B2 Total Exhaust Biological Safety Cabinet—Generating Significant Savings for Laboratories
Bob Lloyd, The Baker Company
As one of the most frequently used devices in the laboratory, biological safety cabinets (BSCs) provide the primary source of containment for microbiological research. BSCs are critical in the protection of personnel from exposure to airborne biohazards and other potentially harmful particulates within the cabinet. BSCs also provide product protection from contaminates outside the cabinet environment through the use of a HEPA-filtered vertical laminar airflow that is contained within the BSC. This vertical laminar down-flow air combined with a high velocity air curtain, suction below the intake grill, and side return slots prevent outside airborne contaminants from entering the cabinet's workspace.
Class II type B2 biological safety cabinets are designed to exhaust HEPA-filtered air outside via the use of a building exhaust system. This exhausted air must be replaced by the laboratory's air supply system and typically needs to be conditioned, either heated or cooled. Considering that BSCs are often operated continuously, hot or cold air conditioning can add considerable operating costs to a laboratory over time, typically $5 to $8 per CFM per year per cabinet.
The new BioChemGARD® e3 total exhaust cabinet can generate significant savings for laboratories by reducing the amount of exhaust and reduce the static pressure required to operate this BSC. With this cabinet the total exhaust flow, or the amount of conditioned air, is reduced by 23 percent, the static pressure is reduced by 20 percent, and the sound has been reduced by 22 decibels. Even more importantly, productivity levels remain high and safety for both the product and personnel exceed NSF standards.
With environmental resources becoming more and more limited, reducing energy costs is a leading concern of every laboratory. An analysis published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency concluded that laboratories consume 5 to 10 times more energy per square foot than typical office buildings. The need for energy-efficient equipment without any sacrifice in safety performance has never been more acute.