Biological Safety Cabinet : A Buying Guide

Biological Safety Cabinets & Their Types

Biological safety cabinets(BSC) protect personnel and the environment from exposure to infectious agents and hazardous particulates during laboratory procedures.Based on the level of personnel and environmental protection provided and the level of product protection provided,BSCs are classified into three classes.The biological safety cabinet class II is currently the most commonly used in laboratories.Except for Class I, the other two types can provide protection for the sample.

Biological Safety Cabinets vs Clean Bench vs Lab Fume Hood

Maintaining Negative Pressure

Negative pressure refers to the pressure inside the cabinet being lower than the laboratory environment pressure, ensuring that the airflow always flows inward to prevent the leakage of pollutants.

HEPA filtration

HEPA filtration is an efficiency standard of air filters. Common standards require that a HEPA air filter must remove—from the air that passes through—at least 99.95% (ISO, European Standard) of particles whose diameter is equal to 0.3 μm。

Class II A2 & Class II B2

1.Why choose Class II A2 & Class II B2

Class II A1 feature a “positive pressure plenum” between the work area and the external environment, which cannot guarantee that contaminants will not leak out. The negative pressure–surround design of Class II A2 eliminates this risk and has largely replaced Class II A1.

The airflow pattern of Class II B1 (40% recirculation / 60% exhaust) is complex, increasing the likelihood of operator error and cross-contamination. In contrast, the 100% exhaust airflow mode of Class II B2 provides a safer and simpler design, making Class II B2 the preferred replacement for Class II B1.

2.Class II A2 or Class II B2