13 LIMS & Lab Automation
particular temperature or does it generate signifi cant amounts of heat? The work surfaces can be designed to provide additional stabilisation against vibrations or to include heating or cooling coils to maintain the necessary temperature to run the equipment. Additionally, utility services such as electrical outlets and vacuum or compressed air systems, should be carefully considered for use in BSCs [2,3]. The equipment may need to be plugged into the BSC and this supply of power could be impacted by the BSC’s own electrical needs for its proper function [3]. The electricity needs of the custom BSC with the equipment inside of it should be reviewed to ensure the laboratory facility can provide an adequate source of power with the right voltage and amperage to support the performance of both the BSC and the equipment running within it.
Work processes
Another topic to consider is the process or workfl ow that needs to be performed with the equipment contained inside the BSC. Mapping out a benchtop space with simulated equipment and materials and performing a test run of the laboratory process may be useful in determining the appropriate width and depth of work surface that is needed [3]. Would it be useful to have space next to the equipment inside the BSC to prepare materials or samples that need to go into the equipment? Will biohazardous waste produced by the equipment need to be collected and stored in the BSC before being treated or prepared for disposal? This additional work surface width should be planned into the custom BSC design. Are there other pieces associated with, or connected to, the equipment that do not need to be housed within the BSC but should be nearby? For example, a computer tower or monitor that runs the equipment or displays the output may need to be connected to the equipment in the BSC work zone but may not itself require containment. It is possible to have negative pressure pass-throughs on the side(s) of the custom BSC to port tubing, power cables, data cables, or other types of connections to non- contained, associated equipment. These ported devices may be placed on a lab bench next to the cabinet, depending on the lab’s layout. However, a shelf can be built on the exterior wall(s) of the custom BSC that can support this additional equipment if there is no existing casework, or if it is more convenient for the BSC user.
The need to access the equipment should also be evaluated when designing your custom BSC. Once the equipment is installed in the custom BSC work zone, does it ever need to be removed or will it remain permanently installed? If the equipment must be moved frequently or is particularly cumbersome to move, it may be possible to design the work surface in such a way that it can slide or roll out of the work zone, allowing access to the equipment. Alternatively, the front of the BSC can be designed to open with double doors that swing outward, and the work surface can be placed on wheels so it can be easily removed from the cabinet with the equipment on it. The accessibility and removability of the equipment may also be important to ensure the device can be properly maintained, cleaned, or decontaminated. Additionally, consider whether the equipment needs to be accessible from multiple sides during normal operations and/or maintenance. It may be possible to allow for access to the equipment from several sides while it is in operation by having additional openings such as back or side access panels that are built into the BSC design, provided that it is still possible to maintain adequate containment with these additional access openings.
Custom biosafety cabinet placement in the laboratory
Now that the dimensions, shape, technical specifi cations, and equipment adjacencies for the custom biosafety cabinet have been determined, it is important to consider the laboratory space this BSC is proposed to be installed into. There are several facility considerations for both the transportation through existing elevators, hallways, and doors3, as well as the connection to existing building mechanical and electrical systems.2,3 Depending on the size of the equipment contained inside, a custom BSC can become quite large. It is essential to evaluate whether the custom BSC can be moved into the laboratory as one, completely built device or if the BSC needs to be constructed in smaller modules that will require assembly once in place within the laboratory.
Also, for any BSCs that must be hard ducted or canopy connected to the building’s exhaust system, both the physical location and placement of those connection points along with the capacity of the building’s HVAC system must be considered before installing the cabinet [2,3]. The location of existing supply and exhaust vents in the laboratory may limit the placement of the custom BSC or necessitate construction activities to provide a new exhaust connection that is in a more ideal location for the
installation of this piece of equipment. The user should review the proposed custom BSC’s overall dimensions with their facilities management and/or engineering teams and the BSC manufacturer to come up with the best solution for the construction and installation of the cabinet into the laboratory.
When considering the optimal location for custom BSC installation, remember that generally biosafety cabinets should be installed:
1. Away from areas of personnel traffi c, doors, air supply ventilation, windows, fans or air conditioning units, and chemical fume hoods or other equipment that may impact the BSC’s airfl ow
2. Such that there is adequate clearance on all sides of the BSC to access the equipment, access the cabinet itself for maintenance, allow for adequate airfl ow into and out of the BSC, and allow for airfl ow and fi lter testing of the BSC
3. Close to the location of an electrical outlet that can support the BSC and its internal equipment load 2,3,5
The access needs for the equipment inside the custom BSC were discussed in the previous section, but these considerations will also impact the location and placement of the cabinet within the laboratory. If the work surface was designed to be moved in and out of the custom BSC, the BSC’s front face can be opened widely, or there are added back or side access panels or shelving permanently integrated into the structure of the BSC, the custom cabinet must be installed in the laboratory somewhere that these designed aspects can be appropriately utilised and operated.
Figure 5: When deciding where in the laboratory to place your BSC, ensure a minimum clearance of 3 ft. (914 mm) in front of the cabinet and 6 in. (152 mm) from each side.
If possible, it may also be benefi cial to consider the need for a custom BSC when designing or renovating your laboratory space to allow for the necessary clearances, utilities, and access points to the cabinet. Additionally, since both the custom BSC and the equipment inside of it are likely to be diffi cult, if not logistically implausible, to remove from the lab once installed these devices need to be accounted for during whole room decontamination or fumigation. The compatibility of the custom BSC and its enclosed equipment with your proposed chemical disinfectants should be evaluated and reviewed by the lab user, a safety professional, and the equipment and/or BSC manufacturer(s).
Figure 4: This custom Class II walk-in biosafety cabinet utilises a modular design to allow for on-site assembly and an isolation table to minimise vibration on the contained automation equipment.
Certifi cation and smoke testing
During the custom BSC design process, it is critical to ensure the cabinet will provide the necessary personnel, product, and environmental protection that it is being designed for once the equipment is installed in the BSC. The cabinet manufacturer can perform testing using bacterial spores, aerosol tracers, or smoke to evaluate and visualise the custom BSC design and performance with a mock-up of the equipment inside. This may be requested by the user or considered by the BSC manufacturer if there are concerns about the custom BSC’s design. This equipment mock-up testing and visualisation may lead to changes to the design to ensure adequate protection is provided by the device or to allow for easier certifi cation of the cabinet. For example, the access openings of the custom BSC may need to be moved or altered to accommodate the equipment and maintain aerosol containment. Additionally, the BSC manufacturer may fi nd that they need to segment the downfl ow diffuser screen that covers the HEPA fi lter located above the work surface so the screen can be more easily removed to allow a BSC fi eld certifi er to scan this HEPA fi lter while the equipment is in place.
As with standard Class II biosafety cabinets, once these custom BSCs are installed by the manufacturer or the user, they should be fi eld certifi ed by an accredited fi eld certifi er to ensure they are functioning properly and maintaining containment based on testing
Figure 6: Class II BSC Airfl ow Dynamics.
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