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How Many Pluses Does it Take to make a BSL-3 into
a BSL-4?
J. Patrick Carpenter, PE, Facility
Performance Engineer
More and more BioContainment facilities are being built by government
agencies, Universities and private corporations to address research
into naturally occurring and potentially man-made biological agents.
Most of the anticipated situations are expected to be less severe
than the "ultimate" containment of a BSL-4 facility. However,
because of the diversity of applications, plethora of agents and
evolving uncertainty of the risks associated with the types and
handling of these agents, many new facilities are being built with
increasing numbers of enhancements to the basic BSL-3 requirements.
Although no such classification actually exists, most of these applications
have begun to be referred to as BSL-3+. It is important to characterize
and understand the design sophistication, construction cost and
operational implications of these enhancements. To aid users and
designers in this process, this presentation will review all the
fundamental requirements and consequent alternative approaches in
a comprehensive checklist of issues and options. The corresponding
pros and cons of each option will be outlined to help Owner/Architect/Engineer/Builder
teams make appropriate decisions regarding how far a Biocontainment
facility design should go.
Findings:
This seminar will highlight a practical yet comprehensive approach
to assessing Biocontainment facility needs and alternative approaches
in the uncertain realm between basic BSL-3 and ultimate BSL-4. The
construction cost penalties; operational impacts and non-sustainable
effects of over-designing these facilities are immense. But the
risks that inadequate facilities pose to workers and the environment
are equally overwhelming. Using a simple but comprehensive checklist
of goals, approaches and design solutions, this seminar will highlight
the critical issues and facilitate the design process of establishing
reasonable, appropriate and adequate facility requirements for modern
Biocontainment facilities. It will present a balanced set of options
and the overall costs of each (construction, startup, operation
and decommissioning) that provide personnel and environmental safety
and still address where and how sustainability issues can still
be considered.
Labs21 Connection:
The goal of this seminar is to illustrate an approach that Owner/Architect/Engineer/Builder
teams can take in assessing Biocontainment facility requirements
for both new and renovation projects. The critical evaluation process
of how much more than a basic BSL-3 class facility is necessary
and appropriate will be addressed. The objective is to create a
balanced matrix of considerations that address the quantitative
and qualitative needs and objectives in the uncertain and costly
world of Biocontainment facility constructions. It will provide
a rational but balanced basis for decision-making that integrates
all elements from safety to costs and provides current and future
options in a cost effective way.
Biographies:
J. Patrick Carpenter, PE, Facility Performance Engineer,
is a nationally recognized leader in engineering systems for laboratories,
cleanrooms, animal facilities, data centers and other high technology
facilities. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with
a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and is a registered
Professional Engineer in the states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
He has over 35 years experience in the industry and has focused
on the design of engineering systems in high technology projects
for corporate, government and institutional clients for over 25
years. He has been responsible for the conception and development
of MEP systems for many research laboratory, vivarium, and data
center projects and has led the conceptual development of HVAC and
utility systems with emphasis on the safety, reliability, operational
effectiveness and energy conservation of engineering systems for
those and other projects. His experience includes projects for U.
S. Dept. Agriculture (USDA), University of Colorado Health Science
Center (UCHSC), University of MD - Frostburg, Rutgers University,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), University of Pennsylvania,
University of VA, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National
Institutes for Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), U.S.Navy,
Cornell University, Merck & Co., DuPont, Johnson & Johnson,
AstraZeneca, Wyeth-Ayerst, Aventis, Pfizer, Glaxo, Boehringer Ingelheim,
Exxon, ARAMCO, Rohm & Haas, Morgan-Stanley and Merrill Lynch.
Patrick has been active in professional organizations such as ASHRAE,
AIHA (American Industrial Hygiene Association) and ISPE (International
Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers). His ASHRAE activity includes
over 18 years involvement with Technical Committees involving Laboratories
and Clean Spaces, Industrial Air-Conditioning and Industrial Ventilation
and Energy Calculations. He also served for 8 years on the Standards
Project Committee which rewrote the ASHRAE Standard 100.5 dealing
with Energy Conservation in Existing Buildings - Institutional and
served on the Standards Project Committee (SPC) which revised the
ASHRAE Standard 110-95 dealing with the Performance Testing of Laboratory
Fume Hoods. He is also involved with the current SPC which is finalizing
revision of Standard 110. He has participated in all Labs21 Conferences
over the last five years making seven presentations and moderating
several sessions and roundtables.
Back to the Biocontainment Symposium
Agenda
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