of product and cross contamination is low and the user can perform manual operations inside the cabinet.

CLASS III CABINETS: It is a security cabinet that is completely closed and the user is separated from the work environment by a physical barrier. The filtered air comes into the cabin continuously. The exhaust air is treated to prevent the exposure of microorganisms.

MEASUREMENTS WE PROVIDE SERVICE IN PERFORMANCE EXAMINATION

– Alarm Functions Control is the process of controlling the functional processes such as the glass opening, UV lamp, lighting, exhaust fan in the biosafety cabinet.

– Down-flow: It is the process of determining the required air flow values in the standard and calculating the uniform value so that the biosafety cabinet can protect the product.

– In-flow: It is the process of measuring the inward air flow from the front opening to protect the personnel working in the biosafety cabinet.

– Filter Equipment Leakage Test: It is the process of detecting the leakage rate of hepa ulpa filters in order to prevent unwanted particles from entering the biosafety cabinet and contaminating the product, and to safely discharge the toxic substances working through the exhaust filter without affecting the personnel.

– Air Flow Direction Visualization Test:

– Lighting Measurement: Lighting should be suitable for safe operation in the cabin. The illuminance measured on the work surface should be at least 750 lux. Ultraviolet radiation is not used in safe cabins. However, where necessary, lighting should be installed in such a way that it does not affect cabinet performance and airflow. In the construction of the cabinet, materials that are not affected by UV light should be used. The electrical locking system should be provided in such a way as to prevent direct exposure of the worker to UV during the work in the cabin.

– Noise measurement should be such that the sound levels in the cabin do not disturb the attention of the employee. The weighted sound pressure level generated by the cabinet from any part of the installation should not exceed 65 dB.

Novatest

Our company was established in 2014. It has set out especially not to compromise on QUALITY and TRUST. Moreover, its own YOUNG, its team YOUNG, its equipment YOUTH, but it has set out with academic career people who have a say in the sector. In addition, it proceeds with the motto of continuous innovation. As can be understood from the meaning of its name, our company has set out to become a ‘shining star’ in the sector. In addition, NOVA TEST provides HVAC Validation tests, Duct Leak Tests, Biosafety Cabinets Performance Tests and Air Flow Measurement services. In principle, we have a good command of what we do and we work very meticulously. We also provide high quality services for our customers in all industries. However, NOVATEST undertakes to fulfill all the requirements of its quality policy.