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Biosafety Cabinets

How Biological Safety Cabinets Work & How Leasing One Helps Your Lab

Excedr’s leasing program is designed for labs. Request a lease estimate today and see how leasing can save you time and money.

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Biosafety cabinet operational diagram

Working in a laboratory setting can be extremely dangerous without proper precautions.

Lab safety equipment

Depending on the research you do, you may face exposure to toxic and harmful substances. Biosafety cabinets (BSCs) protect you and your colleagues from exposure to these substances.

BSCs are commonly found in laboratories working with infectious agents or tissue culture, such as toxicology, microbiological, and biomedical laboratories.

Unlike laminar flow hoods (LFH) or clean benches, these lab enclosures serve to isolate you and your colleagues from possible hazardous materials by keeping materials contained within the cabinet, providing sterile and safe conditions for both the product and the workers.

Found in many industries, including hospitals, drug discovery labs, and pharmaceutical R&D, these safety enclosures are helpful and, sometimes, legally required.

The primary purpose of BSCs is to protect your workers while they deal with possibly dangerous or delicate substances. Due to their use as safety devices, biosafety cabinets must be certified and comply with all state and federal government regulations in addition to industry standards. Filtration requirements include the use of high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters on all air exhausts. It is one of the universal requirements for all BSCs.

BSC Classifications

A pair of gloved hands washing themselves

The CDC has outlined and organized specific procedures into classes when working with biohazards and contaminants in a laboratory setting. These biosafety levels (BSLs) describe biocontainment precautions that must be taken in order to isolate dangerous pathogens in a lab environment and individual work areas.

Additionally, it is also essential that you decontaminate the work surfaces of your biosafety cabinet. Decontamination of a BSC, regardless of its classification, is performed so that the device itself is rendered non-infectious. You can achieve decontamination by exposing every component of the BSC to gases such as formaldehyde or hydrogen peroxide.

Class I

BSL Class I biosafety cabinets offer personnel and environmental protection. The enclosure pulls non-recirculated air away from the operator and passes it through a HEPA filter.

Used to enclose specific pieces of equipment or procedures that deal with aerosols, this class does not provide product protection. Class I cabinets are safe to use for substances that require Biological Safety Levels 1, 2, or 3.

Class II

Class II biological safety cabinets offer personal, product, and environmental protection. This is done by having HEPA filtered inward airflow, sterile air blowing down over the workspace, and HEPA filtered exhaust air. Labconco provides five subclasses that further differentiate varying safety levels for Class 2 cabinets:

  • Type A1: Must maintain an air inflow of 75 fpm through a sash opening. Appropriate when using substances that are not vaporous.
  • Type A2: Must maintain air inflow of 100 fpm through a sash opening. Over 90% of all biological safety cabinets are type A2.
  • Type B1: Similar to type A2, these types of cabinets have HEPA-filtered downflow air that uses recirculated uncontaminated inflow air while expelling contaminated air through a dedicated filtered exhaust.
  • Type B2: These cabinets do not use recirculated air. Instead, the filtered downflow air is drawn from the surrounding environment or from another outside air source. They are also called 100% exhaust or total exhaust cabinets.
  • Type C1: Must maintain air inflow of 105 fpm through a sash opening. These types are unique in that they can be considered Type A or Type B depending on how they are operated.

Most BSC types under the class II category can handle hazardous chemical vapors or radionuclides by connecting to an exhaust system, providing safe conditions for everyone present.

Class III

Defined as a totally enclosed and ventilated container, class III cabinets have leak-proof rubber gloves installed. They are also referred to as glove boxes. The enclosed design allows users access to materials inside the cabinet while maintaining a completely contained enclosure. Like class II BSCs, these units also provide personnel, environment, and product protection.

BSC Class I, II, & III Leases to Fit Every Need

An animated biosafety cabinet

Founder-Friendly Leases

Our lease agreements are founder-friendly and flexible, helping you preserve working capital, strengthen the cash flow of your business, and keep business credit lines open for expansions, staffing, and other crucial operational expenses and business development opportunities.

2-5 Year Lease Lengths

Leases range from 2 to 5 years. Length will depend on several factors, including how long you want to use the equipment, equipment type, and your company’s financial position. These are standard factors leasing companies consider and help us tailor a lease agreement to fit your needs.

Your Choice of Manufacturer

We don’t carry an inventory. This means you’re not limited to a specific set of manufacturers. Instead, you can pick the equipment that aligns with your business goals and preferences. We’ll work with the manufacturer of your choice to get the equipment in your facility as quickly as possible.

Maintenance & Repair Coverage

Bundle preventive maintenance and repair coverage with your lease agreement. You can spread those payments over time. Easily maintain your equipment, minimize the chances something will break down, repair instrumentation quickly, and simplify your payment processes.

End-of-Lease Options

At the end of your lease, you have multiple options. You can either renew the lease at a significantly lower price, purchase the machine outright based on the fair market value of the original pricing, or call it a day and we’ll come the pick up the equipment for you free of charge.

No Loan-Like Terms

Our leases do not include loan-like terms, which can be restrictive or harmful in certain situations. We do not require debt covenants, IP pledges, collateral,  or equity participation. Our goal is to maximize your flexibility. When you lease with us, you’re collaborating with a true business partner.

In-House Underwriting Process

Our underwriting is done in-house. You can expect quicker turnaround, allowing you respond to your equipment needs as they arise. We require less documentation than traditional lenders and financiers and can get the equipment you need in operation more quickly.