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.
CLASS II BIOLOGICAL SAFETY CABINETS
Class II BSCs are designed to handle low to moderate risk material and should never be used for unknowns or other high risk materials.
CLASS II, TYPE A
Class II, Type A hoods are used to protect personnel, product and environment from bio-aerosols and other particulates. These hoods offer personnel protection through engineered airflow into the cabinet. To protect the product, the work area in the cabinet is continuously bathed with ultra-clean air provided through the supply HEPA filter. Approximately 70% of the air from each cycle is recirculated through this supply HEPA filter. Although not required for the majority of uses, all of our Class II Type A Cabinets have the capability of being vented to the outside environment via canopy (thimble) connection.
CLASS II, TYPE B2
The Class II Type B2 cabinet is a total exhaust, non-recirculating, vertical laminar flow biological safety fume hood. It was developed in order to provide protection from diverse types of biohazardous material as well as gases and fumes in the work area (that are an adjunct of biological work).
The conventional fume hood only protects the user. The Class II, Type A 70% recirculating hood, in addition to protecting the user, also protects work in progress and the environment from all particulates. The Class II, Type B2 Biological Safety Cabinet carries this protection one step further by ducting (venting) to the outside of the building 100% of the air entering the hood. This total exhaust feature makes the B2 hood suitable for not only handling particulates, but also fumes and gases. It is especially desirable for work with radionuclides, effluents from subliming particulates and noxious odors.
The Class II, Type B2 cabinet provides 100% exhaust, with absolutely no recirculation of air in the cabinet. Germfree invented and patented the total exhaust BSC which was later classified as a Class II B2 Cabinet.
CUSTOM CLASS II
The laminar flow biological safety cabinet was developed to provide protection for product, personnel and environment from the hazards of aerosols generated by the handling of low to moderate risk solids and liquids. The work in progress is protected with ISO Class 5/Class 100 air. These same protective features which make this hood so valuable with biological and pharmaceutical applications, have many potential uses in industry, e.g., for the safe handling of dust and powders. Pre-filters can be added in the work area to extend the life of the HEPA filters when working with such materials. Biological safety cabinets can be specially designed and built for any size equipment.
BBF Airflow Diagram
BTE AIRFLOW DIAGRAM
Questions about our Class II BSC?
To find out more about Germfree’s Class II BSC, contact a consultant by filling out our Contact Us form, or call 1-800-888-5357 (Internationally call +1-386-265-4360).
