The Class II Laminar Flow Biological Safety Cabinet, or the Biosafety Cabinet, combines product, operator and environmental protection.  It was developed to provide protection from diverse types of biohazardous material. The biosafety cabinet is similar to the conventional fume hood in providing protection for the operator. It differs from the conventional fume hood by also offering protection for the work in progress and the environment.

Hood Classification

The Class I Biosafety cabinet is a ventilated cabinet  with an inward airflow and outlet HEPA filters.  It was previously referred to as the CDC  Hood and served a valuable function in its time by protecting personnel and the environment.  Because it offers no product protection, it has been essentially  obsolete for the past several decades. 

Class II (types A and B) are Laminar Flow Biological Safety Cabinets that protect personnel, product and environment. They provide inward airflow to protect personnel, downflow HEPA filtered air to the work area to protect the product and exhaust HEPA filtered air to protect the environment from particulate and aerosol hazards.

Class III cabinet is defined as ventilated Glovebox.  This is a gas-tight chamber operated through sealed gloves which provide a complete barrier between the worker and hazardous material.  The Glovebox is maintained under negative pressure with HEPA filtered supply air and double HEPA filtered exhaust air.

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Download the latest product literature on Class II, Type A Biosafety Cabinets

Download the latest product literature on Class II, Type B Biosafety Cabinets