Microbiological Safety Cabinets are used to give operator, environment and product protection when handling dangerous biological materials. Selection of a biological safety cabinet depends on the type of biologically hazardous materials handled inside the cabinet. Various international bodies recommend some biological risk classifications by taking into account the pathogenic nature of biological materials and minimum requirements for guaranteeing protection to personnel, environment and materials during their manipulations. The Dangerous Pathogens Advisory Group – Department of Health and Social Security – Great Britain (DPAG, DHSS-GB), Centre for Diseases Control, United States of America (CDC – US) World Health Organization (WHO), National Cancer Institute (NCI – US), National Institute of Health (NIH – US) etc., are some of the major contributors to development of parameters to classify different pathogens.
Hyzone Class II Microbiological Safety Cabinets from Thermolab blend knowledge, experience and innovative design changes in creating state-of-the-art equipment as part of its offerings. Hyzone is a Class II Microbiological Cabinet, designed and built to meet, if not exceed, performance requirements of the European Standard (EN) 12469:2000 Standard.
Classification of Microbiological Safety Cabinets
Different countries have adopted various standards and specifications for this equipment, but the following standards are generally accepted worldwide:
- NSF/ANSI 49 – 2002 (National Sanitation Foundation , US)
- EN 12469 – 2000 (European Standard)
- AS 2252 – 2004 (Australian Standard)
Types of biological hazards
The Dangerous Pathogens Advisory Group – Department of Health and Social Security- Great Britain (DPAG, DHSS – GB) and Centre for Diseases Control, United States of America (CDC – US) have defined four groups of biologically hazardous organisms.
Group 1 CDC (C-DPAG): Organisms are most unlikely to cause human disease.
Group 2 CDC (B1- DPAG): Organisms may cause human disease, but are unlikely to spread to the community and effective treatment is usually available.
Group 3 CDC (B1, B2 – DPAG): Organisms may cause severe human disease and may spread to the community, but effective treatment is usually available.
Group 4 CDC (A-DPAG): Organisms cause severe human disease that may spread to the community, and no effective treatment is available.
Microbiological Safety Cabinet Class I
It is an open-fronted safety cabinet with room air flowing in to provide containment and an HEPA filter on the exhaust. It gives operator and environmental protection but no product protection. Suitable for Group 1,2,3 organisms (CDC) or B1,B2,C (DPAG).
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Microbiological Safety Cabinets are divided into basic three classes:
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Function
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Class I
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Class II
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Class III
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| Operator protection |
Good
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Good
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Excellent
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| Environmental protection |
Good
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Excellent
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Excellent
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| Product protection |
None
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Excellent
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Poor
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Microbiological Safety Cabinet Class II
It is an open-fronted safety cabinet with drawn in air, a vertical laminar airflow over the work surface and an HEPA filter on the exhaust. It provides operator, environmental and product protection. Suitable for Group 1,2,3 organisms (CDC) or B1,B2,C (DPAG)
Microbiological Safety Cabinet Class III
It is a totally enclosed gas-tight cabinet, where the operator will use glove ports to gain access. Air is drawn into the cabinet and exhausted through HEPA filters , while the whole unit is under negative pressure. It provides operator and environmental protection. Suitable for Group 1,2,3,4 organisms (CDC) or A,B1,B2,C (DPAG)
Hyzone Class II Cabinets are available in three types (Check table)
In Hyzone Class II A2 Microbiological Safety Cabinet, 70 per cent air is re-circulated through the main H14 HEPA Filter within the cabinet, while the remaining 30 per cent is exhausted through two H14 HEPA filters in series.
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Hyzone Class II cabinets are available in three types
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Class
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Exhaust air %
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Recirculated air %
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Exhaust connection
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II A2
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30
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70
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Into room/ Loose connected to exhaust duct |
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II B1
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70
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30
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Ducted out of Room |
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II B2
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100
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0
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Ducted out of Room |
Principle of operation
Fresh air is drawn in from the slots at the front opening. This air passes under the work surface and joins the return air plenum. The main blower then pushes air into another plenum which also accommodates Supply HEPA filter, the Exhaust blower plenum and Exhaust HEPA filters. The inward air flow barrier prevents contaminants from exiting the work area. The innovative cabinet design and positioning of supply and exhaust HEPA plenums in a negative envelope ensure that accidental air leakages are contained. As defined by the appropriate international standards, current health and safety guidelines and legislation aimed at safeguarding health and safety of operators at work, Hyzone cabinets are suitable for handling microorganisms and pathogens. 95 per cent of your requirements are met by Class II A2 Cabinets. However, Class I and Class III cabinets can be manufactured if your work so warrants.
Salient features of Hyzone Class II Microbiological Safety Cabinets
- Independent blowers for supply and exhaust air
- Double HEPA filtration of exhaust air.
- Negative pressure envelope (shroud) for HEPA filter plenums and return air path to prevent escape of contaminated air to atmosphere and work area.
- Simultaneous real time monitoring and display of supply and exhaust air velocities.
- Monitoring of work area temperature.
- Sliding front sash with counter weights for easy operation.
- Microprocessor controlled operations with Normal, Fast Start and Service modes and alarms.
- Ergonomic design like angled front sash, arm rest etc., for operator comfort.
- RS 232 connectivity.
- EN 12469:2000 compliant.
Soft touch keyboard
Membrane touch keyboard and the rear-lit LCD display all required data keeping the operator constantly up to date of the cabinet conditions:
- Estimated life of HEPA filters
- Estimated life of UV lamp
- Cabinet temperature
- Laminar airflow (unidirectional down flow) velocity and frontal air barrier (in flow) velocity
- Front sash position
Audio visual alarms for:
- Out of range or incorrect laminar airflow velocity and frontal air barrier velocity.
- Incorrect position of front sash-window
- Clogging of HEPA filters
- End of life-cycle of UV Lamp
- Out of range temperature
Application areas
- Microbiology
- Medical Devices
- Virology
- Pharmaceuticals
- Haematology
- Pathology
- Cell Culture
- Blood Bank
- Recombinant – DNA
- Eye Bank
- Stem Cells Research
- Reconstitution of Parenteral drugs
- Biotechnology
- Genetics
Contact Details:
Pravin Mhapankar
Thermolab Scientific Equipments
Thermolab House, Plot No. 19
Vasai Municipal Ind. Area
Umela Road, Vasai (West)
Tel: +91 – 250 – 2323156, 2324866/ 7
Mob: 9820213893