Laminar flow cabinets and biological safety cabinets are both essential tools for scientific research, pharmaceutical production facilities and the life science sector. They all provide high levels of protection, but they work in slightly different ways.
Tecomak Environmental Services offer both biological safety cabinet and laminar flow cabinet services. Here we explain the finer points of the two pieces of equipment, outline which ones may be most suited to your facility, and highlight the types we can supply and service.
Laminar Flow Safety Cabinets
These are also known as ‘clean bench’ cabinets because they provide the operator with a hygienic surface when they are working with, or handling, sensitive materials.
The work surface area is constantly flooded with HEPA-filtered air in either a vertical or horizontal direction; hence you can have either a horizontal or vertical laminar flow cabinet. For a full explanation of how the two types of cabinet work, and particularly the airflow directions, check out our page here.
Clean bench cabinets should not be used when handling cell culture materials, drug formulations, potentially infectious materials, or any other potentially hazardous materials. This is because laminar flow cabinets are designed to protect the product or specimen, and to sterilise the atmosphere, and not the employee, who could be exposed to the potentially hazardous (that is, toxic or infectious) substances which are being used, produced or worked on.
Biological Safety Cabinets
Biological safety cabinets (which are sometimes known as microbiological safety cabinets) may be a better solution for your laboratory or production facility as these can provide much better protection for the employee or operator. The cabinets themselves belong to one of three classes – I, II and II.
A Class I cabinet protects the operator and the environment, but not the product or sample; this is because they are open fronted units which continuously draw air into the cabinet and out through a HEPA filter.
A Class II safety cabinet protects the product, the operator and the surrounding area, making it the most popular type on the market. Inward air is directed downwards and below the work surface, passed through a HEPA filter and then redirected back into the work area as a laminar downflow of clean air. The balance of this laminar down flow with the incoming air provides an air curtain to ensure operator protection as well as ensuring the product or sample is not contaminated.
And a Class III cabinet is a specialist product which is suitable only for certain processes and work. These are totally enclosed pieces of equipment, and the operators use gloves through special ports. This is suitable if you are handling more hazardous materials.
What Do I Need?
Laminar flow cabinets are suitable for non-harmful processes, such as media plate preparation or working with DNA. They can also be used in the dust-free assembly of sterile equipment or electronic devices. Horizontal flow cabinets are better if you need as little air turbulence as possible in the working area; vertical airflow cabinets may be better if your work involves soldering or powders, as these provide a little more protection for the operator.
If your work involves any type of infectious agent or harmful microbe, then you should opt for a safety cabinet – usually Class II.
Microbiological Safety Cabinets and Laminar Flow Cabinet Services from Tecomak
If you aren’t sure what type of product you need, call Tecomak Environmental Services on 01732 852250 or follow this link and fill in the online form – we’ll be able to offer experienced, professional advice.
At Tecomak, we can supply a range of Haier microbiological safety cabinets and laminar flow cabinets. We can also provide a rigorous testing programme, so that whatever make or model you have it will continue to function safely and efficiently. We will always look to carry out any repairs on the spot rather than book another appointment.
Your cabinet doesn’t need to be from the Haier range, nor do you need to have bought it from us; our team of experienced engineers have maintained and repaired many different manufacturers over the years.
